WIPO Director General Tang Meets NGO Stakeholders

WIPO Director General Daren Tang welcomed representatives of non-governmental organizations to an annual dialogue session, emphasizing the critical need for enhanced partnership and cooperation with NGOs and other stakeholders.

This year's “WIPO-NGO Stakeholder Dialogue,” held during the 65^th WIPO Assemblies of Member States, brought together representatives from over 60 NGOs and industry stakeholder groups accredited at WIPO.

“Our partnerships are very important. We want to work with you, and we're already working with many of you in different areas. NGOs bring different types of expertise and perspectives to the intellectual property (IP) conversation, and you also have access to stakeholders that we would like to reach out to,” Mr. Tang said.

Mr. Tang also shared remarks on the role of NGOs in advancing IP and bringing it to the grassroots as he delivered a broad overview of WIPO's work over the past year, highlighting the recently concluded WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.

Ambassador Francisca E. Méndez Escobar, Permanent Representative of Mexico to the United Nations Office at Geneva, moderated the session, noting that the event represented an opportunity for open and constructive dialogue.

Assistant Director General Edward Kwakwa, who oversees WIPO's Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector that includes the unit overseeing WIPO cooperation with NGOs, walked participants through how innovation and technology intersect with climate change, providing an overview of WIPO's work and support in this area.

“Technology plays a crucial role in achieving several climate-related SDGs. By protecting innovations, the IP system encourages the development of new technologies. At the business level, IP helps in creating distinctive identities for products and services, generating revenue through licensing, and fostering collaboration,” he said.

Speaking on the IP and AI landscape, Ulrike Till, Director of WIPO's Division on IP and Frontier Technologies shared some research on Generative AI patenting analytics and copyright trends, adding that the IP system was designed for human innovators.

“The IP system must remain human-centric to ensure equitable sharing of benefits among creators, innovators, and society.” Ms. Till stated.

During a question-and-answer session, NGO representatives discussed issues such as the new Treaty, WIPO's support to small and medium sized entrepreneurs, WIPO's IP gender action plan, and copyright protection in the digital environment especially with regard to emerging new technologies.

The WIPO-NGO Stakeholder Dialogue is an annual session with WIPO accredited NGO stakeholders that began over ten years ago. This Assemblies' side event aims to strengthen WIPO's relationship with the NGO community, recognizing its importance as a stakeholder in the IP system.

It also provides an opportunity for an exchange of views on salient IP issues with all WIPO-accredited NGOs, as well as ad hoc observers to standing committees and select other committees such as the Intergovernmental Committee and the Advisory Committee on Enforcement.