WIPO Development Agenda - 2004

The WIPO General Assembly, in its Thirty-First (15th Extraordinary) Session held in Geneva, in September 2004, considered a proposal submitted by Brazil and Argentina and supported by Bolivia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kenya, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Republic of Tanzania and Venezuela. The General Assembly welcomed the initiative and decided to convene inter-sessional intergovernmental meetings to examine the proposals contained in document WO/GA/31/11 (Proposal by Argentina and Brazil for the Establishment of a Development Agenda for WIPO), as well as additional proposals of Member States.

Background

Furthermore, at the same session of the WIPO General Assembly, it was decided that the "International Bureau shall undertake immediate arrangements in order to organize with other relevant multilateral organizations, including UNCTAD, UNIDO, WHO and WTO, a joint international seminar on Intellectual Property and Development, open to the participation of all stakeholders, including NGOs, civil society and academia". The International Seminar on Intellectual Property and Development (IS) was organized by WIPO jointly with UNCTAD, UNIDO, WHO and the WTO at WIPO headquarters, in Geneva, on May 2 and 3, 2005. Under the two broad themes of IP and Public Policy and IP and Development, the IS covered a wide spectrum of issues, including public health, traditional knowledge, biodiversity, copyright and related rights in the digital environment, competition policy, creating value from intellectual property (IP) assets, technology transfer and national best practices. Panels of experts, delivered presentations on the different thematic topics. Over 120 participants attended the event, representing a wide cross-section of stakeholders from government, industry, academia and civil society.