WIPO and Ukraine Agree on Closer Collaboration

Geneva, July 2, 2010
PR/2010/649

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry wrapped up an official visit to Ukraine this week (June 29 to July 1, 2010) during which he met a number of high level Government representatives, including Mr. Volodymyr Semynozhenko, Vice Prime Minister and Mr. Dmytro Tabachnyk, Minister for Education and Science.

Talks focused on how Ukraine can best exploit the intellectual property (IP) system for economic and cultural development, as well as ways in which WIPO can support national efforts to strengthen the country’s IP capacity.  

During the visit, Mr. Gurry signed an agreement with the Vice Prime Minister laying out a framework for collaboration between WIPO and Ukraine. The agreement maps areas for future collaboration for the period 2010-2012. The Vice Prime Minister suggested the convening of an international conference, jointly with WIPO in Ukraine in 2012, to address innovation and challenges facing the future evolution of the IP system.

The meeting with Mr. Tabachnyk covered a range of areas, such as support by WIPO for the development of national IP strategy for Ukraine. They also discussed questions relating to training, in particular for judges, as well as WIPO support for the development of IP courses at universities in Ukraine, promotion of collective management of copyright and related rights, technology transfer, innovation promotion and the use of IP for economic, social and cultural development in Ukraine. The Director General pledged the Organization’s support in the development of a national intellectual property strategy.

Addressing the opening of an international seminar on collective management of copyright and related rights, organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) and SDIP (Ukrainian Institute of Industrial Property), Mr. Gurry said Ukraine is a country with a long and proud musical tradition and great potential for future growth. He said collective management societies allow creators to focus on creating, rather than administering their rights and create solidarity and a platform for promoting interests of creators and performers.

Speaking at the National Technical University of Ukraine Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, the Director General addressed the question of science, technology and IP. IP, he observed, is the mechanism for converting knowledge into commercial assets which makes the activities and outputs of universities a direct concern for the world of IP. Mr. Gurry outlined the challenges facing the international IP community and the way in which WIPO is responding. Mr. Gurry also met with Mr. Mikhael Zgurovsky, Rector of the University and received an honorary degree.

The Director General also met with Holy Archimandrite Volodymyr, the Metropolitan of Kyiv and all Ukraine. They discussed the IP situation in Ukraine, and the importance of promoting IP for development. Holy Archimndrite Volodymyr expressed appreciation for WIPO’s support to Ukraine in the field of IP. 

The Director General and Mr. Tabachnyk, accompanied by Mr. Mykola Paladii, Chairman of the State Department of Intellectual Property, and Ms Alla Zharinova, Director of the State Enterprise “Ukrainian Industrial Property Institute” attended the launch of the construction of the new premises of the State Department of Intellectual Property in Kyiv.