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WIPO Director General Wraps up Washington Visit

Geneva, March 3, 2000
Press Updates UPD/2000/88

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, wrapped up a visit to Washington on March 1, 2000 by expressing hope that the United States would soon join an international treaty for the registration of marks.

"Accession by the USA to the Madrid Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks will give added impetus to the US companies - big and small - seeking markets for their trademarked goods and services around the world," Dr. Idris said. "It will also have a very strong and positive effect on the international intellectual property system" he added.

Under the Madrid system, a trademark owner in one of the member countries can obtain protection for his mark in some or all of the other member countries by filing a single international application in which he lists (designates) the countries in which the application is to apply. The Madrid system is governed by two treaties: the Madrid Agreement, which dates from 1891 and the Madrid Protocol, which became operational in 1996 introducing a number of new features into the system to better meet the needs of potential new members. A country may adhere to either the Agreement or to the Protocol or to both.

During a reception hosted on behalf of the U.S. Committee for WIPO by the Honorable Orrin Hatch, Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, Dr. Idris also welcomed the USA's signature of the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement for the International Registration of Industrial Designs. He looked forward to rapid accession by the USA to this agreement which, he noted "will strengthen our global protection systems that allow individuals and companies to start and build business at the local level but quickly and easily establish a global presence". WIPO administers three global protection systems, namely, the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the Madrid System for the registration of marks and the Hague system for the registration of industrial designs, which offer a simplified and cost-effective means of intellectual property protection in multiple countries.

The Director General also paid tribute to the continued support of the United States government and business sector and its important contribution to the enhancement of the international intellectual property system in the 21st century. In this regard
Dr. Idris made reference to WIPO's commitment to strengthening its global protection systems; promoting adherence to WIPO-administered treaties, including the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and the WIPO Phonograms and Performers Treaty (WPPT) and providing assistance to developing countries to enable them to meet their international obligations, including under the TRIPS Agreement. Within an economic environment that is increasingly knowledge-based, such measures were the building blocks of the future. Dr. Idris said, "Modern economies are becoming increasingly knowledge-based. Intellectual property can be the fuel to drive that economy. But, we all must ensure that it is an economy in which people from developed and developing countries can and should participate. I am convinced we can do that. I am convinced that it is in the best interest of the United States to do so"

The Director General's visit to Washington also featured a meeting of the Task Force of the WIPO Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) under the Chairmanship of HRH Prince El-Hassan bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The Task Force discussed ways and means of managing globalization, intellectual property and its role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. The meeting also considered further proposals by its members to commission studies on the link between intellectual property system and wealth creation within both developing and developed countries.

For further information, please call the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

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