WIPO Director General Welcomes Steps by Costa Rica to Strengthen Intellectual Property System

Geneva, February 19, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/256

The Director General of the World intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, welcomed on Monday the adoption by Costa Rica's Legislative Assembly of eight legislative texts relating to intellectual property - covering both industrial property and copyright. A compilation of these texts was handed to the Director General at a meeting in Geneva by Mr. Frantz Acosta Polonio, Secretary, Commission on Intellectual Property, Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Costa Rica. Mr. Acosta was accompanied by Ambassador Mrs. Nora Ruiz de Angulo, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN in Geneva.

The approved laws are:

• Law on enforcement procedures of intellectual property rights, approved on October 5, 2000;
• Law on undisclosed information, approved on December 22, 1999;
• Law on the protection of layout designs of integrated circuits, approved on November 30, 1999;
• Law on trademarks and other distinctive signs, approved on December 22, 1999;
• Amendments to the Law on copyright and neighboring rights (No. 6683), to the Law on patents, industrial designs and utility models (No.6867), and to the Code on Civil Law Procedures (No.7130) approved on December 22, 1999;
• Approval of the WIPO Performance and Phonograph Treaty on December 16, 1999;
• Approval of the WIPO Copyright Treaty on December 16, 1999;
• Approval of the PCT on September 24, 1998.

The Director General said this move by the Legislative Assembly signaled Costa Rica's commitment to creating a robust intellectual property infrastructure which would foster creativity and innovation. In addition, there is increasing evidence that solid intellectual property systems are a key component to wealth and job creation.

Costa Rica joined WIPO in June 1981. It is party to 7 treaties administered by the Organization.

For further information, contact the Media Relations & Public Affairs Section at WIPO: Tel: + 41 22 338 81 61 or 338 95 47; Fax: + 41 22 338 88 10; E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int.