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WIPO Director General and President of Bulgaria Open International Conference on Intellectual Property

Geneva, May 31, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/271

The growing significance of intellectual property as a tool of development and wealth creation were highlighted by the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, and the President of Bulgaria, Mr. Petar Stoyanov, at a three-day international conference which opened in Sofia, Bulgaria, on May 29, 2001. Intellectual property, President Stoyanov emphasized, influences all sectors of the economy and cultural life and was increasingly a defining factor for the future wellbeing of all peoples. Dr. Idris underlined the importance of creating a universal culture of awareness about intellectual property.

"One of the major challenges is the need to awaken a global consciousness of the real value of intellectual property, in a world where increasingly sophisticated digital technology and rapidly increasing communications are moving us away from traditional factors of wealth creation such as land, labor and capital and towards an economy based on knowledge, information and creativity," Dr. Idris told the opening session of the International Conference on Intellectual Property, the Internet, Electronic Commerce and Traditional Knowledge, which was attended by over 200 delegates from some 40 countries. These included government officials, legal professionals, members of the business community and academia. The opening session of the conference was moderated by Dr. Borislav Borisov, Vice Rector and Director of the Department of Intellectual Property, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, and Chairman of the National Intellectual Property Association of Bulgaria.

President Stoyanov, reaffirmed his government's commitment to promoting intellectual property in Bulgaria. He emphasized the prime importance of ideas and intellectual products and the growing significance of intellectual property in re-defining national priorities and self-confidence.

Dr. Idris thanked the Bulgarian President for his "invaluable support and presence". He said "the subjects under discussion are of great importance for the future of the intellectual property system and, therefore, ultimately for the economic, social and cultural benefit of all". The Director General affirmed that "by creating an intellectual property-minded community and encouraging an intellectual property culture, we can help ensure the recognition that a strong, well-functioning intellectual property system is a major element of economic policy that can have a positive and significant impact on gross national product (GNP) as well as creating a market-oriented and business-friendly environment that encourages both foreign direct investment and local investment in research and development." He said "the potential of the intellectual property system as a means of empowerment for nations, individuals and business is one of WIPO's central messages for the 21st century".

The Director General spoke of the transforming impact of the Internet on business practices and communications and the enormous opportunities it afforded in terms of "facilitating knowledge sharing and allowing easy access to an electronic treasure house of information". He said "the Internet provides countries with a golden opportunity to access ... information and knowledge - which is the raw material of innovation - as well as providing new ways of marketing the fruits of creativity. In this way, it is helping to "level the playing field" of developing countries and countries in transition to market economy. Now, economic, social and cultural growth increasingly depend on an asset available to every country (regardless of differences in cultures and degrees of development) - the limitless creativity of its people. WIPO is working with its member states to mine and forge this inexhaustible natural resource into new means of wealth creation," he added.

The Director General outlined a number of current WIPO initiatives to adapt the intellectual property system to demands and concerns of the modern world and underlined the fact that "WIPO considers it vital to work closely with its partners and stakeholders to ensure that the intellectual property system remains supple and adaptable to the changing needs of our rapidly evolving societies". He added, "an efficient, energetic intellectual property infrastructure creates and fosters economic, social and cultural growth, stimulates investment in the creation and dissemination of new products and services and helps generate the new knowledge necessary to drive the innovative process forward".

From a message of Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Idris, highlighted the establishment of the Information and Technology Advisory Group and other international initiatives to help bridge the digital divide and to harness the potential of technology for the development of all. Mr. Annan said that, "The world is changing rapidly and the digital technologies even more so. A clear and strong framework for intellectual property rights that would protect but also facilitate the acquisition and transfer of technology is more vital than ever before." He added "effective intellectual property systems are essential to fostering an enabling environment to attract foreign direct investment, stimulating innovation and creativity, and promoting sustainable development".

The Conference, organized by WIPO in cooperation with the National Intellectual Property Association of Bulgaria (full program available at /ip-conf-bg), examined recent developments in the intellectual property system affecting the interests of users operating in the digital environment. Conference sessions also focused on future international initiatives to adapt the existing intellectual property system to the challenges of the scientific and technological revolution. The intellectual property aspects of traditional knowledge, folklore and genetic resources were also reviewed.

During his two-day visit to Bulgaria, the Director General also held bilateral talks with President Stoyanov. Bulgaria's President has been active in promoting awareness of intellectual property both nationally and internationally. President Stoyanov is a member of WIPO's Policy Advisory Commission (PAC), an advisory body to the Director General which is composed of eminent policy makers.

In addition, during his visit, Dr. Idris, in the presence of Ms. Lyubov Panayotova, Deputy Minister of Economy, inaugurated the newly automated Industrial Property Information Public Service at the Bulgarian Patent Office. Mr. Mircho Mirchev, President of the Bulgarian Patent Office was also present. During this event, Dr. Idris handed over computer equipment provided by WIPO which will enable the office search for patent information on-line and on CD-ROM. This is part of the cooperation program established between the Republic of Bulgaria and WIPO in the framework of a Nationally Focused Action Plan (NFAP) aiming at modernizing the intellectual property system for increased competitivity of Bulgarian Industry, SMEs, R&D and other organizations.

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

  • Tel: (+41 22) 338 81 61 or (+41 22) 338 95 47;
  • Fax: (+41 22) 338 88 10;
  • E-mail: publicinf@wipo.in
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