WIPO Director General Meets EC Commissioner Bolkestein
Geneva, June 25, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/277
The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, met on Monday with the European Commission's (EC) Internal Market Commissioner, Mr. Frits Bolkestein, for talks on WIPO's program of work and issues of mutual interest. The meeting, at WIPO's Geneva headquarters, included briefings on WIPO's work with respect to progressive development of intellectual property system in response to emerging technologies and electronic commerce, as well as global intellectual property issues including traditional knowledge.
In light of growing awareness by civil society and the non-governmental sector of issues relating to intellectual property, Dr. Idris and Commissioner Bolkestein agreed on the need to intensify public outreach efforts. Demystification of intellectual property - or creating a better understanding of the value of intellectual property in stimulating development and wealth creation and facilitating the transfer of technology - has been a central concern of Dr. Idris since he took over leadership of the Organization in November 1997. A central message of the Organization to civil society is the inherent value of intellectual property system as a policy tool to stimulate development and wealth creation. Broad-based support is necessary for societies to exploit the developmental potential of intellectual property.
With respect to the developmental aspects of intellectual property, the Director General briefed Commissioner Bolkestein on WIPO's continued commitment to assistance to developing countries and least developed countries. WIPO recently approved a program of practical assistance which outlined a set of concrete measures to enable LDCs to harness the economic benefits of their creativity through more effective systems of intellectual property protection.
Talks also covered WIPO's work in exploring the intellectual property aspects of traditional knowledge, folklore and access to genetic resources. Also, the Commissioner was briefed on WIPO's work relating to the intellectual property aspects of electronic commerce, in particular work being done to prevent conflicts between the traditional intellectual property system and the domain name system.
For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:
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