PAC Endorses WIPO's Vision for Future Development of New Intellectual Property Frontiers
Geneva, October 11, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/294
A number of present and former heads of states, joined by other eminent persons, expressed strong support on Thursday for proposals by the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, to launch worldwide consultations to develop the international patent system so that it deals with the increasing demands of global users, becomes more user-friendly and accessible and provides a more equitable balance between the rights of inventors and the general public. The Policy Advisory Commission (PAC) also endorsed WIPO's efforts to find intellectual property solutions to questions relating to traditional knowledge. On both subjects, PAC members recognized WIPO's critical role, the strength of its contribution, its unique competence and the need for continuity of leadership in furthering these objectives.
Opening the day-long meeting, Dr. Idris welcomed the members saying their presence is "a clear demonstration of the growing importance of intellectual property for economic growth, economic development and wealth creation." Introducing the two agenda items, the Director General said, "In the patent system, I believe, lies the primary facilitator of human innovation and in traditional knowledge lies the roots of our common culture and heritage. This is why, in our vision, the empowerment of people is a central role of this Organization. In empowering people we need to take into account that they should be able to produce, compete and trade, and for that we need justice and not charity, and full participation." He emphasized, "intellectual property is foreign to no culture and native to all nations."
Outlining the path ahead, Dr. Idris said, "Today, it's a challenge for all international organizations, including the United Nations system and the non-governmental community, for the market sector and the non-state actors, that we move from the rhetoric of universal dreams to the application and realization of all these important dreams and objectives." He stressed, "We in WIPO are committed to working very closely with this very eminent group of people, in improving and refining our vision and also streamlining the policies and activities of this Organization."
In the absence of HRH Prince Hassan bin Talal, of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Commission appointed President Guido de Marco of Malta as Chairman of the PAC. President de Marco said that the role of the Commission was "to bring an input of persons who are not necessarily experts in patents and in copyright but who... because of their political experience [are] very much abreast of what is happening to us all." President de Marco spoke of the inherent human capacity to create and the need for laws to keep pace with technological change, saying, "We have moved into the digital revolution. We are moving into new concepts in creativity." He emphasized the importance of WIPO in providing tangible incentives for innovation and creativity that will benefit all countries.
Statements by PAC members revealed broad agreement on the inherent value of intellectual property to development. President Ion Iliescu of Romanian said, "Intellectual property must not be regarded only as an object worth being protected, but also as an instrument of development. Any country that wishes to achieve economic stability and growth needs a strong system of protecting and promoting intellectual property, which should induce trust and confidence of investors and stimulate creation. At the same time, we should not neglect the social, cultural and civilization related aspects of the intellectual property." The President urged WIPO to contribute to reducing the "knowledge-divide" between developed and developing countries.
President Petar Stoyanov of Bulgaria said the creation of a global patent system is a major challenge for the international community and that it is important for WIPO to continue to provide strong leadership in developing the patent system "to support the release of creative potential for economic benefit without unnecessary obstacles." While acknowledging the merits of strong intellectual property protection, the President also stressed the need to make the system more accessible. "We should encourage not only the vertical development of the system, but more importantly, its widening," he said, noting "the intellectual property system should offer equal opportunities to all creators, irrespective of their financial or economic strength." President Stoyanov concluded by stating "I think our Commission should express our strong support to the Director General of WIPO in taking the lead in the development of the international intellectual property system to be ready to serve the needs of all countries and users in the 21st century."
PAC members agreed that any reform of the international patent system hinged on requisite political will. In a statement at the end of their meeting, the PAC expressed support for WIPO's efforts "to create political momentum worldwide so as to achieve the expected objectives of the Patent Agenda." WIPO's 177 member states last month endorsed the "WIPO Patent Agenda", an important new initiative launched by Dr. Idris, to develop a strategic blueprint for the future evolution of the international patent system. Continued growth in the filing of patents around the world and increased public interest in the question of patents has fuelled pressure for fundamental change in the international patent system.
In a statement, the PAC also endorsed WIPO's work relating to traditional knowledge, folklore and access to genetic resources. The Commission heard a presentation on the work of the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore (ICG), which is exploring the relationship between intellectual property and traditional knowledge, folklore and access to genetic resources. The statement said the PAC "encourages and supports WIPO's efforts to find appropriate intellectual property mechanisms which recognize the inherent value of traditional knowledge and grant protection to traditional knowledge against its unauthorized use."
The PAC, a purely advisory body to the Director General and made up of eminent personalities in the fields of politics, diplomacy, law and public administration, is mandated to enhance WIPO's capacity to monitor and respond in a timely, informed and effective manner to international and regional developments in intellectual property, information technology and other fields bearing on WIPO's operations and policy environment.
Since its establishment in 1999, the PAC has been instrumental in raising awareness among policy makers and the public at large of the role and importance of intellectual property as a strategically important tool for economic development, wealth creation, social progress and cultural enrichment. This message is captured in the World Intellectual Property Declaration issued by the PAC in September 2000 which was designed to send a strong message about the universal value of intellectual property.
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