Multilateralism in action: Decisions taken by member state delegates at the WIPO Assemblies bolster the global intellectual property (IP) framework, the future of innovation and WIPO’s role in promoting the economic, social and cultural development of all countries.
Joined by industry groups and civil society members from around the world, negotiators at the meetings debate a full agenda containing issues that shape our modern global economy.
Delegates from WIPO’s 192 member states closed their 2019 Assemblies meetings with agreement on the Organization’s work program and related budget for the 2020-21 biennium, while WIPO’s intellectual property-related treaties attracted nearly a dozen new adherents.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has joined the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, moving the Act one step closer to entry into force.
(Photo: WIPO/Berrod)
Panel on Women in the Publishing Industry held on margins of WIPO Assemblies
WIPO Director General opens a panel discussion on “Empowering Women in the Publishing Industry” organized by the WIPO Human Resources Management Department and the Copyright and Creative Industries Sector. This is the fifth in a series of annual side events on gender organized during the WIPO Assemblies. [Photos on Flickr]
Trinidad and Tobago has joined the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks and the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry welcomed New Zealand's October 3, 2019, accession to WIPO's Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. New Zealand is the 60th contracting party to the Marrakesh Treaty, which now covers 87 countries.
Israel became the 63rd contracting party of the International Design System on October 3, 2019 when it acceded to the Geneva Act (1999) of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Designs. The Geneva Act will enter into force in Israel on January 3, 2020. [Video on YouTube]
(Photo: WIPO/Berrod)
Interactive Information Session on WIPO’s External Offices
An interactive information session on WIPO’s External Offices was held on the sidelines of the 2019 WIPO Assemblies. The session provided an overview of the activities of each of WIPO’s External Offices and their future work. [Video on YouTube]
Capitalizing on recent developments in digital technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), WIPO member states have decided to implement a new system for producing records of WIPO meetings that would lead to significant time- and cost savings.
Samoa has joined WIPO’s IP services for patents, appellations of origins and industrial designs. WIPO Director General thanked Samoa for its commitment to multilateralism as he received the accession documents to the services’ founding treaties from Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell, Samoa’s Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labour.
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry welcomed Venezuela's accession to WIPO's Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the 59th contracting party to the Marrakesh Treaty, which now covers 86 countries.
The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center met with member state officials for a discussion, including presentations, on the WIPO country code Top-Level Domain Program. [Photos on Flickr]
New economic research guidelines were unveiled during the WIPO Assemblies, in the presence of representatives of each of the eight major participating IP offices. [Video on YouTube]
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry welcomed the announcement by the European Union that the Governments of Finland and Germany have pledged to contribute to the WIPO Voluntary Fund which supports the participation of the world’s indigenous peoples and local communities in international negotiations hosted at WIPO.
Viet Nam’s Minister for Science and Technology, Chu Ngoc Anh, deposited his country’s instrument of accession to the Geneva Act (1999) of the Hague Agreement. This makes Viet Nam the 61st member of the 1999 Act and 71st member of the Hague Union. Foreign companies and designers can seek design protection through the Hague System in Viet Nam from December 30, 2019.
Director General Gurry’s report to the WIPO Assemblies summarizes the Organization’s achievements over the previous 12 months. According to the report, the rising interest in, and use of, IP globally has translated into heightened demand for the services of the Organization in all areas, including WIPO’s state-of-the-art global IP systems and its capacity building and other development programs, among a wide array of services offered by the Organization.
Director General Gurry welcomed more than 1,000 delegates from WIPO’s 192 member states to the 2019 edition of the WIPO Assemblies. In his opening address, he thanked delegates for their positive engagement in, and support for, the Organization and wished them positive outcomes in their deliberations during the Assemblies.
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry reported excellent results in the Organization’s global intellectual property (IP) services and finances while noting that record demand for IP rights, driven by rapid technological changes, has created increased challenges for the administration of IP in the global economy.
(Photo: WIPO/Berrod)
Ministers' voices at the Assemblies
Government ministers from around the world speak about the importance of the WIPO Assemblies.
Antigua and Barbuda – Ms. Maureen Hyman Payne, Minister of State, Senator, Ministry of Legal Affairs, Public Safety, Immigration and Labor
Cuba – Elba Rosa Pérez Montoya, Minister of Science, Technology and Environment
Kazakhstan – Mr. Marat Beketayev, Minister of Justice
Liberia – Mr. Wilson K. Tarpeh, Minister for Commerce & Industry
Montenegro – Dragica Sekulić, Minister for Economy
Samoa – Mr. Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Labor
Uganda – Kahinda Otafiire, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Viet Nam – Mr. CHU Ngoc ANH, Minister for Science and Technology
Events
Viet Nam – The Colors of Traditional Brocade and Silk
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry and Viet Nam’s Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh inaugurated the display – hosted by Viet Nam on the sidelines of the WIPO Assemblies – of a cherished local material and handicraft. [Photos on Flickr]
Russia: The Territory of Inventiveness and Creativity
The Russian Government hosted a cultural event, showcasing the latest developments of Russian scientists and engineers. The exhibition showed how intellectual property is key to promoting scientific and technological innovation. [Photos on Flickr]
(Photo: WIPO/Berrod)
EUIPO: A Quarter Century of Creativity
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and WIPO organized an exhibited entitled “25 Years EUIPO – Protecting / Creativity” to showcase milestones in the evolution of the EUIPO since its founding. WIPO Director General Francis Gurry and EUIPO Executive Director Christian Archambeau inaugurated the display. [Photos on Flickr]
Italy staged an event on the margins of the WIPO Assemblies on the importance of geographical indications and appellations of origin to its cultural identity and economy. The event was organized by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture food and Forestry Policies and Tourism (MIPAAFT) and the Italian Trade Agency in Switzerland (ITA). [Photos on Flickr]
Piña-Seda: Pineapple and Silk Cloths from the Philippines
Philippines hosted a demonstration of weaving by talented indigenous peoples during an exhibition featuring piña-seda, the famous pineapple-silk of the country. The event also featured an embroidery workshop, followed by a panel discussion on Intellectual Property for Indigenous Peoples. [Photos on Flickr]
Thailand – Silk and Wisdom
WIPO Director General Francis Gurry and Siriporn Boonchoo, Director General of Thailand’s Queen Sirikit Department of Sericulture, inaugurated on October 3, 2019, the exhibition “GI Thai Silk – Folk Wisdom to World Heritage,” where Ms. Boonchoo explained the interplay among Thai economic history, silk production and intellectual property, particularly geographical indications. [Photos on Flickr]
Innovative Ukraine – From Soul to Brain
The Ukraine Government hosted a music and light show - “Innovative Ukraine – From Soul to Brain”, highlighting the country’s efforts to harness knowledge and innovation to drive economic growth.
