The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced on Tuesday that
it is organizing a conference on October 29 and 30, 2007 at its Geneva headquarters,
on Intellectual Property and the Creative Industries.
According to WIPO, in a high-level segment on October 29, senior government
officials responsible for cultural affairs and intellectual property (IP) will
reflect on creativity and its expression within different cultural contexts
and policy environments. Throughout the conference, creative artists, academics
and creative business representatives will speak on the creative process, factors
that underpin the success of creative industries, the sector’s significance
in contributing to economic and cultural development, and strategies to stimulate
and promote creative activities in diverse settings.
The Organization explained that:
"A balanced intellectual property system is an essential factor in enabling
creators and creative companies –especially those seeking to commercially
exploit their creative works (books, film, and music, among others) –
to nurture and manage their creativity. Thanks to the use of the IP system (particularly
copyright), and the expanded distribution and dissemination of these creative
works, the market for these products has significantly expanded."
"The WIPO conference will provide an opportunity for the public to examine
the role of IP rights in securing the value of the creativity which fuels the
creative industries sector. In addition to offering practical insights on the
use and protection of the IP system, the conference will seek to contribute
to ongoing debates on themes, such as the concept and origins of creativity,
creativity and IP in support of development, measurement of creative industries,
creative industries in the digital environment, and the business of creativity:
innovative business models in the creative industries."
The conference is open to the public and will bring together a wide range of
participants including representatives of member states; cultural and IP-related
policy makers; creative artists; scholars; creative industries representatives;
industry associations; legal representatives; and developers of digital technology.