WIPO Director General Meets With ASEAN Chief

by Mary Swire, for LawAndTax-News.com, Hong Kong

22 March 2007

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr Kamil Idris, on Tuesday met with the Secretary General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Ong Keng Yong, to review cooperation activities, and discuss the best ways to allow ASEAN member countries to capitalize on the intellectual property system to promote development and economic growth.

"The ASEAN countries have recognized the strategic importance of intellectual property as a tool for economic, social and cultural development. WIPO is fully committed to supporting these nations in realizing their intellectual property potential," Dr Idris stated.

Mr Ong confirmed ASEAN member countries’ commitment to the strategic use of IP, and pointed out that ASEAN countries had seen the positive results of proactive policies relating to IP.

He said that further assistance and support was required to bridge the gaps in levels of IP awareness and capacity among the ASEAN group, and expressed the hope that WIPO would continue to provide tailor-made assistance to individual countries.

Dr Idris reiterated the Organization’s continued support to the ASEAN countries. They also discussed the importance of enforcement of IP rights, which is a growing priority area for all ASEAN countries. Both emphasized the need for a regular dialogue – both at executive and working levels – between WIPO and ASEAN to ensure that mutual goals are realized in a timely manner.

Specific cooperation activities between WIPO and ASEAN include capacity building programs in a number of areas, such as development of IP system operations, IP and public interest issues, enforcement and alternative dispute settlement, and IP awareness and education.

Other activities include a number of studies of particular interest to ASEAN. Among these are studies on the economic contribution of the copyright-based industries to employment and foreign trade. A number of other empirical studies to measure the impact of IP policies and activities are also planned for the future.

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