Minutes - TRIPS Council - View details of the intervention/statement

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1. Meeting date

2. Chairperson

H.E. Ambassador Dr. Walter Werner

3. Intervention by

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

4. Agenda item

11   TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING

5. Statement/summary of statement

319.   The document IP/C/W/644/Rev.1/Add.5 provides a detailed list of activities undertaken by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that were relevant to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement. The document covers activities organized during the period September 2017 to September 2018. 320.   It may be seen from this document that WIPO has provided extensive legal and technical assistance to Members to support their efforts in implementing obligations arising from the TRIPS Agreement. The activities that have been undertaken have contributed to enhancing the ability of Members to use the intellectual property system for economic, social and cultural development and to promote innovation. Further, WIPO has assisted countries in integrating intellectual property in their national development and public policies. 321.   WIPO remains committed to continue providing assistance to Members States to implement their obligations under the TRIPS Agreement and to leverage the IP system to promote creativity and innovation.

6. Documents referred to in intervention

7. Conclusion

The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

8. Summary of the agenda item (if available)

44.   The Chair recalled that in June 2018, the Council had agreed to hold the annual review of technical cooperation at the November meeting. Developed country Members had been requested to update information on their technical and financial cooperation activities relevant to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement. Other Members who also made available technical cooperation were encouraged to share information on these activities. The Secretariat had issued an airgram on 5 July 2018 reminding Members of this request. Intergovernmental organizations observers to the Council and the Secretariat had also been invited to provide information.
45.   The Council had received information from the following developed country Members: United States of America, Switzerland, Australia, Japan and Canada. Their reports had been circulated in document IP/C/W/647 and addenda. Shortly before the meeting, the Council had also received the reports from New Zealand, as well as from the European Union and some of its member States, namely Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Advance copies of both reports had been made available as room documents on documents online and would also be circulated as addenda to document IP/C/W/647.
46.   The following intergovernmental organizations had also submitted updated information: the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Health Organization (WHO), World Customs Organization (WCO), African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Their reports had been circulated in document IP/C/W/644/Rev.1 and addenda. Since the circulation of the revised draft agenda, information had also been received from UPOV, which would be made available shortly.
47.   Updated information on the Secretariat's own technical cooperation activities in the TRIPS area could be found in document IP/C/W/645.
48.   The representatives from Canada, Australia, Japan, the United States of America, Norway, the European Union, the Secretariat, the WHO, the GCC, UNCTAD, WIPO and ARIPO took the floor.
49.   The Council took note of the statements made and agreed to revert to the matter at its next meeting.

9. Document symbol and date of distribution

IP/C/M/90, IP/C/M/90/Add.1
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