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How
IP benefits developing countries
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| The discussion
took place during the Inter-sessional Intergovernmental Meeting on
a Development Agenda for the World Intellectual Property Organization
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Geneva,
22 June 2005
– Developing countries can and do benefit from the intellectual property
(IP) system. This was the robust message conveyed by panellists in an
ICC-hosted discussion in the World Intellectual Property Organisation
(WIPO) yesterday. It sought to reassure developing countries which ha
d
questioned whether IP, and particularly the patent system, was of benefit
to their people.
Representatives from
innovative and creative industries in Brazil, India, Argentina and Egypt
told delegates at the WIPO Inter-sessional Intergovernmental meeting on
a Development Agenda for WIPO how IP had helped boost their industries'
competitiveness in local and international markets and contribute to the
development of the local economy.
Denise Naimara described
how Companhia Vale do Rio Doce , the biggest diversified mining company
in Brazil with operations in 18 countries, acknowledged and rewarded intellectual
property contributions by their employees. "When we license our patented
technologies, we know that this contributes to Brazil´s economic
growth and the creation of jobs. Since we started protecting our intellectual
property, our export revenue has increased, helping to contribute to Brazil's
sustainable development."
Peter Bloch, Chief
Operating Officer of Light Years IP, an NGO specializing in helping developing
countries increase export revenue through IP rights, described how LYIP
was helping the Ethiopian government use intellectual property techniques
to capture a larger share of the intangible value of its premium Harar
coffee. "The project could add US$50 million to Ethiopia's export
income," said Peter Bloch. " We firmly believe that intellectual
property has a function in poverty alleviation and can be a significant
factor for all countries that are struggling to compete in export markets
against the world's most efficient producers and manufacturers."
Dr P V Venugopal,
Director of International Operations at the Medicines for Malaria Venture,
a public-private partnership formed to develop drugs against malaria,
told WIPO delegates that more than one third of the world's population
lacked regular access to essential medicines. "Patents are not the
problem, let's stop arguing about whether patents are necessary or not,"
he said. "Medicines can only be developed if pharmaceutical companies
are part of the R&D team and they will only play their role if intellectual
property rights are protected and proper contractual terms established."
Mohammed Ramzy, Chief
Executive of El Nasr Film Company in Egypt, made an impassioned plea to
WIPO and governments to act against piracy of intellectual propoerty.
"None of my efforts as a creative producer would lead to the successful
completion of a film unless I was protected by copyright. To continue
to make films that support economic growth and cultural diversity in the
Arab world, I need international intellectual property norms that are
the same in all the countries where our films may travel ."
For Laura Tesoriero,
Chief Executive of EPSA Music, an independent Argentinian record label
specializing in tango and folk music, "Copyright is what enables
cultural creativity in the music industry, not only nationally but also
internationally, not only in the physical world but also in the digital
one, through the Internet. Artists, interpreters, composers, producers,
technicians, we all depend on copyright to enable us to continue to practise
our craft."
ICC organized the
panel to stimulate discussion on the role of the intellectual property
system in developing countries today. "ICC's mandate is to foster
economic growth in developed and developing countries alike, to better
integrate all countries into the world economy," said Peter Siemsen,
Brazilian Vice-Chair of the ICC Commission on Intellectual Property. "We
believe that intellectual property rights are an invaluable tool for growth
and progress and are ready to assist governments and intergovernmental
organisations, such as WIPO, in helping individuals, communities and businesses
in developing countries make better use the intellectual property system
to this end."
For further information,
please contact:
Daphne Yong-d'Hervé
Senior Policy Manager
Tel +33 1 49 53 28 24
E-mail Click here to send a mailClick here to send a mail
ICC's Roadmap of Current
and Emerging Intellectual Property Issues for Business can be found at
http://www.iccwbo.org/iproadmap
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