World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

The following statements and decision are extracted from the General Report of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, document A/36/15, Thirty-Sixth Series of Meetings Geneva, September 24 to October 3, 2001.

Sub-program 06.1 - Modernization of the Intellectual Property System including Implementation of the TRIPS Agreement

(Extract from a report submitted to the WIPO Assemblies)

Concerning cooperation with LDCs, a High-Level Interregional Round Table on Intellectual Property for the LDCs, which was attended by 112 high-level government officials from 38 LDCs and five intergovernmental organizations, was organized in Lisbon in cooperation with the Government of Portugal. The objective of the meeting was to articulate policies and identify technical issues in order to better contribute to institution-building and human resources development in the area of intellectual property in LDCs. The Round Table constituted an integral part of the preparatory process for the Third United Nations Conference on LDCs organized in Brussels in May, and adopted a Ministerial Declaration on Intellectual Property for LDCs (see documents WIPO/LDC/2001/1 “WIPO Deliverables to Sustainable Development of Intellectual Property Systems in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and WIPO/RT/LDC/2/8 “High-Level Interregional Roundtable on Intellectual Property for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)”).

Extract from the Statement of the Director General of WIPO

(Please note that the statement of the Director General of WIPO which was adopted by the WIPO Assemblies contained a Preamble and Operative paragraphs)

WIPO continued to follow up on its commitment to Least-Developed Countries, holding a High-Level Interregional Roundtable in February, which drafted the WIPO Lisbon Declaration on Intellectual Property for LDCs. The Organization subsequently produced a set of “deliverables” for sustainable development of intellectual property systems for LDCs, which it presented at the UN Third Conference on LDCs held in Brussels in May.

The feedback was positive, and we continue to believe with them that intellectual property is a critical tool for their economic growth and economic development. Our objective therefore continues to be to help LDCs to produce, compete and trade.

Decision as adopted by the Assemblies

The Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, each as far as it is concerned, approved the contents of document A/36/4, and noted the information contained in document A/36/5.

WIPO's Program of Assistance to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (pdf)

WIPO's website on LDCs

Inputs to Secretary-General's ECOSOC 2003 Report on the Implementation of BPoA for the LDCs (pdf)