WIPO Capacity Building Activities in Central
European and Baltic States and
Mediterranean Countries
Maribor, November 5 to 7, 2012
Mr. Ryszard Frelek, Division for Certain Countries in Europe
and Asia, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Knowledge is power…
Francis Bacon, philosopher,
statesman, scientist, jurist,
and author
The creation, protection and
management of knowledge is power……
XXIst Century
….Intellectual Property
Outline
1. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
2. Division for Certain Countries in Europe and Asia (DCEA)
3. WIPO Tools for Countries in Transition
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
WIPO
Specialized agency of the United Nations.
185 Member States (more then 90% of countries in the world).
Dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual
property (IP) system.
It’s a legal/institutional system which:
Rewards creativity
Stimulates innovation
Contributes to economic development
(safeguarding the public interest)
WIPO Core tasks
Developing international IP laws and standards.
Delivering global IP protection services.
Encouraging the use of IP for economic development.
Promoting a better understanding of IP.
Providing a forum for debate.
Division for Certain Countries in Europe and Asia (DCEA)
DCEA
Ensures WIPO cooperation activities in the regions covering Certain
Countries in Europe and Asia:
- Central European and Baltic States;
- Central Asian;
- Eastern European;
- Caucasian countries;
- Some Mediterranean countries.
Support these countries in developing national IP strategies, identifying
strategic issues, opportunities and risks, promoting the implementation of
such strategies to accomplish development objectives, supporting national
economic analysis, introducing modern management methods for the use of
IP assets for economic growth.
The objective is to tailor WIPO’s technical assistance by taking into
consideration the differences at respective levels of economic and social
development of DCEA countries and, hence, also different levels of IP
infrastructure.
Specific features of Countries in Transition




Level of IP awareness not always in coherence with the growing
performance of the industry and export of their products;
High cost of international protection of IPRs due to the required
administration and translation of applications, etc.;
Level of awareness of legal aspects at research institutions, universities as
well as within the business sector and, generally, level of motivation and
support to protect new ideas and discoveries;
Limited number and resources of qualified mediating entities such as
technology transfer agencies and IP/licensing agencies.
Specific features of Countries in Transition






Need of progress in economic development
To meet requirements of sustainable development in transparency,
predictability of legal, financial, environmental field
Negotiations on the road to WTO membership – TRIPS agreement
requirements
European integration perspective, EU Neighborhood Policy, Eastern
Partnership
EU accession negotiations
Recently reached EU membership
WIPO events with Slovenia
Took place:
Participation in the Slovenia Innovation Day, Brdo, September 26, 2012;
Visit of the Director General, linked to the Bled Strategic Forum, September
9 and 10, 2011;
Study visit of students from University of Ljubljana, to WIPO headquarters in
Geneva, in April 12, 2011
Upcoming
National Training of Trainers Program for SMEs, Ljubljana, November 20
and 21, 2012;
Activities for 2013 are being planned
WIPO Tools for Countries in Transition
Background




Heads of the IP Offices of the Visegrad countries in early 2007
During the Strategic Planning Meeting in July 2007 in Moscow
Reconfirmed in Ljubljana at the Strategic Seminar for the Use of IPRs for
Development in November 2007
Interregional Symposium on the Use of IPRs Involving Modern
Management Methods, Tashkent, January, 22 to 24, 2008
To develop capacity building activities (tools) tailored to the specific needs
of countries in transition.
WIPO Tools
DCEA has been developing a new series of tools for experts and
practitioners, as well as policy makers in countries in transition.
They cover topics, which are most important for countries in transition
= RELEVENT
These tools are being developed in cooperation with all stakeholders, based
on their needs, their experience and their knowledge.
= JOINT EFFORT
They are “live” documents, meaning that they are constantly being updated.
= UP TO DATE
They are not just publications, but also many activities related to them, such
as expert meetings, conferences, seminars etc.
= EFFECTIVE
WIPO Tools

Guidance for Elaboration of IP Strategies

Management of Academic Intellectual Property and Early Stage
Innovation
Special Features of the Copyright Systems
Nation Branding in Countries in Transition
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights
Recommendations on Strengthening the Role of Innovative SMEs
in CIS countries
……..





Tool 1: Guidance for Elaboration of IP Strategies
One of the priorities of DCEA activities is to provide support to Member
States to enable them to assess the case for creating a national Intellectual
Property (IP) Strategy and how to relate that to the Government’s economic
development.






First-stage manual in developing IP strategies in countries in transition
Objectives which need to be identified;
Questions which need to be answered;
Action plan;
Who are the relevant stakeholders;
Check-list;
Etc.
What is the Desired Outcome
To create an environment in which Intellectual Property enables innovators
and creators:




to lever economic value from their work;
enhance the economic success of the country to the benefit of its
businesses, researchers, creators, and society as a whole;
to strengthen economic competitiveness;
with due respect to requirements of sustainable development.
Tool 2: Management of Academic Intellectual Property and
Early Stage Innovation in Countries in Transition





Identification of legal and institutional elements of the early stage innovation
systems, including existing innovation and IP laws, role of central innovation
promotion bodies, incubation parks, etc.
Identification of the best practices and their comparison with practices in
other countries
Creation of a model for the early stage management of academic IP
Follow-up : Case Study on Technology Transfer
Foreseen event to launch: June 2011, Baku, Azerbaijan
Tool 3: Special Features of the Copyright Systems of
Countries in Transition
Research/overview on the following issues/situation in countries in transition:





State administration of copyright (governmental tasks and organizational
structure, including relevant provisions in the copyright laws).
Adherence to, and implementation of, the 1996 WIPO Internet treaties and
the related provisions in national legislation.
Provisions of the copyright laws on original ownership of rights (in particular
as regards works created by employed authors) and on the issue of
transferability of economic rights.
Legislative regulation of copyright contracts.
Collective management of copyright and related rights and the regulation
thereof in the copyright laws.
Components




Adaptation of the Copyright Laws of Countries in Transition to New
Technologies; Accession to, and Implementation of, the WIPO “Internet
Treaties”
Typical Features of Copyright in Countries in Transition: Review of the
Transition Process – Guidance for Its Completion Where It May Still Be
Needed
Case Study – Chapter on Enforcement of copyright, in particular, in the
digital online environment
Kick off event to be organized shortly
Tool 4: Nation Branding in Countries in Transition




Development of methods for identification of the country image on foreign
markets
Identification of basic practices for creation of national brands
Establishment of main types of cooperation between national governments
and private sector in creation and improvement of the external country
image
Kick off event to introduce the Tool held in May 2011, Istanbul, Turkey
Tool 5: Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in
Countries in Transition





Development of methods of determination of the piracy and counterfeiting in
the country
Identification of areas where enforcement is insufficient
Development of model legislative provisions on enforcement of IPRs for
incorporation into national laws
Further development of the national systems of enforcement, development
of coordination and interaction among law-enforcement bodies, courts etc.
Kick off event to introduce the Tool to be held in September 2011, Belgrade,
Serbia
Tool 6: Recommendations on Strengthening the Role of
Innovative SMEs in Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS countries)


Requested by the CIS Inter-State Council For IPRs
Intended for the CIS countries
New Tools under development:




Tool on IP Teaching in Countries in Transition
Tool on the Economic Aspects of IP in Countries in
Transition
Tool on Traditional Knowledge in Countries in Transition
Tool on Digitalization of Intangible Cultural Heritage in
Countries in Transition
IP Teaching in Countries in Transition





Targeted to provide for an effective education in IP at relevant levels. It is
expected that the results of this project will further shape the institutional
practices in different government agencies and universities.
Identifying, among others, the current situation regarding IP teaching in the
countries concerned.
To benchmark the best practices in comparison with those of some
developed countries.
Web project under elaboration
Tool outline to be discussed in August 2011,Astana, Kazakhstan
Tool on Economic Aspects of IP




Inter-Regional Workshop on Economic Aspects of IP held in Lviv, Ukraine,
February 2011
1st brainstorming of experts of the our region on the needs and expectations
on the development of this Tool, identifying the key topics to focus on
Possible contribution of IP to national development, revenues, income
Lost opportunities on the other hand in case of lack of appropriate
institutional and legal measures and management
End Remarks
WIPO, through DCEA, will continue to tailor capacity building activities to
the needs and expectations of the countries concerned, in order to
contribute to their sustainable social, cultural and economic development.
WIPO Tools for Countries in Transition are one of many such activities,
which aim to establish a reliable and efficient IP ecosystem in the countries
concerned.
The enforcement agencies/institutions are very important actors in the
development of an IP ecosystem.
Your knowledge about IP, also taken from, and shared in, the WIPO Tools
for Countries in Transition, will contribute to economic development in your
country.
WIPO and DCEA is there to help you…..
More…
www.wipo.int
www.wipo.int/dcea
ryszard.frelek@wipo.int
Thank you for your attention!