INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
AND COMPETITIVENESS OF MICRO, SMALL AND
MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (MSMES)
Rome, December 10 and 11, 2009
Presentation by Daphne Yong-d’Hervé, ICC
“IP support services and chambers of commerce”
ICC - the world business organization
Represents business all over the world
Promotes cross-border trade and investment and the multilateral trading
system
Companies, chambers of commerce and business organizations of all
sizes and from all sectors from 130 countries
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ICC activities
ICC has three main activities:
Rules-setting
Arbitration
Policy
Intellectual Property in ICC
Commission on Intellectual Property
World business views on key IP issues since 1920’s
BASCAP
High level initiative uniting different sectors worldwide
to fight against counterfeiting
Roadmap on current and emerging IP issues
Annual overview of key intellectual property policy
issues – Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese
Chambers of commerce in ICC
World Chambers Federation
 Global network of 12 000 chambers of commerce
representing over 130 countries
 World Chambers Congress –2009 Kuala Lumpur;
2011 Mexico City
 World Chambers Network – networking, information
exchange, business opportunities
 Trade facilitation role – ATA Carnets; certificates of
origin
Chambers of commerce
National/ regional/ local/ transational
Mandatory (public law) or voluntary (private law) membership
Ideal channels for educating businesses about IP
• Trusted by businesses
• Natural hub for local business community
• Link between companies and other institutions
• Understand business needs
Chambers of commerce and IP - overview
Current situation
• IP services not well-developed in chambers of commerce
• If exist, not considered as key issue
• Seems most developed in Europe: Lisbon strategy, EC and EPO
projects/funding
• Usually in partnership: IPOs, WIPO, EPO/EC, private sector
organizations (eg IP law firms, service providers)
Factors determining design of services
• Interests of funding partner e.g. IP offices will tend to promote use of
IP registration system
• Local economic activity: IPRs most appropriate to local businesses
• Need for activity to bring in revenues – most chambers are
dependent on private resources
• Member companies’ interests
• General focus and expertise of chamber : integration into existing
services/departments eg training, business consultancy, trade
Types of IP services in chambers
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Communication - web-sites,
newsletters, guides, media
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Training - seminars and workshops
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Consultancy services
- IP specific ; general business advice
- First line ; experts network;
professional services;
- IP management; technical
searches; technology transfer;
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licensing
Surveys; studies
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Awareness raising – business
schools,businesses, consumers,
special days, media, publications
IP business opportunities –
matchmaking, licensing, market
placement, use of Innovation Relay
Centre and World Chambers Networks
Policy advocacy
Encouragement of innovation and
IP asset development – awards,
exhibitions, innovation counsellors, IP
management support
Chambers’ constraints
Lack of awareness among chambers re importance of IP
Lack of expertise within the organization and sometimes the
region/country
Isolation and lack of a support network
Lack of human and financial resources
 Chambers rely on private resources
 Development agencies do not recognize IP as tool for economic
development
ICC IP tool kit for chambers
ICC IP-toolkit for chambers
• Aims to encourage and help chambers set up IP programmes
for local businesses
• Tools for chambers, not for businesses
• Web portal brings together existing resources and materials in
one place for chambers
• International platform for chambers interested in IP
IP tool-kit website
• Explanation of what IP is
• Why IP is important for
businesses and for chambers
• Policy tools
- ICC IP roadmap
- ICC IP commission papers
• IP action in chambers
• Enforcement tools – BASCAP
• Outreach tools
• Links to IP organizations and
WIPO SME website
• Training programmes and tools
IP tool-kit website
IP action in chambers
2007/2009 worldwide survey
of chambers’ IP activities
Information from about 60 chambers in
Africa, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific
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national chambers (e.g. Uruguay, Germany, Mongolia)
regional chambers (e.g. Wellington, West Sweden, Sussex)
city/municipal chambers (e.g. Manizales, Zurich, Durban)
ICC National Committees
Information received summarized in table on website
Exchange of experiences and network
Other activities
Training workshop for chamber staff
in cooperation with WIPO - 2008
Manual to help chambers of commerce develop
IP activities – working with WIPO/EPO/Uruguay Chamber
For more information
ICC’s IP tool-kit for chambers of commerce:
http://www.iccwbo.org/policy/ip/toolkit
ICC’s activities:
IP Commission, BASCAP, World Chambers Federation
www.iccwbo.org
Daphne Yong-d’Hervé
dye@iccwbo.org