Forum to Commission Study on Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Rights
PRESS STATEMENT (99/07)
13th August 2007
FORUM TO COMMISSION STUDY ON TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
Forum Trade Ministers who met in Port Vila, Vanuatu recently have requested the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to commission a study on the establishment of a regional institution to advocate for and protect Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Intellectual Property Rights (PR) as envisaged by Pacific Leaders in the Pacific Plan.
During the meeting the Trade Ministers received an update on regional activities relating to IPRs in the Forum Island Countries (FICs) and proposed future directions for IPR development.
They noted the achievements of the Intellectual Property Rights Development Project to improve their Intellectual Property (IP) systems, in particular the way forward on a regional system to administer trade marks, the creation of the regional institution to advocate and protect TK and IPR and the implementation of the Model Law on TK and Expressions of Culture.
The Trade Ministers also took note of the progress of FIC IP Officials on the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Regional Trademark Application System aimed at enhancing efficiencies and reducing duplication of efforts in member countries through filing a single application for registration. The proposal from Papua New Guinea for the IP Office of PNG to act as the Examining Body for trademarks under the MOU was also noted.
They agreed in relation to the regional institution to advocate for and to protect TK and IPRs, that the feasibility study consider focal areas of development in core IPRs that are of interest and importance to the FICs such as designs and geographical indications and should not be limited to copyright and trademarks. Ministers also encouraged the formulation and implementation of activities in core IPRs that will support, to the extent possible, regional initiatives in TK.
The Ministers also endorsed the prominence of cultural issues and the regional cultural strategy (currently in the process of being developed) under the Pacific Plan and their relationship to the further development of frameworks of protection for TK. Particular reference was made to the implementation by FICs of the Model Law on TK and Expressions of Culture.
They urged the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and IP Australia to continue to assist FICs in core TK and IPR activities in the region.
(ENDS)
For more information, contact Ms Gail Olsson, Trade Policy Consultant on phone 679 331 2600 or email: gailo@forumsec.org.fj
13th August 2007
FORUM TO COMMISSION STUDY ON TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
Forum Trade Ministers who met in Port Vila, Vanuatu recently have requested the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to commission a study on the establishment of a regional institution to advocate for and protect Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Intellectual Property Rights (PR) as envisaged by Pacific Leaders in the Pacific Plan.
During the meeting the Trade Ministers received an update on regional activities relating to IPRs in the Forum Island Countries (FICs) and proposed future directions for IPR development.
They noted the achievements of the Intellectual Property Rights Development Project to improve their Intellectual Property (IP) systems, in particular the way forward on a regional system to administer trade marks, the creation of the regional institution to advocate and protect TK and IPR and the implementation of the Model Law on TK and Expressions of Culture.
The Trade Ministers also took note of the progress of FIC IP Officials on the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a Regional Trademark Application System aimed at enhancing efficiencies and reducing duplication of efforts in member countries through filing a single application for registration. The proposal from Papua New Guinea for the IP Office of PNG to act as the Examining Body for trademarks under the MOU was also noted.
They agreed in relation to the regional institution to advocate for and to protect TK and IPRs, that the feasibility study consider focal areas of development in core IPRs that are of interest and importance to the FICs such as designs and geographical indications and should not be limited to copyright and trademarks. Ministers also encouraged the formulation and implementation of activities in core IPRs that will support, to the extent possible, regional initiatives in TK.
The Ministers also endorsed the prominence of cultural issues and the regional cultural strategy (currently in the process of being developed) under the Pacific Plan and their relationship to the further development of frameworks of protection for TK. Particular reference was made to the implementation by FICs of the Model Law on TK and Expressions of Culture.
They urged the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and IP Australia to continue to assist FICs in core TK and IPR activities in the region.
(ENDS)
For more information, contact Ms Gail Olsson, Trade Policy Consultant on phone 679 331 2600 or email: gailo@forumsec.org.fj
