Intellectual property plays an increasingly important role
as a key determinant of economic growth and competitiveness
particularly as countries seek to develop technological capacity
and promote innovation. However for this to be successful there
must be a comprehensive understanding of the role and importance
of IP both by policy makers and respective experts, particularly
in view of the impact of IP rules on many public policy areas
such as health, bio-diversity, environment and access to knowledge.
This serves as the objective of the two-week colloquium for
teachers of IP jointly organised by the World Intellectual Property
Organization and the World Trade Organization from 30 June to
10 June 2008.
The goal of this forum is to give lawyers, economists or other
university teachers working in the field of IP the opportunity
to update their knowledge of the activities and instruments
of WIPO and the WTO and to provide an environment for an exchange
of information, in particular on teaching methodologies.
In light of this initiative, the International Centre for
Trade & Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the Quaker UN Office
(QUNO) facilitated a dialogue between IP professionals and Geneva-based
IP country negotiators. The event served as an opportunity for
participants at the WTO-WIPO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual
Property to meet informally with the Geneva-based community
working on intellectual property issues.
The purpose of the dialogue is to provide an informal setting
in which academic stakeholders, who will influence IP policymaking,
to discuss developments in IP negotiations and processes, particularly
at the WTO and WIPO, as well as positions adopted by countries
in these fora.