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June 16, 2005
World Intellectual Property Organization Under Assault from Developing Countries
Development Agenda, Allegations Could Impede WIPO and the Third World, says Swedish think tank.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has come under pressure from developing countries to endorse a ‘Development Agenda’ that could inflict significant costs on advanced economies around the world by weakening the protection of intellectual property rights.
"This move, if adopted, could significantly impact the Swedish economy, principally investments in new technologies that require intellectual property protections", said Waldemar Ingdahl, director of the Swedish think tank Eudoxa.
Shaken by recent allegations of bribery and financial mismanagement under the leadership of Director General Kamil Idris, WIPO now faces its biggest task yet – saving the institution from activists and developing countries that seek to limit the protection and enforcement of global patent rights.
"Swedish government and businesses annually give over $3.5 million to WIPO to protect and enforce global intellectual property rights", said Ingdahl. "I urge the Swedish government to protect the rights of businesses and investors and block the Development Agenda".
The ‘Development Agenda’ is an expansive international movement to weaken the premise of intellectual property rights. The agenda is being pushed by countries such as Brazil and India and non-governmental organizations such as the Consumer Project on Technology and Free Software Foundation Europe.
Next week, leaders will meet at WIPO in Geneva to debate the ‘Development Agenda.’ During this time, leaders should recall recent success stories in Jordan, Singapore and South Korea where these nations have leveraged property right protections to increase economic growth and prosperity. "I urge Swedish and European governments to support the benefits of property rights" Ingdahl continued. "Property rights are the key to development and prosperity for the Third World".
The Eudoxa think tank is situated in Stockholm, Sweden. Their focus is on discussing the effects of emerging technologies and scientific progress and their relations with society and economics.
For further information, please contact Director Waldemar Ingdahl. Telephone +46 8 83 87 73, e-mail info@eudoxa.se
Posted by Waldemar at June 16, 2005 04:04 PM