NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Saturday, April 23, 2005

Saying it has made “a major shift in priorities and direction” since its last meeting two years ago, a committee on development in the United Nations agency on intellectual property rights says developing countries must devise policies and strategies that turn their traditional knowledge, healing arts and culture into national assets.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) says it is holding meetings this month and next to respond to a decision by its General Assembly last October that the body “incorporate the development dimension in WIPO’s various activities.”
A review prepared for a two-day meeting of the WIPO Permanent Committee on Cooperation for Development Related to Intellectual Property (PCIPD), starting today, says the panel’s aim is to help developing countries reach their goal of building a knowledge-based economy.
Story found here.