Jul 22, 1998

WTO/WIPO JOINT PROGRAMME TO IMPLEMENT TRIPS

 

Geneva, 21 July (TWN) -- The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced Tuesday a joint initiative to provide technical cooperation to developing countries to help them implement the TRIPS agreement. 

The heads of the two organizations, Mr. Renato Ruggiero and Dr. Kamil Idris are sending a joint communication to developing countries to inform them of the initiative and the help available in preparing legislation, training and institution building, and enforcement. 

The provisions of the TRIPS accord kick in for developing countries by year 2000, though those of them that provide 'process' but not 'product' patents in pharmaceutical sector get an additional five years. 

The TRIPS accord requires developing countries to bring laws on copyright, patents, trademarks and other areas of intellectual property into line with the TRIPS provisions, and provide for effective enforcement of these laws. 

The TRIPS provisions in several of these areas, while requiring developing countries to increase the rights of IPR holders, also provide a range of options they could exercise in public interest.  

Some non-government participants and experts on these issues have been impressing on developing country governments to make their own assessments, and if necessary draw on non-governmental assistance to explore the various options available to them, and the use of competition laws to hit abuse of monopoly rights that the TRIPS accord gives to IPR holders, mainly TNCs.