Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
D25
The inaugural APEC meeting on intellectual property rights has
recommended the establishment of an ad hoc Working Group within APEC to
advance regional cooperation on the issue.
More than 90 intellectual property experts from the APEC region met
in Sydney last week (Sheraton-on-the-Park Hotel from 17-19 May) to
discuss their obligations under the World Trade Orgganisation's
Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Participants at the
seminar, which was the first under the APEC umbrella, included
Government and non-Government officials from many APEC economies and
representatives from the World Customs Organisation, the World
Intellectual Property Organisation and the WTO.
Seminar participants agreed that a recommendation establishing an ad
hoc Working Group should be put to the next meeting of the APEC
Committee on Trade and Investment scheduled for Sapporo in July. The ad
hoc Working Group would explore the potential for technical and
education cooperation and assistance on implementation of intellectual
property rights in APEC.
There was also agreement that APEC members consider establishing a
mechanism to ensure a better flow of information on intellectual
property rights, particularly on the TRIPS Agreement.
The Committee for Trade and Investment presently supervises a diverse
work program on areas including harmonisation of customs procedures and
regulations, more uniform investment regimes and more common approaches
to standards-setting in various sectors.
Participants at the Sydney seminar acknowledged the importance of
adequate intellectual property protection. They focussed in particular
on cooperative measures as the most appropriate means to ensuring a more
effective regional intellectual property infrastructure.
For further information:
Ms Lenore Neal (Intellectual Property and Investment Section) on
261 2470
Mr Christopher Langman (APEC Trade and Investment Section) on 261
2437