WIPO and NGOs discuss IP and Development

For the first time, meetings between WIPO and accredited NGOS took place in Geneva on 15 September 2005. This is hoped to be the basis for future dialogue between WIPO and different interested groups. There is clearly an opportunity for such discussions and participants to influence WIPO's direction, consistent with the Geneva Declaration on the Future of WIPO. This could also go some way to addressing the (at least) perception that WIPO is overly focussed on the interests of IP owners, and expansion of IP.