WIPO and the Development Agenda

At the recent WIPO Assemblies it was agreed that work on the Development Agenda would continue for another year. The Provisional Committee will prepare a report in 2007 for the General Assembly. This is a welcome development, although clearly the question is what will be achieved in securing a balanced and openminded approach to the role of IP in stimluating development in both the long and short term.

The need for WIPO to continue its focus in this area was highlighted by the parallel announcement of WHO consultations into IP and reports of a WTO meeting (thanks to IP Watch: http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=413&res=1024&print=0 http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index_test.php?p=412). IP, and its implementation and exploitation has its faults; but it has also advantages. The key challenge is to ensure that decisions as to the future of IP are made after broad and multi-faceted debate. This does seem to be taking place.