2020-01-15
73
Швеция
Швейцария
11. Сирийская Арабская Республика от имени Группы арабских стран
Тринидад и Тобаго
Соединенное Королевство
Соединенные Штаты Америки
Замбия
AUSTRALIA
Medium Term Strategic Plan
Australian Comments
Australia considers that the Medium Term Strategic Plan provides a high-level vision for the Organisation which carefully balances the roles of WIPO as an intellectual property service provider and norm-setting agency, while paying particular attention to the important development dimension of WIPO’s work.
Australia has welcomed the inclusive and transparent consultative process and significant work that was undertaken in preparing the Medium Term Strategic Plan, and considers that the text strikes an appropriate balance between the diverse views of Member States. We also support the proposed mid-term review of the Medium Term Strategic Plan as a useful mechanism to ensure the continued relevance of the targeted strategic outcomes and defined strategies of WIPO.
In Australia’s view, the Medium Term Strategic Plan will provide an effective road-map by which to ensure that the international intellectual property system is able to respond to the challenges that have arise in the rapidly evolving technological, economic and social circumstances in which we live, work, and create. We would like to draw attention to a number of areas of particular importance for Australia.
On Strategic Goal One, Australia welcomes the focus on the normative framework as integral to the functioning of the multilateral intellectual property system. The focus gives the organisation the opportunity to support member states in considering the current and future needs of an integrated global knowledge economy and ensure that the system is able to keep up with pace of change.
In this context, Australia notes that the past decade has been marked by a lack of progress on WIPO’s normative agenda, with Member States unable to reach agreement in several areas. We welcome recent positive outcomes in the context of the Intergovernmental Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore and the Standing Committee on Trademarks, but hope that Members can work together to achieve similar progress be made in the Standing Committee on Patents and the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights.
On Strategic Goal Three, Australia welcomes the recognition of the particular needs of LDCs, developing countries and economies in transition. The needs of small and medium-sized IP offices differ, and the differential approach will provide suitable support in developing the capacities of those offices to contribute most effectively to the functioning and development of the system.
On Strategic Goal Six, Australia supports WIPO taking on a leadership role in building strategic international cooperation on intellectual property issues.
Australia is strongly committed to the implementation and mainstreaming of the WIPO Development Agenda. In our view, the Medium Term Strategic Plan appropriately recognizes the need to balance the roles of WIPO as an intellectual property service provider and norm-setting agency, while paying due attention to the important development dimension of WIPO’s work.
We emphasise the importance of a conservative approach to all areas of the WIPO program and budget, including the need to balance demands for services with actual income from WIPO’s global intellectual property systems. In this respect, we note the fundamental importance that we place on continuing to reform the services of the Organization – including the PCT – so that they will be able to continue to deliver results which meet the needs of applicants, Offices and third parties. This is necessary to ensure that WIPO’s services retain the central place that these have in the international intellectual property framework and the financing of WIPO. We consider the proposed strategic direction in the plan balances these aspects of WIPO’s work appropriately.
Australia is mindful of the challenge posed by the fragile global economic recovery, which means that WIPO cannot predict income with confidence. Accordingly, we are conscious of the possible need to assess priorities in the short term and identify where cost savings can be made. We would welcome productive and focused discussion among Member States through normal program and budget processes on this issue.
BANGLADESH
Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Geneva
