Comments from Switzerland on the Medium Term Strategic Plan for WIPO

• Switzerland supports the Medium Term Strategic Plan for WIPO 2010-2015 (hereinafter “the Plan”) as it is a strategic approach and commitment for our Organization for the coming years.

• Switzerland welcomed the inclusive consultation process launched by the Director General this year which enabled the initial project to move forward so that the many observations made in the consultations could be taken into account in a balanced manner. It is noteworthy that the compromise reached was widely backed at the last meeting of the Program and Budget Committee.

• The Medium Term Strategic Plan will be a useful guide in WIPO’s work in the coming years and will strengthen WIPO’s results-based management system without, however, being excessively rigid. It is expected that it will be able to continue evolving depending on future needs and developments.

Specific comments

• Switzerland attaches great importance to Strategic Goals I, II, III, IV and VII which are at the heart of WIPO activities.

• With reference to the comments in the Plan regarding the lack of progress in standard-setting activities in recent years, Switzerland underlines the importance of developing the international IP framework at WIPO in line with developments in the legal and technology fields. Switzerland, therefore, calls for particular attention to be paid and sufficient resources allocated to substantive units, especially those that will be dealing with patent, trademark and copyright issues in the coming years. This is so that the Secretariat can better support the work of the committees in order that concrete progress is finally made in important areas such as the harmonization of patent rights, the protection of country names and other issues linked to the use of distinctive signs on the Internet or the draft treaties on audiovisual and broadcasting organizations.

• Switzerland also continues to place great importance on global IP registration services. Effective and high quality means should be available to right holders to protect their intellectual property rights at the international level. These services are also crucial for the financial stability and growth of the Organization. Hence, they should continue to be among the most attractive in the future. Switzerland, therefore, supports the initiatives proposed in the Plan aimed at ensuring adequate investments to develop and extend the use of these services and encourages the participation of new Member States, especially for the Madrid and Hague systems. Switzerland is also committed to the reforms planned for the PCT to address the problem of the backlog of applications. As well as dealing with issues regarding the administrative burden that some offices face, it is also important to make the necessary investments in infrastructure by researching IT solutions such as databases and translation tools.

• On a similar note, Switzerland supports the Secretariat’s initiatives aimed at developing and improving WIPO’s global intellectual property infrastructure. This infrastructure is fundamental if the intellectual property system is to work properly. It can make the protection systems considerably easier for intellectual property offices, right holders and the general public everywhere to use. The development of global databases to improve access to information is a key aspect in order for the intellectual property systems to be more efficient and productive. Likewise, Switzerland would like to express its support for the on-going projects under the Madrid and Nice Unions.

• Switzerland underlines the increasing need for WIPO to develop activities aimed at facilitating the use of intellectual property for development. Switzerland supports WIPO’s work in this area and stresses the need to enhance synergies, coordination and continuity in the work undertaken. This is necessary to avoid the duplication of work and ensure the sustainability of work done on the ground, thus maximizing the use of available resources and their concrete results. The initiatives launched and mechanisms recently implemented (such as the results-based management project and the ERP project) are crucial, and they must be allocated sufficient resources to ensure that all the desired effects are brought about; added to this is the CDIP coordination and evaluation mechanism.

• With regard to global challenges, WIPO must position itself as the global reference point in the interface between public policy issues and intellectual property given WIPO’s role and specific expertise. Switzerland therefore supports the proposed strategies, particularly the development of partnerships with other international organizations and UN agencies – with respect to this, the conclusion of the partnership agreement with the FAO should be duly noted – governments, the academic world and industry.

• Finally, Switzerland attaches great importance to the internal reforms underway in the Organization as part of the Strategic Realignment Program and fully supports these in order to improve the quality and efficiency of the Secretariat’s work. The administrative support units should receive the necessary resources, both human and in terms of infrastructure (for example, the ERP project). Switzerland highlights the fact that it is important for WIPO to have highly qualified staff with the required expertise. As part of results-based management and for reasons of good governance, Switzerland points out the need for WIPO to set up an internal audit and supervision structure which is comprehensive and fully operational as soon as possible.

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SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC ON BEHALF OF THE ARAB GROUP