The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) just concluded a meeting on a proposed Development Agenda by agreeing to two additional rounds of meetings.

Intellectual Property Watch described it as "a discussion of a proposal to more deeply infuse the needs of developing countries into the mission of the U.N. body," but the crafted ambiguity of this report conceals an important reality: the Agenda is an attack on IP rights as inimical to the interests of developing nations. (Further story here.)

Writing in NGOWatch, Professor Mark Schultz says:

[M]any opponents of strong intellectual property rights see this opening [of the Development Agenda] as a chance to advance proposals to change the world's intellectual property system radically.

Supporters contend that access to knowledge is a fundamental human right that should trump intellectual property rights and that limitations and exceptions to copyright and patent laws should be expanded greatly. Items being discussed include access to government funded research, proposals to encourage open access publishing models, free/open source software, problems with legally mandated copy protection and digital rights management, promotion of access to medicine, and proposals for a protocol on the transfer of technology and knowledge to developing countries . . . .

We find strange the assertion that intellectual property rights somehow disadvantage small creators and developing nations. Intellectual property rights are, after all, RIGHTS. The granting of a right to a creator in a developing nation may be the only protection he has, and gives him economic leverage. We believe this is a good and moral thing. . . . We commend WIPO for its role in promoting development THROUGH the powerful tool of IP, and we encourage WIPO to remain committed to this goal.

posted by James DeLong @ 1:13 PM | International

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