Some folks have asked me in recent months, "Why did PFF decide to do its latest European conference in Prague?" Well, I could say it was so we could admire Prague Castle or the Charles Bridge. We did do that, but one reason was because Prague has government officials like Dana Berova, the Czech Minister of Informatics. She is an example of why many in Europe feel the former Eastern bloc nations are the best hope for vibrant economic growth in Europe.

Berova spoke this morning at our Digital Europe 2006: Intellectual Property and Innovation in the Digital World here in Prague. Here are some highlights:

• Asked the role of government in the development of innovation, she said government had an obligation to "create an environment" for innovation. That was it, though. "I doubt we in the Ministry are creative enough to produce the innovations."
• At a recent EU-wide conference of ministers, 80% of the ICT ministers admitted to violating IP by downloading unauthorized software, movies or music. "We need to change our own thinking concerning intellectual property in general," she said, because none of those ministers would ever consider shoplifting.
• One questioner raised a popular argument of the Free Culture Movement, that developing countries should be aided by allowing them a more relaxed level of enforcement of intellectual property. This question seemed to produce the most impassioned response by Berova. "I don’t believe we should have different intellectual property rights in different economies," she said. "Intellectual property is intellectual property, whatever economy it’s in, and it should be protected. There’s no reason to support developing economies in this way." That didn’t mean she didn’t believe in providing help. "We can have a discussion on how to give them assistance, but not in this way."

Intellectual property is intellectual property, she says. Berova said up front that her main portfolio was ICT, and that while IP is obviously tied to ICT she is not an IP expert. But maybe that allows her to speak the truth so simply and irrefutably, shattering a copyleftist argument. Just 5 words -- intellectual property is intellectual property.