ABOUT IP AND WIPO SMEs DIVISION STRUCTURE, INFORMATION & ACTIVITIES IP PANORAMA MODULES FOR SMEs Mrs. Caroline Schwab - Program Officer - WIPO SMEs Division WIPO-ARIPO National Seminar on IP and Competitiveness of SMEs Harare, February 7 to 9, 2007

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY?.

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY? Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, innovations (new products) and designs used in commerce.

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY? Intellectual property is divided into two categories: (I) INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY which includes inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic indications of source.

(II) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (Copyrights) which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems and plays, films, musical works, artistic works such as drawings, hand- crafts, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and architectural designs.

(II) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (Copyrights) Rights related to copyright include those of performing artists in their performances, producers of phonograms in their recordings, and those of broadcasters in their radio and television programs.

WHAT IS WIPO? The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to develop a balanced and accessible INTERNATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) SYSTEM,

WHAT IS WIPO? It is dedicated to develop an international Intellectual Property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest.

WHAT IS WIPO? WIPO was established by the WIPO CONVENTION in 1967 with a mandate from its 183 member states as off see under:

WHAT IS WIPO? WIPO was established to promote the protection of IP throughout the world through cooperation among states and in collaboration with other international organizations.

STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ACTIVITIES WIPOs vision is focused on the IP legal and business aspects which are vital for the economic, social and cultural development of all countries. His mission is to promote the effective use of the IP system, work with the IP offices and guide the users, on how to use more strategically the IP system, worldwide.

THE FIVE STRATEGIC GOALS OF WIPO ARE: 1)To promote an IP culture; 2)To integrate IP into national development policies and programs; 3)To develop international IP laws and standards;

THE FIVE STRATEGIC GOALS OF WIPO ARE: 4)To deliver quality services in global IP protection systems; and 5)To increase the efficiency of WIPOs programs, activities and information (databases).

As of today, 183 states are members of WIPO Convention. Every year, WIPO Member States determine the strategic direction and activities of the Organization. They meet in the Assemblies, committees and working groups. The WIPO Secretariat, or International Bureau, is based in Geneva. WIPO staff, drawn from more than 90 countries, include experts in diverse areas of IP law and practice, as well as specialists in public policy, economics, administration and IT.

NGOs, IGOs, Civil Society WIPO works with a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including other intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, representatives of civil society and of industry groups. Some 250 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) currently have official observer status at WIPO meetings.

24 treaties are administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization - which list is under the url: (* building of Geneva WIPOs headquarters) (*)

An international Arbitration and Mediation Center A public information center Direct information on IP for Business ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES

PCT INFORMATION SERVICE (PATENTS): MADRID EXPRESS (TRADEMARKS DATABASE): HAGUE EXPRESS (INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS DATABASE): ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES

ABOUT THE SMES DIVISION In October 2000, WIPO Member States endorsed a proposal to establish a substantial new program of activities, focusing on the IP related needs of SMEs worldwide. WIPOs program of activities for SMEs aims to encourage a more effective use of the intellectual property system by SMEs worldwide.

ABOUT SMES Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent over 90 % of enterprises in most countries, worldwide. They are the driving force behind a large number of innovations and contribute to the growth of the national economy through employment creation, investments and exports.

MAIN OBJECTIVES WIPOS SMEs DIVISION AIMS TO: Promote a more active and effective use of the intellectual property (IP) system by SMEs; Strengthen the capacity of national governments to develop strategies, policies and programs to meet the intellectual property needs of SMEs (workshops, Seminars etc.)

MAIN OBJECTIVES WIPOS SME INITIATIVE AIMS TO: Improve the capacity of relevant public, private and civil society institutions, such as business and industry associations, to provide IP-related services to SMEs; Provide comprehensive web-based information and basic advice on IP issues to SME support institutions worldwide.

SOME OF THE KEY ACTIVITIES OF THE SMES DIVISION INCLUDE: Development of comprehensive and user-friendly information products as: guides, CDs (IP PANORAMA) and training packages Organization of training seminars for specific target audiences (in partnership with relevant international or national institutions (universities, business schools) and the IP Offices)

IP FOR BUSINESS SERIE - Free guides for CUSTOMIZATION/TRANSLATION WIPO-ITC JOINT PUBLICATIONS

SOME OF THE KEY ACTIVITIES OF THE SMES DIVISION INCLUDE: Research and case studies on issues relating to the business use of IP in various countries; Assistance to SMEs support institutions, such as innovation centers, incubators, chambers of commerce, R&D institutions and others, to establish IP-related support services to their members and clients;

SOME OF THE KEY ACTIVITIES OF THE SMES DIVISION INCLUDE: Publish new articles (updated information), case studies and best practices targeted to entrepreneurs and SMEs support institutions; and Circulation of a monthly electronic newsletter on intellectual property for SMEs. tml

THE IP ECONOMIC TOOLS for a long-term and strategic Development of SMEs Divided into six specific categories, as follows: 1. Patents (inventions and innovations) 2. Trademarks (Domain names) (distinctive signs) 3. Industrial Design 4. Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin 5. Trade Secrets 6. Copyrights and related rights

WHAT IS A PATENT? A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem. Note: During this seminar, we will develop in detail the topics about Patents, Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications.

WHAT DOES A PATENT DO? A patent provides protection for the invention to the owner of the patent. The protection is granted for a limited period, generally 20 years. WHAT KIND OF PROTECTION DOES A PATENT OFFER? Patent protection means that the invention cannot be commercially made, used, distributed or sold without the patent owner's consent.

WHAT IS A TRADEMARK ? A trademark, trade mark, or ® is a distinctive sign and in general, the commercial way to identify products and services proposed by companies. A trademark is a type of industrial property which is distinct from other forms of intellectual property.

WHAT IS AN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN? An industrial design is the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. The design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color.

WHAT IS AN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN? Industrial designs are applied to a wide variety of products of industry and handicraft: from technical and medical instruments to watches, jewelry, and other luxury items; from housewares and electrical appliances to vehicles and architectural structures; from textile designs to leisure goods.

DESIGNS MADE IN AFRICA: RWANDA TOGO

WHAT IS A GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION? It is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that place of origin and/or where a product is manufactured. Most commonly, consists of the name of the place of origin of the goods: Country, region, city E.g. Coffee In some countries : can also be figurative element as the seal of Geneva (often used for watches)

WHAT IS A GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION? SEE PRODUCTS MADE IN AFRICA:

WHAT IS AN APPELLATION OF ORIGIN? Co-op Fairtrade South African Wines (updated 2006):

WHAT ARE TRADE SECRETS AND HOW ARE THEY PROTECTED? Contrary to patents, trade secrets are protected without registration. Consequently, a trade secret can be protected for an unlimited period of time. Note: this topic will also be developed in details during the seminar. See topic N°7

WHAT IS A COPYRIGHT? Copyright is a legal term describing rights given to any creations and to their authors for their creative works.

WHAT IS COVERED BY COPYRIGHT? The kinds of works covered by copyright include: Literary works such as novels, poems, plays, reference works, Internet contents, web design, designs, newspapers and computer programs; databases; films, musical compositions, and choreography; Artistic works such as innovative handy crafts, paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture; architecture; advertisements, maps and technical drawings, exhibitions design and concepts etc.

For more information, go to: THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION Mrs. Caroline Schwab - Program Officer - WIPO SMEs Division