ICC’s mission ICC was created in 1919 by a handful of entrepreneurs to:  promote cross-border trade and investment and the multilateral trading system  represent business all over the world

ICC members ICC has hundreds of thousands of members in 130 countries:  Companies Of all sizes and from all sectors  Chambers of commerce Regional, national and local  Business associations National and sectoral and worldwide offices in over 90 countries

ICC activities ICC has three main activities: Rules-setting Arbitration Policy

Intellectual Property in ICC Commission on Intellectual Property World business views on key IP issues since 1920’s BASCAP High level initiative uniting different sectors worldwide to fight against counterfeiting Roadmap on current and emerging IP issues Annual overview of key intellectual property policy issues – Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, French and Dutch

Chambers of commerce in ICC  Global network of chambers of commerce representing over 130 countries  World Chambers Congress – 2007 Istanbul (1600 participants, 118 countries); 2009 Kuala Lumpur  World Chambers Network – networking, information exchange, business opportunities  Trade facilitation role – ATA Carnets; certificates of origin World Chambers Federation

Chambers of commerce and IP According to feedback from member chambers  Most outside Europe and the US do not have any significant activities relating to IP protection  However many recognize the importance of IP and are interested in IP activities

Obstacles faced by chambers  Lack of awareness among chambers re importance of IP  Lack of expertise within the organization and sometimes the region/country  Isolation and lack of a support network  Lack of human and financial resources

ICC IP tool kit for chambers Aim to encourage and help chambers set up IP programmes for local businesses Tool-kit for chambers, not for businesses Will not reinvent the wheel – use existing materials and resources where available Tools which are flexible and adaptable to different cultures, business/legal environments and languages Started defining contours of project in March 2007

Participation Interest in project from nearly 60 chambers in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, North and Latin America Participants include national chambers (e.g. Uruguay, Israel, Malaysia) regional chambers (e.g. Zanzibar, West Sweden) city/municipal chambers (e.g. Manizales, Geneva, Durban) IP experts from IP Commission ICC National Committees Work carried out by ICC secretariat and member volunteers

IP tool-kit website - April 2008

IP tool-kit website Explanation of what IP is Why IP is important for businesses and for chambers IP action in chambers Outreach tools Training programmes and tools Policy tools - IP roadmap - IP commission papers Enforcement tools – BASCAP Links to IP organizations and WIPO SME website

IP action in chambers 2007 worldwide survey of chambers’ IP activities Over 40 responses from Africa, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia Pacific Information received summarized in table on website Exchange of experiences and network

IP action in chambers

 Communication - web-sites, newsletters, guides, media  Training - seminars and workshops  Consultancy services - IP specific/ general; - First line/experts network/professional services; - IP management/ technical searches/ technology transfer/licensing  SME case studies – confidentiality issues  Awareness raising – business schools,businesses, consumers, special days, media, publications  Surveys; studies  IP business opportunities – matchmaking, licensing, market placement, use of IRC and World Chambers networks  Policy advocacy  Encouragement of innovation and IP asset development – awards, exhibitions, innovation counsellors, IP management support

Working with other organizaitons  National intellectual property offices  IP professionals  Venture capital structures

Training the trainers Programmes for training chamber staff in cooperation with WIPO  Pilot programme in Geneva – September 2008

Next steps Practical manual to guide chambers of commerce in setting up IP programmes Cooperation with WIPO Involvement of chambers welcome

For more information ICC’s IP tool-kit for chambers of commerce: ICC’s IP activities and its World Chambers Federation Daphne Yong-d’Hervé