| World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Programme for LDCs |
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WIPO works to assist all nations, particularly developing and least developed countries, to use the intellectual property (IP) system to promote economic, social and cultural development. The program focuses on assisting Least Developed Countries’ governments to put in place policies for using the intellectual property system to their best advantage by developing and strengthening the creative potential and inventive capacity of their people. Formulates and promotes development assistance activities and projects commensurate with the needs and priorities set by individual Least Developed Countries, carrying out studies, research and other activities and provide advisory services to governments. It also develops and executes programs of technical cooperation activities with other WIPO sectors, departments and offices of the United Nations and specialized agencies and other intergovernmental organizations. WIPO’s main functions are the following:
- Intellectual property officials from the LDCs received training in awareness building and human resources development;
- LDCs received assistance in building-up or upgrading intellectual property offices with adequate institutional infrastructure and resources, qualified staff, modern management techniques and access to information technology support systems;
- Advisory missions were sent on request to the intellectual property offices of most LDCs, including those who are not members of WIPO, to give advice on modernizing management systems and streamlining administrative procedures;
- WIPO has organized study tours for officials from many LDCs to offices in industrialized countries to study various aspects of modernization;
- LDCs were beneficiaries of WIPO assistance on legislation in the areas of industrial property, copyright and neighboring rights and geographical indications;
- Advice and assistance were given in connection with the setting-up or strengthening of collective management societies in the LDCs;
- Advice were given on a clear and balanced view of intellectual property that enables the LDCs to assess the conformity of their existing national legislation vis-à-vis the provisions of international agreements and build national intellectual property organizations and institutions;
- WIPO assists LDCs in the establishment of Intellectual Property Advisory Services and Information Center.
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