Rapid changes in key technological, policy and social drivers all underscore the importance of intellectual property protection. In 2003, BIAC therefore set up a “brainstorming group on IPR,” the main purpose of which was to develop an affirmative case for intellectual property rights.

In December, BIAC issued the final paper, which will be one of the key inputs to the meeting of the OECD Committee on Scientific and Technological Policy, which will meet at Ministerial level on January 29-30.

The paper presents an affirmative case for why a well-developed, carefully balanced system of intellectual property rights provides a fundamental foundation for promoting and achieving sustained creativity, innovation and economic performance, and why it is indispensable to get the policy framework for IPR “right.” The second section of the BIAC paper draws upon this forward-looking, affirmative case for IPRs to suggest the pivotal role that the OECD should play in this area.

BIAC recommends that the OECD undertake an enhanced and comprehensive work program related to intellectual property over the next few years and integrate IPRs more fully, including the quality and scope of IPRs, as a core enabling condition for innovation in all OECD countries.

The paper sets forth a proactive action plan of those IPR-related activities that business believes are the most important for promoting innovation and economic growth. This includes a number of suggestions for further work, such as focusing on emerging technological and economic drivers and developing new approaches to counterfeiting enforcement, such as an Anti-Counterfeiting Convention.

For more information, please visit: Click Here