Fast-tracking knowledge about WTO’s agreement on intellectual property rights
From Bukhara carpets, Rishtan ceramics and Samarkand bread to Ferghana Valley apricots and Uzbek saffron. These are just some of the products unique to Uzbekistan that have the potential to garner intellectual property right protection in the trade sphere.
So-called geographical indications (GIs) recognize that a product originates from a specific region and that a quality, reputation or other characteristic is uniquely associated with its geographical origin.
GIs are a form of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection inscribed in the World Trade Organization (WTO’s) TRIPS Agreement, a key topic for trade.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) organized a two-day lecture for government officials and students in Tashkent on 16 and 17 July 2024 to bridge knowledge gaps in this intricate, yet vital discipline in international trade.
Key to innovation
Intellectual property protection is key to innovation-led development. By protecting IP rights, a country ensures that its innovators can benefit from their inventions, artistic ideas, or trademarks. This helps encourage innovation, which can unlock technological know-how and facilitate its smooth dissemination to the benefit of producers and users. This, in turn, boosts social and economic welfare.
Using real-world scenarios, case studies and interactive discussion, the course introduced the key principles of the TRIPS Agreement and its objectives. The core elements of IP protection, namely patents, trademarks, and copyright, and how they worked were detailed.
The second day of training was practically oriented with analysis of WTO dispute cases involving TRIPS and discussion of lessons learned from other countries. Participants also tested their skills through TRIPS compliance exercises.
The course was the eighth in an 11-course Trade Policy Training Programme designed by ITC. Its aim is to fast-track trade skills ahead of Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO.
Twenty officials, including WTO negotiators, and students of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy attended.
IPR expert Irene Calboli gave the lecture. She also had a side meeting with members of Uzbekistan’s WTO negotiating team for technical discussions on IPR.
The mission was funded by the European Union’s Facilitating the process of Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO project, of which the ITC is the implementing partner.
