31st May 2011
G8 commitment on intellectual property rights welcomed
The G8 Summit, which took place in Deauville, France, ended on Friday 27th May 2011, with a firm commitment from the world’s leading economies on the protection of intellectual property rights. According to the Federation Against Software Theft, the statement is one of the strongest declarations made in recent years by world leaders addressing the problem of IP theft.
Julian Heathcote-Hobbins, General Counsel, at FAST, stated: “In a final declaration, entitled “Renewed Commitment for Freedom and Democracy,” the Group of Eight (G8) announced several commitments to protect intellectual property rights and to take “effective action against violations of intellectual property rights in the digital arena, including action that addresses present and future infringements.”
“The G8 declaration specifically highlights “the importance of enforcement in order to incentivise innovation and protect innovation once developed,” and recognises “the need to have national laws and frameworks for improved enforcement.” The declaration is the first for many years which addresses the issue of intellectual property rights head on and gives a clear indication on the G8’s intended ‘road of travel’,”
“With IP rights increasingly rising up the political and economic agenda, this joint statement is an important milestone and needs to be seen within the context of the UK domestic legislative agenda and the wider European Union context where major IP reviews are already underway,” he concluded.
G8 Summit Declaration
Paragraphs 15 and 29 of the declaration, reproduced below, are dedicated entirely to the protection and enforcement of intellectual property:
15. With regard to the protection of intellectual property, in particular copyright, trademarks, trade secrets and patents, we recognize the need to have national laws and frameworks for improved enforcement. We are thus renewing our commitment to ensuring effective action against violations of intellectual property rights in the digital arena, including action that addresses present and future infringements. We recognize that the effective implementation of intellectual property rules requires suitable international cooperation of relevant stakeholders, including with the private sector. We are committed to identifying ways of facilitating greater access and openness to knowledge, education and culture, including by encouraging continued innovation in legal on line trade in goods and content, that are respectful of intellectual property rights.
29. We agree on the necessity of a level playing field in the innovation area, including a strong and robust intellectual property system as an incentive to innovation and a catalyst for growth. We acknowledge the important role of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in developing a broad approach to intellectual property in support of business friendly, robust and efficient national intellectual property systems. Renewing our support to the principles of the patent system, we attach great importance to its promotion and development. We encourage increased international action to strengthen patent quality, and call for improved diffusion of patent information, particularly critical for SMEs and research centres. We support transparency in technology markets and call for the improvement of market places for trading rights. We invite WIPO, in close cooperation with Member States and other relevant entities, to intensify its work in these three areas. In addition we note the importance of enforcement in order to incentivise innovation and protect innovation once developed.
About FAST
The Federation Against Software Theft was formed in 1984; it was the first organisation globally to champion the professional management of legitimate software and protect publishers’ rights. It aims to reduce, restrict and or lessen the incidence of unauthorised dealings in computer software.
FAST is a not-for-profit organisation limited by guarantee and wholly owned by its members. It works on many fronts to promote the legitimate use of software and protect its members’ rights through education, enforcement, lobbying and promoting standards and best practice in business. www.fastiis.org
