The newly adopted World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Development Agenda presents a real opportunity to revolutionize the international governance of intellectual property law and policy. The litmus test for its success, however, will be if and how the agenda is implemented in practice. This edited collection brings together a series of incisive essays written by leading thinkers from emerging economies, Canada, and elsewhere to develop concrete strategies for implementing the agenda. The essays cover a range of fundamental issues surrounding the agenda and examine its recommendations from multidisciplinary and multi-regional perspectives. Several essays explore the role of WIPO and its member states in steering the direction of future reform as well as potential approaches to achieve this goal. Other contributions examine specific recommendations on WIPO’s activities within the broader context of development. This volume will be a useful source of reference for informed but non-expert readers, including government officials and delegates at international and “capital” levels, leaders of the international business community, individuals in inter- and non-governmental organizations, and scholars in the fields of law and international governance. Co-published with the International Development Research Centre and the Centre for International Governance Innovation

The newly adopted World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Development Agenda presents a real opportunity to revolutionize the international governance of intellectual property law and policy. The litmus test for its success, however, will be if and how the agenda is implemented in practice. This edited collection brings together a series of incisive essays written by leading thinkers from emerging economies, Canada, and elsewhere to develop concrete strategies for implementing the agenda.The essays in the book cover a range of fundamental issues surrounding the agenda and examine its recommendations from multidisciplinary and multi-regional perspectives. Several essays explore the role of WIPO and its member states in steering the direction of future reform; other contributions examine specific recommendations on WIPO's activities within the broader context of development.

The WIPO Development Agenda aims to ensure that development considerations form an integral part of WIPO's work. As such, it is a cross-cutting issue which touches upon all sectors of the Organization. When formally establishing the Development Agenda in October 2007, the WIPO General Assembly adopted a set of 45 recommendations to enhance the development dimension of the Organization's activities.

Covering the World Intellectual Property Organization, this volume introduces a much ignored element of the contemporary structure of global governance to scholars of international political economy. Christopher May discusses: how the World Intellectual Property Organization works, its antecedents and history the debates about the role and justification of intellectual property the role of WIPO within contemporary global politics the key elements of its relations with the World Trade Organization the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The analysis then examines the recent political economy of the organization and argues that far from being the neutral or technical agency that it often presents itself as, the WIPO is highly politicized and acts to socialize policy makers and civil servants into a specific view of intellectual property. However, the recent proposal to establish a Development Agenda at the WIPO is an important development, and the book concludes by examining the problems which have promoted this agenda, suggesting that these reforms of the WIPO should be welcomed. The World Intellectual Property Organization is a clear and accessible volume that will confirm the WIPO as one of the global institutions which any student of global governance must understand.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has a huge and significant role in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Agenda, which sets out the SDGs. Significant connections between intellectual property and the SDGs necessitate the full contribution of WIPO to the implementation of the SDGs. This chapter argues that contrary to WIPO's rigid stance that only SDG 9 (innovation) is closely connected to its mandate and mission, WIPO's mandate transcends economic development and includes other dimensions of sustainable development represented by other SDGs. WIPO must therefore fully contribute to the realisation of the other SDGs implicated in its work program. The chapter concludes that for WIPO to fully play its role in the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda, it must adopt a broader approach to development, one that is consistent with the UN's comprehensive view of sustainable development, and foster a truly inclusive and representative governance and decision-making structure.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide an ambitious roadmap for human progress. This brochure explains how WIPO's work supports the SDGs by enabling innovation for the economic, social and cultural development of all countries.

Neil Netanel has edited this compilation of articles in order to examine the development agenda and the broader issues it touches upon. The contributors include leading scholars from various disciplines, including economics, political science, and law.

In an increasingly technology-driven world, the standard of protection provided by intellectual property (IP) rules is affecting development policies and human rights issues more than ever. Strict IP rules have had an adverse impact on the ability of many governments to fulfill their human rights obligations, of which obligations to ensure access to affordable medicines, education and adequate food. This trend towards higher IP protection has been stimulated by the adoption of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), and the harmonization initiatives at the WIPO. A proposal for a development agenda for WIPO was first launched at the 2004 WIPO General Assembly. At that time, member states agreed to hold a series of inter-sessional intergovernmental meetings (IIMs) to examine proposals originally submitted by Brazil and Argentina as well as additional proposals of other member states. The 45 recommendations adopted by the General Assembly in 2007 are divided into six clusters, namely: Cluster A: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building; Cluster B: Norm-setting, Flexibilities, Public Policy and Public Domain; Cluster C: Technology Transfer, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Access to Knowledge; Cluster D: Assessments, Evaluation and Impact Studies; Cluster E: Institutional Matters Including Mandate and Governance; and Cluster F: Others. These include 19 recommendations for immediate implementation by WIPO and 26 for which the CDIP is required to develop a work program.

This brochure describes specific development tools and services provided by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). These tools and services respond to WIPO Development Agenda recommendations and reflect over 30 years of practice and experience in development assistance.