Introduction

Though the scope of intellectual property rights is determined by each country, differences in intellectual property regimes have brought considerable debate in the international realm, particularly as it relates to trade. This second event presented different viewpoints of the most pertinent intellectual property issues currently being debated internationally. To accomplish this, the program gave an overview of the major institutions that deal with intellectual property relevant to US trade interests; the World Trade Organization, the Office of the United States Trade Representative and the World Intellectual Property Organization. After this backdrop was presented, the discussion turned to an exchange of viewpoints concerning some of the most contested topics in the international intellectual property debate, with special focus on the North-South divide over these issues.

Speakers

Mr. Jeffrey P. Kushan
Partner, Powell, Goldstein Frazier and Murphy

Mr. Kushan began his career in the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a biotechnology patent examiner. In 1991, he was assigned to the Office of Legislative and International Affairs, where he concentrated on patent issues in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and computer industries. He participated in the development of the Clinton Administration's White Paper on Intellectual Property and the National Information Infrastructure, which focused on electronic commerce and computer technology issues and was the impetus for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

In 1995, Mr. Kushan was assigned to the Office of the United States Trade Representative in Geneva, Switzerland, where he represented the U.S. on intellectual property matters before the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and served as the chief U.S. negotiator for the WIPO Copyright and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms treaties. Mr. Kushan also participated in several WTO dispute settlement proceedings involving the TRIPS Agreement.

Mr. Kushan received his J.D. from George Washington University School of Law in 1992, where he now serves as an adjunct faculty member.

Mr. Joseph Papovich
Assistant Trade Representative for Services, Investment and Intellectual Property Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

His responsibilities include supervising such activities as implementation of, and further negotiations regarding, the General Agreement on Trade in Services ("GATS") and the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property ("TRIPS") in the World Trade Organization.

Mr. Papovich also oversees preparation of the annual "special 301" report regarding the degree to which other countries provide adequate and effective protection of intellectual property.

Dr. Walter G. Park
Associate Professor of Economics, American University

Dr. Park specializes in the economics of research and development, intellectual property rights, and international trade. His publications include articles in Economic Inquiry, Research Policy and the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization.

In his earlier work, Dr. Park rated the patent regimes of 120 nations from 1960 - 1995 and developed measurements of the cost of patenting. He has used the ratings and cost measures to study the importance of patent protection on innovation, technology diffusion, and productivity growth. In his current work, he is using disaggregated (i.e. sectoral) data to study the role of patents, copyrights, and trademark laws on industrial R&D and productivity.

Dr. Park holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto, a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Oxford University and a Ph.D. from Yale University. He has been a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley and has conducted projects for various international organizations and intellectual property professional groups.

Mr. Paul Salmon
Senior Counselor, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Mr. Salmon has held this position since 1998, where he acts as a liaison between WIPO and its constituents in the United States.

Mr. Salmon began his career at the United State Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a patent examiner in the mechanical arts. In 1989, he joined the USPTO's Office of Legislative and International Affairs, where he developed policy proposals for the improvement of intellectual property protection in the United States and abroad. He participated in numerous bilateral and multilateral negotiations with foreign government officials, drafted legislative proposals and congressional testimony, and implemented training programs on intellectual property protection for officials from developing countries. Mr. Salmon also served as a Foreign Commercial Service Officer in Geneva, Switzerland, where he represented the United States Government in meetings of WIPO and the WTO from 1993 to 1995.

Prior to joining WIPO, Mr. Salmon served as the Executive Assistant to the USPTO Commissioner, providing technical and policy advice on a broad range of domestic and international issues related to the protection of intellectual property rights.

Dr. Arvind Subramanian
Economist, African Department, International Monetary Fund

Prior to his work for the IMF, Dr. Subramanian worked in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade secretariat during the Uruguay Round negotiations between 1988 and 1992.

In 1999-2000, Dr. Subramanian was both a fellow of and teacher at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He has written extensively on trade policy, intellectual property issues, and trade and the environment.

After completing his undergraduate degree and M.B.A. in India, Dr. Subramanian obtained his Ph.D. in economics from Oxford University.