ASEAN Seminar on IPR Capacity-Building for SMEs
Bangkok, Thailand
June 29-30, 2005

IPRs are critical to the long-term economic growth of the ASEAN nations. In the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Intellectual Property Cooperation, the governments of ASEAN nations recognize the importance of the role of IP rights in trade and investment as well as IP cooperation among the ASEAN member countries. This seminar will provide ASEAN government officials with concrete examples of the benefits of IPR protection and best practices for using IPRs to promote the development of domestic industries.  Speakers include IP experts from ASEAN governments and IP-based companies in ASEAN nations. 

Agenda and Select Materials
Press Release

Asia Pacific Conference on Strategies for Building Competitive Software Industry
Grand Hyatt Hotel
Beijing, People's Republic of China
June 28-29, 2005

Software innovation drives information and communications technology which is the heart of a knowledge-based economy.  Within the software industry, debate continues about the roles of intellectual property, open source software and government policies on software.  An informed dialogue on different approaches to software development will cover a broad range of issues such as intellectual property rights, licensing, business models, commercialization, procurement, open standards, interoperability, public policy and role of industry.  A distinguished group of speakers and industry players from Asia Pacific and overseas will gather in Beijing, China for a balanced and thoughtful discussion on these issues.

Agenda
Conference Packet (Background, Hotels, and Agenda) (PDF, 1.4MB) 
Press Release

An Intellectual Property System in Thailand for Bio-Innovation and Commercialization: A National Strategy for Business, Government and the Technology Community
By:  Michael Ryan and Eric Garduņo
July 2004

Thailand is in the midst of developing a national biotechnology strategy designed to promote the growth of its nascent biotechnology industry. This report its meant to inform the development of this strategy, by providing a number of specific intellectual property-related recommendations.

Report  (PDF, 85KB)
Press Release

IIPI Report:  Intellectual Property in the Indian Software Industry - Past Role and Future Need
By: Stanley Nollen
June 2004

This report investigates the Indian software industry and assesses the role of intellectual property creation and protection in its growth and development.  The analysis is based on several sources of statistical data; published articles, books, and cases; and personal interviews among Indian software company managers and legal practitioners.  The report finds that the Indian software industry has created very little new and valuable intellectual property and that patent nor copyright protection was important to Indian software companies in the past.  However, the rate of patenting and copyrighting activity has accelerated dramatically in the last two years.  In the future, Indian software companies will shift toward higher value-added and more complex software services that will require more advanced technology, more skilled labor, and more managerial and marketing skill.  To succeed in this strategic transition, the companies will need to create new and valuable intellectual property, which will be both innovative and reusable. This implies a more important role for patents and copyrights than in the past, and accordingly a requirement for stronger intellectual property creation.

Report (PDF, 426KB)

International Conference on Strategies for Building Software Industries in Developing Countries
East-West Center, University of Hawai ‘i at Manoa
Honolulu, Hawai'i
May 19-21, 2004

The growth of a strong software industry is viewed by many developing country policy makers as an essential element in their road to development. Developing countries and aid agencies have thus invested heavily in support of building domestic software industries, particularly by investing in education and technology adoption.

While the various measures and programs developing countries have instituted are meant to promote the growth of domestic software companies, they may also have long-term negative effects upon their software industry. Without careful and enlightened policies, the well-intentioned efforts of some developing country governments may stunt the growth of their software companies and in the end do more harm than good.

Strategies for Building Software Industries in Developing Countries will bring together experts and software industry professionals from around the world to identify, discuss and debate the various policy options governments have to cultivate their software industries and what strategies software companies can employ to ensure success in the international market place.

Agenda, Biographies and Materials
Conference Summary
Press Release

Intellectual Property Law, Policy and Administration Workshops
October 15-22, 2002
Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

These workshops come at a time when intellectual property issues in Vietnam are under increased attention because of the country’s recent bi-lateral and international obligations.  With some of the highest levels of copyright piracy in the world, Vietnam needs to urgently bring its intellectual property enforcement system up to international standards to conform with its BTA commitments and in advance of its accession to WTO.  The IIPI led events are designed to help raise awareness of intellectual property matters in Vietnam and provide the necessary tools for private sector, government and judicial leaders to build the necessary infrastructure to combat piracy and stimulate the growth of domestic, knowledge-based industries.

Oct 15-16 - Judicial Training Workshop - Ho Chi Minh City
     Agenda and Speaker Biographies
October 17-18 - Government Workshop - Ho Chi Minh City
     Agenda and Speaker Biographies
October 21-22 - Government Workshop - Hanoi
     Agenda and Speaker Biographies
Press Release

Intellectual Property Law and Policy Workshops
June 17-21, 2002
Manila, Philippines

IIPI organized a series of workshops to provide a comprehensive program of intellectual property education.  Each of the workshops were designed to serve the unique needs of a distinct group of professionals.   The Judicial Workshop was to designed specifically for local judges, and focused on several issues critical to adjudication of intellectual property disputes.  The Business and Technology Executive Workshop was designed for business leaders to better understand the relationship between intellectual property, technology development and business strategy.  The Government Workshop provided an intellectual property foundation for policymakers and pointed out the connection between economic growth and intellectual property.

June 17-19 - Judicial Workshop
     Agenda and Speaker Biographies
June 18-20 - Government Workshop
     Agenda and Speaker Biographies
June 19-21 - Government Workshop
     Agenda and Speaker Biographies
Press Release

Panel Discussion Series: Where Intellectual Property and International Trade Collide
January 2001 - March 2001
Ronald Reagan International Trade Center
Washington, DC

International trade in goods and services that are protected by intellectual property laws has significantly increased in volume and value over the last ten years, drawing the attention of trade experts and policy makers around the world. As part of the Institute's public education effort concerning the importance of intellectual property to the world economy, this discussion series provided an overview of intellectual property law, United States trade law related to intellectual property, and international institutions that deal with intellectual property matters. The discussion series also provided focused examination of such important issues as parallel imports and pharmaceuticals, the status of Chinese intellectual property protections leading up to World Trade Organization entry and North-South differences in intellectual property protection.

Overview and Agendas
Press Release