WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
4November 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-4805)
Original: French/Spanish*Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM
DEVELOPED COUNTRY MEMBERS
Supplement
Denmark, Portugal andSpain
Thepresent document reproduces theupdated information onPortugal 'sandSpain'stechnical
andfinancial cooperation activities relevant totheimplementation oftheTRIPS Agreement. The
SecretariathasbeeninformedthattherearenochangestothepreviousnotificationbyDenmarkregarding
technical cooperation activities.1
*Information onPortugal 'sactivities inFrench, andonSpain 'sactivities inSpanish.
1Seedocument IP/C/W/34/Add.3/Suppl.3.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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PORTUGAL
Below isasummary ofPortugal 'sactivities since 1989 topublicize among thenew
Portuguese-speaking states theimportance ofindustrial property totheireconomic development and,
consequently, tohelpthem adopt industrial property legislation andsetupalocal unitforthe
administration ofindustrial property rights.
1989-1994
In1989, atameeting heldjointly inLisbon withthefivePortuguese-speaking African countries,
WIPO andSIDA (Swedish International Development Agency), thePortuguese National Industrial
Property Institute (INPI) proposed thataseries ofseminars should beheldsuccessively ineachofthe
Portuguese-speaking African countries. Thefirstseminar washeldinAngola in1990 andthelast
inSaoTome andPrincipe in1994.
During thatperiod, alsoincooperation withWIPO, training courses were heldattheINPI
attherequest ofthecountries concerned. Accommodation andtravel expenses werepaidbyWIPO.
Teams oftechnical instructors from theINPIweresentouttodiscuss draftlegislation locally andto
examine thematerial conditions needed tosetupindustrial property services.
Thedetails ofthemajor activities undertaken during thatperiod aresetoutintheannexes.
1995
Anindustrial property planning meeting, arranged bytheINPIunder thesponsorship ofthe
Portuguese Ministry ofIndustry andEnergy, washeldinLisbon from24to26July1995andattended
bytwodelegates from eachofthePortuguese-speaking African countries, WIPO, EPOandtheICP
(Portuguese Cooperation Institute).
Atthatplanning meeting itwasdeemed appropriate tosetnewobjectives andestablish anew
multi-year programme totakeaccount oftheresults oftheinternational round offiveseminars decided
onin1989 andtodevise methods forgreater cooperation inkeeping withtheneeds ofeachofthe
Portuguese-speaking African countries.
After anassessment ofthenewdraftcooperation programme fortheyears ahead, submitted
bytheINPI, itwasdecided:
- Toadopt theprogramme, urging allparticipants toimplement itproperly;
- toprovide thetechnical, human andfinancial support made available bytheICP,INPI,
WIPO andEPO, inkeeping withthespecific needs ofeachactivity andthecompetence
oftherespective organizations.
Inthecontext ofthemeetings oftheJointStanding Committee forCooperation between the
Portuguese Republic andthePortuguese-speaking African countries, aframework programme was
elaborated foreachcountry asatoolforcooperation thatencompasses institutional support insetting
upanindustrial property service forthe1995/96, 1997 and1998 triennium.
Inthisconnection, anINPIhigh-level mission ordelegation willgotoSaoTome andPrincipe
on22,23and24November fortalkswiththenewSaoTome authorities andmake them aware of
theimportance ofindustrial property inadeveloping country.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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1996-2000
Acooperation programme approved attheLisbon meeting isscheduled forexecution, and
cooperation willbecontinued under theagreement reached atthemeetings oftheJoint Standing
Committee onCooperation between Portugal andeachofthePortuguese-speaking African countries.
Thedetails ofthemain activities aresetoutintheAnnex.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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ANNEX 1
1989
LISBON
Seminar onindustrial property forPortuguese-speaking African countries. Organized jointly
bytheGovernmentofthePortugueseRepublicandtheWorldIntellectualPropertyOrganization(WIPO),
withsupport from theSwedish International AidAgency (SIDA).
Lisbon, 28-31 March 1989.
Industrial property training attheINPIforofficials fromPortuguese-speaking African countries
(Angola, Cape Verde andGuinea-Bissau)
Lisbon, 12-15 September 1989.
1990
LISBON
Industrial property training attheINPIforofficials fromPortuguese-speaking African countries
(Mozambique)
Lisbon, 10-28 September 1990.
ANGOLA
Seminar onindustrial property forPortuguese-speaking African countries. Organized jointly
bytheGovernment ofthePortuguese Republic andtheWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
withsupport from theSwedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
Luanda, 21-24 May1990.
MOZAMBIQUE
Joint WIPO/INPI mission
Maputo, 20-24 March 1990.
1991
LISBON
Industrial property training attheINPIforofficials fromPortuguese-speaking African countries
(Cape Verde andSaoTome andPrincipe).
Lisbon, 16-20 September 1991.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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CAPE VERDE
SubregionalseminaronindustrialpropertyforPortuguese-speakingAfricancountries.Organized
bytheWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) incooperation withtheGovernment ofthe
Republic ofCape Verde, withsupport fromtheSwedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
Praia, 15-16 May1991.
1992
LISBON
Industrial property training attheINPIforofficials fromPortuguese-speaking African countries
(Angola andCape Verde).
Three days.
ANGOLA
Official INPImission aspartofcooperation onindustrial property withtheMinistry ofIndustry
ofAngola.
Luanda, 18Julyto1August 1992.
GUINEA-BISSAU
SubregionalseminaronindustrialpropertyforPortuguese-speakingAfricancountries.Organized
bytheWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) incooperation withtheGovernment ofthe
Republic ofGuinea-Bissau, withsupport fromtheSwedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
Bissau, 23-25 June1992.
CAPE VERDE
Official INPImission aspartofcooperation onindustrial property withtheMinistry ofIndustry
andEnergy ofCape Verde.
Praia, 9-15December 1992.
1993
LISBON
Industrial property training attheINPIforofficials fromPortuguese-speaking African countries
(Cape Verde andGuinea-Bissau).
Lisbon, 6-17September 1993.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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MOZAMBIQUE
SubregionalseminaronindustrialpropertyforPortuguese-speakingAfricancountries.Organized
bytheWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) incooperation withtheGovernment ofthe
Republic ofMozambique, withsupport fromtheSwedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
Maputo, 20-22 July1993.
1994
LISBON
Industrial property training attheINPIforofficials fromPortuguese-speaking African countries.
Lisbon, 5-7September 1994.
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
Subregional seminar onindustrial property forthePortuguese-speaking African countries.
Organized bytheWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) incooperation withtheGovernment
oftheDemocratic Republic ofSaoTome andPrincipe, withsupport from theSwedish International
Development Agency (SIDA).
SaoTome, 6-8July1994.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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ANNEX 2
NEW COOPERATION PROGRAMME
1996/2000
Doc. INPI/LIS/1/REV
1. High-level missions
ThePortuguese-speaking African countries haveundertaken, attheLisbon meeting, tomake
preparations forhigh-level missions totheircountries. Thepurpose ofsuchmissions istogainthe
support oftheGovernment ofthecountry inquestion andofotherofficial bodies forspecific cooperation
activities.
Thetimetableforhigh-levelmissionshasbeenestablishedbyeachcountryattheLisbonplanning
meeting andisasfollows:
Republic ofAngola (1996);
Republic ofGuinea-Bissau (1996);
Republic ofMozambique (1996);
Republic ofCape Verde (1997);
Democratic Republic ofSaoTome andPrincipe (1997).1
2. Legislation
TheINPI, WIPO andEPOintend tosupport eachofthePortuguese-speaking African countries
inpreparing theirindustrial property legislation. Suchcooperation shallinclude travel bytwopersons
from eachPortuguese-speaking African country toLisbon orGeneva, orjointINPI/WIPO technical
missions tothePortuguese-speaking African countries toengage inlocaldiscussions ondraftlegislation,
forms, regulations, fees,etc.
3. Establishment ofanindustrial property body
Forthepurpose ofestablishing anindustrial property bodyineachofthePortuguese-speaking
African countries, thelatter, incooperation withthecompetent authorities, shallendeavour toprovide
therequisite facilities tosetupindustrial property services.
TheINPI, WIPO andEPOintend tosendteams oftrainers who,insitu,willpropose technical
action toorganize andimplement theways andmeans forthebody tofunction.
Tothisend,theINPI, WIPO andEPOmaysupply thecomputer hardware andsoftware deemed
necessary.
1Thehigh-level missions toAngola, Guinea-Bissau andMozambique tookplace in1996 andtoCape Verde
in1997. Themission toSaoTome andPrincipe willberealized inOctober.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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Inthisconnection, WIPO andtheINPImay, attherequest ofthePortuguese-speaking African
countries, provide WIPO publications orthose available attheINPI.
4. Round tables
EachPortuguese-speaking African country undertakes tohold, incooperation withtheINPI,
WIPO andEPO, around tableonindustrial property, opentoparticipation by:
- High-ranking civilservants;
- heads ofenterprises andsenior executives inpublic andprivate enterprises;
- professors anduniversity students;
- graduates;
- associations ofheads ofenterprises;
- associations ofinventors.
Theround tables will,werepossible, beheldatthesame timeasthehigh-level missions, at
therequest oftheState concerned andwithin areasonable period.
Arepresentative ofeachofthePortuguese-speaking African countries willalsoparticipate in
eachround tableandhistravel andaccommodation expenses willbepaidbyWIPO.
Thegeneral topics fordiscussion attheround tables havebeenformulated attheLisbon meeting
andareasfollows:
- Theimportance ofindustrial property ineconomic development;
- theimportance ofpatents andtrademarks incompetitiveness;
- theessential features oftrademark andpatent protection;
- establishment ofanindustrial property service;
- licensing andtransfer oftechnology;
- accession totheprincipal international conventions onindustrial property:
WIPO;
Paris Convention;
- implementation ofasystem toobtain technical information contained inindustrial
property documents;
- therequisite profile forindustrial property agents.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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5. Training activities inLisbon
Training activities willbeorganized bytheINPIattherequest ofthecountries concerned and
accommodation andtravel costs willbepaidbyWIPO.
Thepossibility isenvisaged oftwotraining courses perannum, withtheparticipation oftwo
trainees percountry ineachcourse.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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SPAIN
Technical Cooperation Activities
Revision (1997)
1. Spanish technical cooperation onindustrial property.
2. Description ofthetechnical cooperation.
(a) Multilateral cooperation.
(i) Cooperation withtheWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):
- Specific training;
- information and/or training visits;
- participation incourses andseminars organized byWIPO;
(ii) Cooperation withtheEuropean Patent Office (EPO);
(iii) Trilateral cooperation (OEPM-WIPO-EPO).
(b) Bilateral cooperation.
(i) Bilateral memoranda withLatin American countries:
- Sending experts toLatin American offices;
- organization ofinformation visits;
- exchange ofpatent documents andCD-ROMs withLatin American
countries.
(ii) Memoranda ofunderstanding withspecific countries.
1. Spanish technical cooperation onindustrial property
(a) Spain hasalongtradition ofindustrial property technical assistance todeveloping countries,
andhasbeencarrying onactivities tothisendsince 1982.
(b) Thebeneficiaries ofthiscooperation arebasically theSpanish-speaking, thatistosayLatin
American, countries. Spain hassigned 18bilateral memoranda withthese countries.
(c) Spanish cooperation isfinanced fromthegeneral budget oftheSpanish Patents andTrademarks
Office (OEPM), which covers technical cooperation personnel costsandother expenditures forvarious
activities.
(d) Ingeneral, itispreferred toprovide technical assistance (personnel training, sending experts
forspecific projects, seminars, exchange ofinformation etc.)rather than"direct" financing, suchas
providing electronic office machinery.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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2. Description ofthetechnical cooperation
(a) Multilateral cooperation
Themainforums usedbySpain toprovide development aidinregard tointellectual property
aretwointernational organizations: theWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) andthe
European Patent Office (EPO).
(i) Cooperation withWIPO
WIPO offers anextraordinarily widerange ofcooperation activities. Spain participates inthe
following activities:
- Specific training
OnrequestfromdevelopingcountriesandWIPO,theOEPMhasalsoprovidedtwo-weektraining
courses forexperts. Twocourses areheldevery yearattheSpanish Patents andTrademarks Office
(Madrid) forLatin American officials, oneofthemincollaboration notonlywithWIPO butalsowith
EPO(seebelow).
Course on"Legal, administrative andeconomic aspects ofindustrial property":
Thisseminar wasstarted in1982 andisoneoftheoldest cooperation activities conducted by
Spanish Patents andTrademarks Office. Thepurpose istoprovide industrial property training
forhigh-ranking Latin American officials. Todate,210officials havebeentrained, sometimes
withtheparticipation ofthedirectors oftheactual industrial property offices.
Atthepresent timethisseminar isintended forexecutive officials ofLatin American industrial
property offices anditfundamentally provides instruction ongeneral legalaspects ofindustrial
property andinternational treaties inthisfield.
Generally speaking, theparticipation oftheSpanish Patents andTrademarks Office inthese
annual training programmes dates backto1976.
- Information and/or training visits
Attherequest ofWIPO, every yeartheOEPM receives delegations ofexperts ofalllevels
from developing countries. These areone-ortwo-day visits designed todemonstrate thestructure
orfunctioning oftheOEPM, including mechanisms fortheexamination ofprotection applications and
thespecific administrative andfinancial issues ofconcern toanindustrial property office.
- Participation incourses andseminars organized byWIPO
Thecourses andseminars organized byWIPO every yearinthecontext ofcooperation with
Latin America andtheCaribbean include active participation bySpain insending outlecturers (officials
oftheSpanish Patents andTrademarks Office, experts invarious fields).
Notable inthisconnection isthetraditional WIPO Academy, heldevery twoyears inGeneva,
towhich anOEPM official issentasalecturer, generally oninternational aspects ofindustrial property.
Again, inthiscontext reference should bemade tovarious seminars thathavebeenheldrecently
intheLatin American region (Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Argentina andGuatemala), inwhich various
OEPM officials tookpartaslecturers.IP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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(ii) Cooperation withtheEuropean Patent Office (EPO)
These technical cooperation activities focus exclusively onpatents. EPOestablishes itsown
programme ofwork, butalsocooperates inprogrammes funded bytheEuropean Union.
(iii) Trilateral cooperation (with WIPO andEPO)
Tripartite EPO-WIPO-OEPM cooperation focuses onthealready classic "Patent Search and
Examination Seminar", withparticipants fromtheindustrial property offices ofthevarious countries
inLatin America.
Every yearsince1990thiscourse hasbeenforthetheoretical andpractical training of16patent
examiners, eachtrainee being assigned toanOEPM tutor. TheOEPM funds thetravel andsubsistence
costs ofseven trainees.
Thecontent ofthecourse isbased onthetechnical aspects ofthepatent search andexamination
procedure. Itisanitinerant course inthesense thatitisheldconsecutively inthreeplaces: inGeneva,
Munich andMadrid.
(b) Bilateral cooperation
(i) Bilateral memoranda withLatin American countries
Thisisthemostimportant technical cooperation carried outbySpain inthefieldofindustrial
property. Thebilateral memoranda, which datebacksome 15years, areperiodically updated toinclude
newactivities andfocus onthenewneeds ofthecountries concerned.
Broadly speaking, thecooperation activities areasfollows:
- Sending experts toLatin American offices forthefollowing tasks:
- Assistance inadjusting legislation totheTRIPS Agreement;
- assistance incarrying outpatent examinations, including search reports onprior
art;
- assistance increating adhocindustrial property databases;
- assistance intheorganizational structuring ofindustrial property offices,
including thedrafting ofstandards;
- assistance inrationalizing procedures forgranting trademarks;
- assistanceinoutreachactivities(organizationofseminars,exhibitions,inventors'
fairs, etc.);
- assistance inactivities relating tointernational patent classification (IPC) and
classification ofproducts andservices forthepurposes oftheinternational
nomenclature ofmarks established under theNiceAgreement.
- Organization ofinformation visits
These cases involve on-site training ofstafffromLatin American countries withwhich
acooperation memorandum hasbeensigned. Depending onthetraining needed, OEPM tutorsIP/C/W/77/Add.1/Suppl.1
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areassigned for"àlacarte" activities adapted tothetrainee 'sneeds. About tensuchvisits
arereceived every year.
- Exchange ofpatent documents andCD-ROMs withLatin American countries
Thepurpose oftheexchange ofpatent documents between theOEPM andLatin
American industrial property offices isthefunctioning oftheSpanish-language Patent
Documentation Centre.
Alistofthebilateral memoranda signed byLatin American countries isattached.
(ii) Memoranda ofunderstanding withspecific countries
Todate, various memoranda ofunderstanding havebeensigned withseveral patent
offices, intheRussian Federation, Estonia andtheRepublic ofMoldova.
Thepurposeoftheseinstrumentsismutualexchangeofdocumentation,morespecifically
theperiodical bulletins oftheoffices, industrial property legislation, annual reports ofsuch
offices, andpatent documents published (microfiches).