IP/C/R/TC/NOR/4  
 
15 September 2023  
(23-6162) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of  
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES:  
INFORMATION FROM MEMBERS  
NORWAY  
The following communication, dated 11 September 2023 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Norway . 
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.  Norway provides technical cooperation activities that are relevant to the implementation of the 
TRIPS Agreement through two institutions: The Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO), a 
government entity – and The Norwegian Copyright Development Association (NORCODE), formed 
by industry organizations.  
2  THE NORWEGIAN INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OFFICE  
2.  The Norwegian Industrial Property Office (NIPO) has been offering training courses in the area 
of intellectual property rights and patent information services in collaboration with the World 
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for a number of years.  
3.  The main objective is to contribute to economic growth and reduction of poverty in developing 
countries by providing practical and academic assistance to strengthen the infrastructu re of the IP 
systems and increase the capacity and competence in the area of industrial property rights.  
4.  Training courses and information services are financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs and free of charge for the participants and users. WIPO contributes to the organization of 
training courses e.g. by handling applications from the participants and covering travel and 
accommodation for contributing personnel from WIPO.  
5.  The target group is officials who deal with intellectual propert y rights at a practical level. The 
objective of the course is to contribute to a better understanding of different intellectual property 
rights, with a focus on the practical work and administrative management of industrial property 
applications. However, due to the COVID -19 pandemic, these courses were temporarily suspended 
in 2021. NIPO is in the process of evaluating this programme.  
6.  In the same period the NIPO has offered preliminary search services in the area of patents, 
through the WIPO Patent Informa tion Services (WPIS) scheme administered by WIPO. The target 
group for the service is users of industrial rights systems in developing countries (for example, 
businesses, research communities or individuals). More information can be found at this 
address:  https://www.wipo.int/patentscope/en/data/developing_countries.html . 
3  THE NORWEGIAN COPYRIGHT DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (NORCODE)  
7.  In addition t o project funding, NORCODE organizes training programmes directed towards staff 
of collective management organizations and government representatives.  IP/C/R/TC/NOR/4  
 
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  8.  NORCODE's various training programmes draw on knowledge and competence in NORCODE's 
owner organizations, as well as national and international organizations working to protect 
intellectual property. As for project funding, the aim is to build cultural infrastructure in developing 
countries and strengthen the situation of the right holders.  
9.  The training includ es a programme on exercise and management of copyright and related rights, 
as well as tailor -made training for specific purposes, study visits, regional activities, coaching and 
one-to-one-mentoring. More information can be found at this address: Building cultural 
infrastructure in developing countries.  https://norcode.no /. 
 
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