IP/C/W/603/Add.3  
 
17 October 2014  
(14-5992)  Page: 1/2  
Council for Trade-Related Aspects of 
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
  TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM  
OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC) 
Addendum 
At its meeting of 11 June 2014, the Council for TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental 
organization observers to the Council to update the information on their technical and financial cooperation programmes relating to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.  
The present document reproduces the information which has been received from the Secretariat 
General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) by means of a communication dated 13 October 2014. 
 
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1.1.  GCC is an intergovernmental organization with membership of the following states: United 
Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sultanate of Oman, State of Qatar 
and State of Kuwait. All of its members are developing countries. 
1.2.   In its meetings of June 2014, the Chair of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Council for 
TRIPS invited intergovernmental organizations observers to the Council to provide updated 
information on their technical cooperation activities relevant to the implementation of the TRIPS 
Agreement for the meeting of the Council for TRIPS scheduled for 28 -29 October 2014. Accordingly, the present note has been prepared by the GCC Secretariat General, pursuant to the 
said request of the Chair of the Council for TRIPS. 
1.3.  Pursuant to Article 20 of the GCC Economic Agreement which states that "member States 
shall develop programs encouraging talented individuals and supporting innovation and invention; cooperate in the field of intellectual property and develop regulations and procedures ensuring 
protection of intellectual property rights; and coordinate their relevant policies towards other 
countries, regional blocs and international and regional organizations", the GCC Secretariat General directs most of its technical cooperation activities to its member states. These include in 
particular: 
 Working on amending the "GCC Patent Law" to comply with national patents laws of its 
member states as well as with the international treaties. 
 Establishing the "GCC IP Training Center" in  Kuwait which organise training programmes 
in different IP fields for the benefits of the member states. 
 Working on adopting a framework of coordination activities between the GCC Patent 
Office and the Member States patent office s. The framework includes patent policy, 
patent filing, patent examination, awareness and invention promotion, organizing joint 
activities, training and human resources, patent information, information technology, and international treaties and organizations.  
 IP/C/W/603/Add.3 
 
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1.4.  In addition, the GCC Secretariat General provided the following technical cooperation 
activities concerning TRIPS since October 2013: 
 Launching a project of e-filing of patent applications. The project aims to facilitate the 
filing procedures for all applicants in general and for applicants from the member states in particular. 
 Providing consultation and financial support for the "Gulf Inventors Campaign" which is 
organized by the "Federation of GCC Champers". The campaign aims to support GCC inventors as well as to enhance innovation in the member states.  
 Working on organizing a workshop on "Innovation and Training and Education Policies" 
which will be held in Doha, October 2014.    
 Sponsoring the participation of inventors from its member states in national and 
international exhibitions of inventions.  
 Participation in the "6
th International Exhibition of Inventions in the Middle East", Kuwait, 
November 2013. 
 Participation in the "3rd Saudi Exhibition of Innovation", Riyadh, December 2013. 
 Participation in the "Saudi Exhibition of Health Innovation", Riyadh, December 2013. 
 Making number of presentations at the headquarters of The GCC Secretariat General 
(GCC Patent Office) for differe nt beneficiaries such as talented students from the 
summer programme of King Faisal Hosp ital Research Center, Saudi Arabia. 
 Participation, with a presentation about the GCC Patent Office and its role in enhancing 
innovation, in the "Recruitment Day" held at King Saud University, April 2013.    
 Participation, with presentations about the GCC Patent Office and its role in enhancing 
innovation, in the "Day of scientific Research" held in Majma'a University, Saudi Arabia, 
April 2013.  
 Organizing a training course attended by a number of Patent examiners from Saudi 
Patent Office, October-November 2013 
1.5.  In addition, the GCC Secretariat General (GCC IP Training Center) in Kuwait organized the 
following training courses: 
 "Substantive Patent examination", May 2014.  
 "Formal and Substantive Patent examination", May 2014.   
 "Definition of Intellectual Property for new graduates", April 2014.  
 "Trademarks", April 2014.  
 "Copyrights", May 2014.  
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