IP/C/W/655/Add.3  
 
3 October 201 9 
(19-6407) Page: 1/3 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of  
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
 
TECHNICAL COOPERATIO N ACTIVITIES:  
INFORMATION FROM MEM BERS  
NORWAY  
Addendum  
The following communication, dated 23 September  2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Norway.  
 
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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.  
1  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 infrastructure o f 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. WIP O contributes to the organization of 
training courses e.g. by handling applications from the participants and cover travel and 
accommodation for contributing personnel from WIPO.  
5.  A training course in the trademark area was conducted in the week of 3  to 7 September 2018. 
15 participants from national industrial property offices in developing countries and countries in 
transition were invited – and participants came from Bangladesh, Brazil, Georgia, Indonesia, 
Jamaica, Lebanon and Viet Nam. The  target group was officials who d eal with intellectual property 
rights at a practical level. The  objective of the  course was  to contribute to a  better understanding  of 
different in tellectual property rights, with a focus on the practical work and administrative 
management of industri al property applications.  
6.  In the same period the NIPO has offered preliminary search services in the area of patents, 
through the WIPO Patent Information Services (WPIS) scheme administered by WIPO. The target 
group for the service is user s of industrial rights systems in developing countries (for example, 
businesses, research communities or individuals).  More information  can be found at this address:  
http://www.wipo.in t/patentscop e/en/d ata/developing_countries.html .  IP/C/W/655/Add.3  
 
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  2  THE NORWEGIAN  COPYRIGHT DEVELOPMEN T ASSOCIATION  
7.  NORCODE was established in 2007. The association 's objective is to carry out international 
development work in the copyright field, in order to support the cultural sector in developing 
countries.  
2.1  NORCODE REGIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM ON  COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF 
COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS 2017 - 2018  
8.  The semi -annual training programme on exercise and management of copyright and related 
rights organized by NORCODE, took place three times in 2017/2018:  
• Regional Training Program, Africa: 20  to 30 November 2017, Dar -es-Salaam, Tanzania  
• Regional Training Program, Asia: 4  to 14 June 2018, Kathmandu, Nepal  
• Regional Training Program, Caribbean: 19  to 23 November 2018, Bridgetown, Barbados  
Objectives  
9.  The overall goal of the training is to provide a broad understanding of:  
• The role and functions of collective management in different creative industries;  
• Importance of solid governance str uctures and sustainability in collective management 
operations;  
• Importance of sound licensing and distribution systems;  and 
• Opportunities and challenges of digital exploitation on rights management.  
10.  The training also concentrates on solutions in emerging t opics selected by the partnering 
organizations.  
Target Participants  
11.  The programme is primarily tailored for persons in a leading position in a collective management 
organization (CMO). It is equally well suited for persons in a leading position working in an 
intellectual property/copyright office which has a direct relation to a CMO in their country. Up to 20 
participants are selected from countries in the region where collective management of rights 
currently exists.  
Programme  Structure  
Phase 1: Preparatio n 
Distance  learning  
12.  By way of preparation, the participants are obliged to complete a distance learning course 
"Advanced Course on Collective Management of Copyright and Related Rights for Collective 
Management  Organizations (CMOs) " (DL 503), offered by th e WIPO Academy. Participants are also 
encouraged to study the "Advanced Course on Copyright and Related Rights " (DL 201), subject to 
their prior knowledge on the legislative framework of copyright and related rights.  
Individual study project  
13.  Each participa nt selects a topic for his/her individual study project. They submit a one -page 
study outline document based on a template, in conjunction with the application. The participants 
develop their studies during the training course and submit a written eight-12-page long report on 
their findings six months after the onsite training.  
Country report  
14.  Prior to the training, each participant writes a country report, based on a template, to include 
an overview of the copyright system and current status of collective management in their countries. 
This country report is delivered two weeks before the train ing, where the results are presented.  
Phase 2: Onsite Session  
15.  The second phase consists of a ten-day onsite training session where information is provided 
by local and international experts on all aspects of a well -functioning copyright system. Training IP/C/W/655/Add.3  
 
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  includes interactive sessions with group discussions, case studies, simulated exercises and 
development of negotiation skills. This phase includes study visits to the copyright organizations of 
the host country.  
Phase 3: Individual Study Projects  
16.  The third phase  will take place in the participants ' home countries where they work on their 
individual study project. This work is facilitated by tutoring online, when and where desired. The 
participants write a report on their topic within six months after t he onsite session. The report is 
discussed and evaluated on an online platform.  
Phase 4: Evaluation  
17.  The fourth phase consists of evaluation of the impact of the training course one year after the 
onsite session. The participants give feedback on how and wh ere their participation at the training 
programme has enhanced their knowledge and how that has been demonstrated in practice in their 
work.  
18.  Participants are obliged to participate in all phases of the programme.  
Partner organizations : 
• World Intellectual P roperty Organization (WIPO Academy)  
• The International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO)  
• International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC)  
• International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)   
• The So cieties ' Council for the Collective Management of Performers ' Rights (SCAPR)  
• The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO)  
19.  Participants in the regional programmes came from the following countries:   
• Africa: Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi , Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, 
Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe . 
• Asia: China; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Philippines, 
Thailand and Viet Nam.  
• Caribbean: Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint 
Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.  
20.  For more information: http://norcode.no/news/ .  
Enquiries can be made to:  
 
The Norwegian Industrial Property Office  
Att.: Mr Vegar Johnsrud  
Legal and International Affairs  
PO Box 4863 Nydalen, NO -0422 Oslo, Norway   
Telephon e: +47 22 38 74 38  
E-mail: vjo@p atentstyret.no 
 
The Norwegian Copyright Development Association ( NORCODE)  
Att.: Ms Inger Dirdal, Managing Director  
c/o Gramo  
Rosenkrantz ' gate 21, NO -0160 Oslo, Norway  
Telephone:   +47 975 10 353  
E-mail:  inger.dirdal@norcode.no  
 
 
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