WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/78/Add.4
15September 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3630)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM
OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Addendum
TheWorld Bank
Thepresent document reproduces theupdated information ontechnical andfinancial cooperation
activities relevant totheimplementation oftheTRIPS Agreement, which hasbeenreceived fromthe
World Bank bymeans ofacommunication, dated 2September 1997.1
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WORLD BANK ASSISTANCE ONINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
China
TheBank-assistedEconomicLawReformProjecthasprovidedtechnicalassistancetotheMinistry
ofForeign Trade andEconomic Cooperation (MOFTEC) infinalizing implementing regulations for
theForeign Trade Law. Theprovisions ofthese regulations havebeenframed tomeetinternational
standards suchasthose provided under theTRIPS Agreement.
India
Plant variety protection (PVP) isakeycomponent ofongoing studies onimproving the
productivity ofagricultural inputs. Gene patenting isanother important issue. Thisstudy deals with
thecontentious policy issue ofwhether royalties maybeclaimed onunimproved varieties.
Indonesia
InMay1997, Indonesia passed andratified newintellectual property rights tocomply with
commitments under theTRIPS Agreement andtheBerne Convention. TheBankiscurrently negotiating
anInformationInfrastructureDevelopmentProjectthatwillstrengthenthelegalandregulatoryframework
ofIndonesia 'sIPRs. Theassistance provided willinclude legaladvisory services andpolicy studies;
support tolegaltraining forrelevant staff; andstrengthening oftheDirectorate General ofCopyright,
Patent andTrademark (DGCPT).
./.
1TheinformationshouldbereadinconjuctionwiththeinformationprovidedbytheWorldBank in1996, whichiscontained
indocument IP/C/W/35/Add.5.IP/C/W/78/Add.4
Page2
Turkey
TheBank isattheidentification stage ofaTechnology Development Project inTurkey. One
ofthecomponents identified forinclusion inthisproject isthestrengthening ofintellectual property
laws. Theproject willassist Turkey ininstitution building withaviewtoenabling accession tothe
European Patent Convention, theMadrid Protocol andtheHague Agreement; harmonization; law
enforcement; andpublic awareness ofintellectual property rights issues.
Zimbabwe
Anongoing project onimproving theproductivity ofagricultural inputs dealswiththepotential
roleofplantbreeders 'rights andgenepatenting along withother regulatory reforms designed toraise
farmers 'productivity levels. Akeyissue inthiscontext concerns thefactthatcompanies mayhave
usedPlant Variety Protection toassert ownership rights tovarieties thatareinthepublic domain.
Allcountries
Ashort study on"Intellectual Property Rights aftertheUruguay Round" isbeing prepared.
Thisstudy willsurvey theaspects ofintellectual property rights thatdeveloping countries mustevaluate
inorder topursue atechnology development strategy. Thestudy willconsider thecosts involved in
upgrading intellectual property rights, andtheneedfortechnical assistance inareas suchasplant
varieties, integrated circuits, andprotection ofnewtechnologies.