In Special Remarks to QNA…WIPO Director-General Affirms Strength of Partnership with Qatar

HE Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Daren Tang emphasized the depth of the partnership and cooperation between WIPO and Qatar and the commitment of both sides to enhance and develop their relationship. In a statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA) during the official ceremony marking Qatar's accession to the Madrid Protocol, he mentioned that during his official visit to Doha last year, he observed the State of Qatar's efforts to build a robust innovation ecosystem as part of Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to promote a knowledge-based economy. He noted that WIPO has consistently supported Qatars efforts to ensure that intellectual property (IP) serves as a catalyst for job creation, investment attraction, and support for businesses and innovators. He added that, among the ways WIPO have pursued this, was by providing support to enhance Qatars IP ecosystem through developing a national IP strategy and establishing a dedicated IP department. He also said that WI PO continues to collaborate with various institutions and organizations to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the tools and guidance for managing their intangible assets and supporting the State of Qatar's efforts to strengthen its IP legislation to create a conducive legal environment for a dynamic and innovative IP ecosystem. Tang also mentioned that the WIPO Academy has been working closely with Hamad Bin Khalifa University to build skills in the field of intellectual property. Later this year, WIPO looks forward to signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Qatar University to establish a joint Masters program in Technology and IP Law. He said that, according to the 2024 Global Innovation Index released recently by WIPO, Qatars economy ranks among the worlds top 50 most innovative economies, with particular strengths in ICT usage and public infrastructure. He noted that this reflects the State of Qatar's substantial strides in creating and de veloping its IP ecosystem. He highlighted that the State of Qatar's recent accession to the Madrid System is a significant achievement that will benefit entrepreneurs and companies domestically. It also stands as further testament to the country's commitment to leveraging IP-driven innovation and creativity. Brand protection, he explained, is not just a legal right but a gateway to new markets, quality jobs, and a means to support local communities and stimulate growth. His Excellency noted that the State of Qatar already plays an active role in various committees of the GCC Patent Office in Riyadh, the IP Training Center in Kuwait, and the Arab Leagues IP Technical Committee, where Qatar has been elected chair for two years. In similar remarks to QNA, HE Assistant Director General of WIPO Marco Aleman said that the State of Qatar's accession to the Madrid Protocol strengthens its IP protection framework, fostering innovation and creativity by ensuring innovators and creators have the necessary tools to pr otect and monetize their work. He pointed out that this development will have a particular impact on companies based in Qatar, as they can now submit a single international application to protect their trademarks in up to 130 countries, noting that this will also benefit entrepreneurs worldwide who wish to invest or conduct business in Qatar, as it offers a convenient and effective means of securing trademark protection in the country. He added that over 200 companies have already used the Madrid Protocol to protect their trademarks in Qatar during its first month of enforcement. He also expressed appreciation for the fruitful outcomes of the visits and meetings WIPO participated in during the International Conference on Mediation and Arbitration held in Qatar in June 2024. He explained that these visits and bilateral meetings provided an opportunity to discuss multiple areas of cooperation between WIPO and Qatar. WIPO representatives held highly productive meetings with many representatives from ministries , government agencies, and judicial and financial authorities in Qatar. He said that these meetings and visits have reinforced WIPO's commitment to supporting the State of Qatar in developing its national IP strategy. He noted that WIPO engaged in discussions around ongoing cooperation in areas of SMEs, alternative dispute resolution methods, and IP education, and explored several potential new memoranda of understanding to expand cooperation in ADR and judicial bodies. That is in addition to discussing the strengthening of the State of Qatar's innovation ecosystem through support for the Qatar Research, Development, and Innovation Council, which he said plays a crucial role in the State of Qatars innovation strategy. Regarding the future of cooperation between WIPO and Qatar in developing ADR methods for IP disputes, IP enforcement, and capacity building especially given the services provided by WIPO's Arbitration and Mediation Center and the WIPO Judicial Institute, His Excellency emphasized that the colla boration reflects a true ecosystem approach to innovation and IP, underscoring the pivotal role of IP as part of Qatars Vision 2030. He added that the WIPO Judicial Institute looks forward to continuing discussions with the State of Qatar on various strategies to enhance judicial management of IP disputes, including a continuous education program for judges and the online publication of court decisions. Source: Qatar News Agency