UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Press Releases 2000

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Press Release ECE/TRADE/00/5

Geneva, 11 April 2000

 

UN/ECE Advisory Group for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights for Investment

Consultative Meeting
Tallinn, Estonia, 6-7 April 2000

 To help attract investment into the creative, innovative and high technology industries of central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE) has established an Advisory Group for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights for Investment. On 6 and 7 April, the Group met representatives of the Estonian Government and the private sector to discuss the environment for intellectual property rights and their use in Estonia and to make recommendations for improvement.

 This meeting, hosted by Estonia, was part of a pilot project for country consultations by the Advisory Group. The recommendations emanating from this meeting are to be presented next month to the Estonian authorities.

 They deal with the following areas:

 - Current law on intellectual property rights

- General administration of intellectual property rights

- How the law can better be enforced

- Links between intellectual property and investment, particularly in high
technology and creative industries

- Education and training required

- Public awareness campaigns.

 Estonia has an excellent legislative structure for supporting intellectual property rights. However, as in quite a few countries, enforcement could be improved. In this respect, there is an obvious need for education and training programmes.

 The general public is relatively unaware of the value and significance of intellectual property rights. For instance, there is little understanding of their positive effects on consumer safety, investment and employment, government tax revenues, the fight against organized crime and the promotion of local culture.

 The recommendations from the meeting will therefore include suggested ways to improve enforcement, identify training needs and encourage education and information campaigns.

For more information, please contact:

Virginia Cram-Martos
Chief, Trade and Investment Promotion Section
Trade Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Tel: (+41 22) 917 27 45

Fax: (+41 22) 917 00 37

E-mail: [email protected]

Web site: http://www.unece.org/trade/ctied/tradedir/trddir_h.htm

 

 

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Tel: +(41 22) 917 44 44, Fax: +(41 22) 917 05 05,

E-mail: [email protected], Website: http://www.unece.org

Thank you.