[Fsf-friends] OFFTOPIC: Wipo in Singapore

[Frederick Noronha (FN)]

http://www.eians.com/stories/2005/06/07/07sing.shtml

Global patents body launches Singapore office Print this page.. 
Indo-Asian News Service

Singapore, June 7 (IANS) The World Intellectual Property Organisation 
(WIPO) opened its Singapore office Tuesday in a bid to foster closer ties 
between the with the various intellectual property (IP) offices in the 
Asia-Pacific region.

The office, the first in the region, is expected to facilitate 
constructive dialogue on issues in the international IP agenda and 
creating a culture of respect for IP, reports Xinhua.

"The Asia-Pacific is rapidly emerging as an exciting region of new growth 
for IP," said Singapore Senior Minister of State for Law Ho Peng Kee at 
the opening ceremony, adding that the office will help countries in the 
region to develop IP as a tool for economic growth.

Also Tuesday, the Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium on Intellectual Property 
for Development opened here, the first major meet organised by the 
inaugurated office and Singapore's Foreign Ministry.

Participants in the conference will exchange views on issues such as 
effective IP strategies for national development, balancing competing 
priorities in IP policy and the new business role of IP offices in the 
21st century.

The WIPO has offices in Geneva, Washington, New York and Brussels.

Indo-Asian News Service