On the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Day, which occurs every year on April 26, I-Com, together with other members of the GTIPA – the Global Trade and Innovation Alliance – signed a declaration of support for IP guiding principles, recognising the fundamental role of IP as a driver for technological innovation and economic growth.
In the context of the COVID-19 crisis, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think-tank in the GTIPA, called for more robust intellectual property rights to foster innovation and protect creativity, the leading force towards finding a cure for COVID-19.
The joint assertion calls for governments and international organisations to encourage the respect for intellectual property rights and increase awareness on the importance of those rights in fostering innovation, also taking into account the principle of non-discrimination regarding types of technologies or who owns them. Governments should also promote a strong rule of law and a solid juridical framework to combat online piracy and protect digital goods.
“Strong IP rules are becoming crucial as economic output becomes increasingly knowledge-driven,” said ITIF Vice President for Global Innovation Policy Stephen Ezell.
“Whether it comes to global climate change, pandemics, or the innovative agricultural biotechnology needed to feed the world, the 2020 World Intellectual Property Day brings into stark relief the reality that the world needs intellectual property rights and protections now more than ever.”
