Celebrating world changing innovations

This week, I had the pleasure of taking part in the 2024 General Assembly of the member countries of the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

I was able to learn about a number of countries that are putting geographical indications (or appellations of origin) and collective trademarks into practice, and using intellectual property as a lever for innovation.

I had the chance to meet experts from various sectors, including deeptech, cleantech and medtech, as well as local producers of products who use collective marks and geographical indications to promote their local food products (saffron, honey, nuts), fashion and textiles (patterns, know-how) and original creations.
Several initiatives were particularly highlighted (Generative AI, SDGs, youth awareness, domain names dispute resolution, enabling innovation at the sub-country level).

It was also an opportunity to celebrate the WIPO Global Awards 2024 winners, and to discover their innovations.

During the week, the exchange also provided an opportunity to discover the music, dance, songs and folklore of countries and beautiful destinations such as India, Ghana, Slovakia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kyrgystan, the ASEAN countries (Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei), Caraïbes (Antigua & Barbuda), 8 Eurasia Countries.

In short, a unique opportunity to discover this panorama of intellectual property, innovation, good taste and creativity from the four corners of the globe!

And to round off this wonderful week, as a fan of bees and aware of their importance for nature, I was lucky enough to be one of the winners of the honey tasting from Antigua and Barbuda, an illustration of a very pragmatic case of collective brands to promote delicious honey, the quality of the producers and the origin of the product.

I’m now the first epicurious fan of this cooperative of beekeepers and honey producers! 😉

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assembly 2024 highlights included:

1. Record Attendance and Global Interest: Over 1400 delegates from around the world attended the event, showcasing the global interest in intellectual property issues.
2. Focus on Innovation and Creativity: The theme for the 2025 General Assembly was announced as « IP and Music, » emphasizing the importance of intellectual property protection in fostering global innovation and creativity.
3. Multilateral Discussions and Priorities: Countries like the Netherlands, Italy, and Mexico emphasized their commitment to multilateralism and actively contributed to global intellectual property discussions, focusing on issues such as the protection of Geographical Indications, promotion of safe use of AI, and industrial design.
4. Diplomatic Conferences: The General Assembly decided to convene a diplomatic conference in 2024 to conclude an international legal instrument relating to intellectual property, genetic resources, and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.
5. High-Level Participation: The event saw the participation of high-level delegates, including representatives from various countries and the European Union, who discussed key intellectual property issues and priorities.
6. Global Collaboration and Partnerships: The event emphasized the importance of global collaboration and partnerships in protecting intellectual property and fostering the creative and cultural sector, aligning with international best practices and standards.