Por Andrés Izquierdo Durante la segunda semana de agosto, fui invitado a hablar en la Feria Internacional del Libro de Panamá, un evento organizado por la la Oficina del Derecho de Autor de Panamá, el Ministerio de Cultura y la…
By Andrés Izquierdo AI, Copyright, and the Future of Creativity: Notes from the Panama International Book FairDuring the second week of August, I was invited to speak at the Panama International Book Fair, an event hosted by the World Intellectual…
By Andres Izquierdo, Counsel, PIJIP, American University Despite the weight of a packed agenda and the significance of several recent treaty milestones, the Sixty-Sixth Series of Meetings of the WIPO General Assembly is expected to unfold key institutional decisions, including…
By Andres Izquierdo, Counsel, PIJIP, American University At the close of WIPO’s 39th Program and Budget Committee (PBC) session, a modest yet symbolically significant proposal—to allocate regular budget funds, on an exceptional basis, to support the participation of Indigenous Peoples…
By: Andres Izquierdo, Counsel, PIJIP, American University Despite a full agenda and spirited debate, WIPO’s 39th Program and Budget Committee ended with little to show in terms of any concrete modifications to the proposed 2026/2027 Program and Budget. Key issues—including…
By Andres Izquierdo, Counsel, PIJIP, American University At the 38th session of WIPO’s Program and Budget Committee (PBC), the Delegation of Colombia, speaking on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC), introduced a proposal to address…
By Andres Izquierdo As WIPO’s Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) prepares to meet for its 34th session this May, an important question is back on the table: Are we doing enough to support access to knowledge, culture, and…
[Andrés Izquierdo] On behalf of WCL PIJIP and the Global Network on Copyright User Rights, Andrés Izquierdo attended a meeting organized by Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO. The meeting had the participation of more than 40 accredited NGOs and industry stakeholder groups. This meeting served to highlight the pivotal role played by NGOs in the Organization’s work. To the meeting also attended KEI, IFLA, and Innovarte.
[Andrés Izquierdo] The Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC), delivered a statement supporting initiatives and proposals aimed at expanding and facilitating education, research, and the preservation of cultural heritage in developing countries. GRULAC also advocated for the implementation of WIPO’s Development Agenda (DA) recommendations and the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations. The statement was delivered by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela delegation speaking on behalf of GRULAC during the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) General Assembly 2023.
[Andrés Izquierdo] On July 6, 2023, Germán Umaña Mendoza, the Colombian Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, delivered a compelling opening statement on behalf of Colombia during the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In his address, Minister Umaña advocated for the establishment of multilateral regulations that would incorporate flexible copyright provisions, enabling enhanced access to education and technological advancements. He also emphasized the need to safeguard cultural expressions and ensure accessibility to digital economies, with the aim of achieving a harmonious equilibrium between sustainable development, trade, intellectual property, investment, and services. Minister Umaña's is a significant call to action, urging stakeholders to advance a balance in IP rights.
[Andrés Izquierdo] On May 25th, the 35th Program and Budget Committee (P&B) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) adopted new language concerning copyright limitations and exceptions (L&E) for the copyright sector at WIPO. Initially put forward by Colombia, this proposal received strong support from the African Group, leading to its adoption.
[Andrés Izquierdo] On April 28th, 2023, the World Intellectual Property Organization's Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) approved a pilot project on Text and Data Mining (TDM) to support research and innovation in universities and other research-oriented institutions in Africa. PIJIP has been participating as an observer on this Committee since 2022... The pilot project will begin by mapping the current treaty implementation, legal framework, and licensing schemes, as well as existing materials such as studies and toolkits in the region, to assess the use of TDM in research, particularly by universities and research-oriented institutions. In the second step, the project will collaborate with three pilot universities in Africa, along with input from other regional stakeholders, to develop case studies on the application of TDM in research, using the information and experiences gathered during the mapping process.