Topic: International Intellectual Property Protection
Country: Namibia
Delegate Name: Sarah Skaleski
School: Royal Oak High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Namibia position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Intellectual property (IP) relates to an idea or invention, that is the result of works of creativity and design and the ownership of such creative ideas. Intellectual property is the basis of innovation and improvement in many aspects of society. The country of Namibia credits intellectual property, for the country's continued success as a successfully growing nation. IP provided incentives for Namibian civilians to develop new and improved ways to enhance the technology and industry in their societies. Without this, Namibia would not have been able to come so far and be as well developed and successful as they are today and have become in recent years. With this being said, Namibia wants to ensure that a fair balance can be found between the protection and limitations of IP and protection of consumer interests, such as incentive programs and the large existence of information, open for public knowledge. In 1991 Namibia joined the World Intellectual Property Organization, a convention created to mandate global IP. Namibia is a large supporter of WIPO and the values it was created upon, but would to revising sections to ensure the complete success of finding the balance between regulations and incentives, while staying in the legal bounds of all countries. Namibia stresses the importance of all nations to support IP incentive programs, especially for developing nations, to continue global innovation. Similarly, Namibia calls upon all global leaders to discuss a clear, and specific system of IP licensing and the consequences of nations who refuse to oblige to the standards presented. Namibia questions what regulations will be put in place for dealing the legislation side of IP. As well as what the right amount of limitations of IP is needed without taking away from the incentives that IP offers. Namibia also inquirers how IP license and ownership disputes can be resolved calmly and quickly, as to not lead to increased tension or violence between nations. What specific measures will be taken against countries that continue to ignore IP regulations? Namibia hopes a resolution will develop programs that promote the development and innovation of many industries for nations all over, by providing incentives, and IP education courses to inform the public of the workings of IP. Namibia also stresses the importance of creating a resolution that clearly addresses the topic of putting together and mandating a system that controls IP licensing and the ownership of IP works and ideas. A resolution is needed to sharpen the procedure of settling international IP disputes fairly and peacefully. As well as clearly stating the steps that will be taken when countries do not respect or gain the proper licenses for IP ideas. A resolution must clearly state the specific powers that WIPO is granted by all nations to deal with these issues, if and when they arise. One final issue that Namibia would like to see addressed in a resolution is, by what extent individual nations are able to incorporate their own beliefs on IP issues, for example, the debate on genetic modification in agriculture and IP, without going against WIPO regulations. Namibia it proud of the progress they have made, in integrating, managing, and developing IP into Namibian society. Namibia passed a bill called the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) that addresses the challenges that owners of IP face. BIPA ensures that IP owners receive legal and economic credit for their work, BIPA also establishes easy access to the guidelines and registration of IP ownership. As a result of BIPA being passed Namibian innovation has flourished and helped pave the way for Namibia's recent and continuous successes. Namibia hopes that other nations follow, this example in adopting policies similar to BIPA to promote innovation in all nations. In order for this to happen all nations must come together and discusses the steps that the international community, must take to succeed. The country of Namibia looks forward to discussing and developing resolutions with world leaders to promote and develop a global environment where all nations can excel and succeed in all areas of intellectual property.
Sources
http://ttatm.sarpam.net/wp-content/uploads/Intellectual-Property-Audit-Report-of-Namibia-for-workshop-2016.pdf
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/intproperty/489/wipo_pub_489.pdf
http://ttatm.sarpam.net/wp-content/uploads/Intellectual-Property-Audit-Report-of-Namibia-for-workshop-2016.pdf
http://www.modgear.net/glica17/hello-world-3/
