Topic: International Intellectual Property Protection
Country: Norway
Delegate Name: Luis F. Vazquez
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Norway position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Intellectual property has been a rising topic of discussion with new developments technology. The base of intellectual property protection comes from the Paris and Berne conventions of the late 19th century. It is essential for the World Intellectual Property Organization to understand the economic repercussions of increasing IP protection. In 1995 all members of the world trade organization (WTO) signed the TRIPS Agreement which is the most complex treaty which attempts to set a fair playing field for companies. Patents have recently been seen and used as a method for companies to lower other companies shares only raising concerns for how far IP protection should really go. People's growing concern for the accessibility of generic medicines has also been a debate on whether or not IP protected people or organizations should be allowed to have a monopoly over medicine. These are the argued topics needed to be readdressed because of older standards for IP protection.
Norway understand that IP protection is essential for economies to grow and thrive. Evidence of which anyone can access shows that IP-based industries perform far better than non-IP based industries , providing better jobs and better pay for employees. As we are part of the world trade organization we have the TRIPS Agreement to help companies operate in other countries and provide for a fair playing field. We have been a part of the Paris Union Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Berne Copyright Convention, the Universal Copyright Convention of 1952, and the Rome Convention. Domestically we have established acts like Trade Marks Act, Designs Act, Plant Variety Act, Patents Act, Copyright Act, and the Industrial Property Office Act.
Norway proposes that the UN and countries focus on allowing people and companies to innovate as well as allowing for economies to grow and thrive. People and companies losing the right of having IP protection would sharply disincentivize the innovation of new ideas that make our everyday lives easier. With decline of innovation would also come the rapid slow down of economic growth, affecting the world at large.
