Saudi Gazette report
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi highlighted the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges it posed to intellectual property during the global intellectual property challenges forum on Monday.
The forum which was organized by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) and the Saudi Secretariat for the G20, brought together more than 30 international bodies among the leaders of the intellectual property offices of the G20 countries, international organizations and intellectual property offices of the guest countries.
Speaking during the opening session of the forum which was chaired by Abdulaziz Bin Muhammad Al-Swailem, the CEO of the SAIP, Al-Qasabi said: “This epidemic has imposed difficulties on global economies, public health and intellectual property, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made unprecedented achievements by taking preventive measures and addressing the expected repercussions on the global economy.
Al-Qasabi said, who is also the chairman of the board of directors of the SAIP, pointed out the role of heads of intellectual property offices in the joint efforts, calling the intellectual property being an essential component of innovation-based economies.
The forum in a joint statement recognized that intellectual property is an essential element in innovation-based economies through which it contributes to achieving sustainable development goals, and is an integral component of global trade.
Based on this recognition, intellectual property offices seek to exchange information related to intellectual property policies, explore office practices and procedures, exchange experiences in the use of digital technologies, and work to enhance both the role of world intellectual property organization and cooperation in the field of intellectual property among the G20 countries.
The global intellectual property challenges forum comes as a response to the priorities related to intellectual property in light of global pandemics and crises.
