The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Secretariat appears to be making steady progress towards addressing the development dimension of intellectual property (IP) protection in response to the range of Recommendations that make up the WIPO Development Agenda (WDA). Important questions, however, remain regarding the real impact of the WDA; the manner in which some of the key recommendations, such as on public domain, are being implemented; and the role of WIPO Member States and other stakeholders, including civil society organisations and other international organisations, in contributing to the effective implementation of the WDA. This is the conclusion I reach after reading a WIPO a Secretariat document titled “Progress Report on Recommendations for Immediate Implementation” (WIPO doc. CDIP/3/5) which will be discussed at the third session of the organisation’s Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) in Geneva (27 April  - 1 May 2009). (more…)  Read the rest of this entry »