The WIPO Development Agenda (WDA) recommends (Recommendation 22) that “WIPO norm-setting activities should be supportive of the development goals agreed within the UN system, including those contained in the Millennium Declaration” otherwise known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Recommendation goes on to ask the WIPO Secretariat, without prejudice to the outcome of Member States considerations, and subject to specific Member States’ instructions and the appropriateness of each case to, among other things, address a range of issues, such as flexibilities, exceptions and limitations, in the norm-setting working documents prepared by it. This recommendation links to Recommendation 12 which requires WIPO to further mainstream development considerations into its substantive and technical assistance activities and debates. (more…)  Read the rest of this entry »