”The establishment of an intellectual property system will achieve an economic benefit for the Arab world”. Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh
Amman-Petra- Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of the Arab Society for the Protection of Intellectual Property (ASPIP), assured that the establishment of an intellectual property system at the highest levels is in the interest of the Arab world, not because it protects the rights of others, but because there is no room for progress and economic development without this system. He explained that the intellectual property system in the developed countries is called “the incentive for economic development”. He also called for the quick establishment of a free Arab market since it grants us, as Arabs, a preferential treatment.
Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh said in an interview with the Jordanian news agency ,Petra, that under this system creativity will develop and commercial investment and exploitation of this creativity could be realized for the benefit of mankind. He clarified that the international (TRIPS) agreement identified this system, and what is required from Jordan is that the laws under discussion must, at least, be committed to the (TRIPS) agreement.
He explained that joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) provides, in one of its basic principles, that member states must accept all the conventions connected with the (WTO), and that those countries have to amend their legislations to be consistent with it, plus it is not permitted for any country to decide what it wants or choose from such legislations.
Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh said that we have to realize that in the world of the WTO, the legislative power in any country will not be able to recognize the legislations that are not in conformity with the Organization’s (WTO) conventions. We must grasp and accept this fact as we are already accustomed to absorb and accept what comes out of the United Nations resolutions and conventions as part of our international commitment and fear of sanctions and respect for international agreements.
He explained that the Organization (WTO), through negotiation, drafts conventions and member states must amend their legislations according to these conventions, and then the Organization (WTO) through its censorship boards emphasizes the application of these conventions and refer any state that is contrary to the system to its own tribunal specialized to resolve conflicts.
And about the Jordanian/European partnership agreement, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh said that it should also comply with the existing terms of the (WTO) agreements. He clarified that if a state wants to enter into any partnership agreement, it is required that this state must at least adhere to article II of the Organization’s (WTO) agreements, which is one of the five key principles which stipulate that every member state of the Organization (WTO) must treat all countries based on the MFN principle. No preferential treatment is allowed only to the extent provided by the (WTO) agreements.
Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh drew the attention to the importance of the preparation of the “Seattle” meeting to be held in December this year, where the subject of services will be at the top of the agenda so as not to be surprised. It is known that the General Council of the (WTO) is currently preparing the agenda which is, in fact, resolutions ready for approval and not a research agenda .He added that the Arab coordination in this area is in its beginning, but it bodes well.
Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh explained that the (WTO) has not come up with a new system in the field of intellectual property, but it adopted a series of international conventions applied for more than a century through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Regarding the role of (ASPIP), he said that since its founding in 1987 as a regional Arab private institution, it sought to raise awareness of all aspects of intellectual property, particularly about the need to develop legislations, frameworks, competencies, governmental executive procedures and judicial bodies, and generally concerning the infrastructure necessary to establish a system of intellectual property in the Arab world.
For this purpose a periodical magazine which is, a one-of-a-kind, in the Arab region will be issued. This magazine will evaluate training courses and provide advice to Arab governments relating to legislations and their application and about holding international seminars and conferences to demonstrate the importance of this issue and to highlight the real progress that has been achieved during the last ten years at the Arab level in the development of this system.
He added that the Society is now preparing for a masters program in intellectual property to be taught at universities in collaboration, to prepare the competencies that are necessary in the future.