Actually, I should have mentioned that
while this seminar was organized and is being hosted by WIPO, it is a joint
seminar with:
Now, one might notice that at least two of those organizations are other international organizations of the UN which have as their primary mission promoting development. So you might wonder why it's necessary in the minds of some to turn WIPO into yet another development organization?
The answer is simple. This is not an attempt to promote development.
It is rather the result of an unholy alignment of the interests of the anti-corporate crowd (the Naderites) and the anti-capitalist crowd. The anti-corporate crowd wants to see IP rights taken away from corporate interests, because they're always interested in anything that attacks corporations.
The anti-capitalist crowd wants to see IP rights taken away from Western corporations and transferred to domestic (and frequently government-owned or government-controlled) corporations.
So this seminar is intended by the anti-corporate and anti-capitalist crowd as furthering their agenda, and by the pro-IP crowd as reinforcing the importance of IP protection as a tool for development.
My question is: Why am I hear with this earphone in my ear, surrounded by international bureaucrats and socialists? Instead of at home in Texas? Because somebody has to do this.
- the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
- the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
- the World Health Organization (WHO), and
- the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Now, one might notice that at least two of those organizations are other international organizations of the UN which have as their primary mission promoting development. So you might wonder why it's necessary in the minds of some to turn WIPO into yet another development organization?
The answer is simple. This is not an attempt to promote development.
It is rather the result of an unholy alignment of the interests of the anti-corporate crowd (the Naderites) and the anti-capitalist crowd. The anti-corporate crowd wants to see IP rights taken away from corporate interests, because they're always interested in anything that attacks corporations.
The anti-capitalist crowd wants to see IP rights taken away from Western corporations and transferred to domestic (and frequently government-owned or government-controlled) corporations.
So this seminar is intended by the anti-corporate and anti-capitalist crowd as furthering their agenda, and by the pro-IP crowd as reinforcing the importance of IP protection as a tool for development.
My question is: Why am I hear with this earphone in my ear, surrounded by international bureaucrats and socialists? Instead of at home in Texas? Because somebody has to do this.