Intellectual property protection linked to supporting green innovation
Sunday, 26 April 2009
Intellectual property protection (IP) is crucial to 'green innovation,' and the solution of some of the most difficult problems that face the world today, argues US Ambassador in Dhaka James F Moriarty on the eve of World Intellectual Property Day, reports bdnews24.com.
This year the day is being marked with the theme "Promoting Green Innovation."
Moriarty in a statement Saturday emphasised the importance of IP for development of green technologies and eco-friendly products for a healthy environment and promote sustainable agricultural and economic development.
"We are in a period of heightened concern about both climate change and the global economic crisis," said Moriarty.
"Historically such challenges have sparked innovation, presenting new opportunities to benefit from intellectual property. By encouraging enforcement of trade rules, including intellectual property protection, we can support innovative industries, create new jobs and solve global challenges."
Creative individuals and industries continue to generate solutions to some of the most difficult problems that face the world today, said the US envoy.
"Intellectual property protections help foster environments in which creativity and innovation can thrive and contribute to economic development and improved quality of life around the world," he said.
Moriarty mentions Brazil as one example. "Brazil has undergone a Green Revolution, dramatically increasing agricultural production. Investment in research, technology transfer, and the use of new technologies have been essential to this success."
Mentioning a new soybean variety bred with the help of the US that helped Brazil become a major soybean producer, the US envoy said intellectual property protection in both Brazil and the United States was crucial to its development.
He also mentioned the UN Development Programme's Transformation of Rural Photovoltaic Market Project in Tanzania, where local entrepreneurs are helping bring authentic and affordable solar energy systems to rural areas.
"Despite the strong benefits that these solar technology systems bring to health centres, schools, businesses and individual households, low quality imitation products sold at small electric shops threaten to hurt their reputation," said Moriarty.
"Innovation is at the heart of civilisation."
The pursuit of new knowledge is at the centre of the human spirit and is what led Thomas Edison to invent and develop technologies like the light bulb, said the ambassador.
The US intellectual property system let others to build upon Edison's work by granting him patent protection that allowed him to reap financial benefit for his significant contribution to society, he argued.
"We must ask ourselves: Who are the Thomas Edisons of today? Where are they? And, how do we ensure that intellectual property protections are in place to encourage their innovative spirit and support the safe and secure distribution of technologies to those who desperately need them?"
"As we work to address global challenges such as the current international economic crisis, climate change and clean energy, we must redouble our efforts to encourage and protect intellectual property rights and foster a robust environment for global innovation," said the US ambassador.
This year the day is being marked with the theme "Promoting Green Innovation."
Moriarty in a statement Saturday emphasised the importance of IP for development of green technologies and eco-friendly products for a healthy environment and promote sustainable agricultural and economic development.
"We are in a period of heightened concern about both climate change and the global economic crisis," said Moriarty.
"Historically such challenges have sparked innovation, presenting new opportunities to benefit from intellectual property. By encouraging enforcement of trade rules, including intellectual property protection, we can support innovative industries, create new jobs and solve global challenges."
Creative individuals and industries continue to generate solutions to some of the most difficult problems that face the world today, said the US envoy.
"Intellectual property protections help foster environments in which creativity and innovation can thrive and contribute to economic development and improved quality of life around the world," he said.
Moriarty mentions Brazil as one example. "Brazil has undergone a Green Revolution, dramatically increasing agricultural production. Investment in research, technology transfer, and the use of new technologies have been essential to this success."
Mentioning a new soybean variety bred with the help of the US that helped Brazil become a major soybean producer, the US envoy said intellectual property protection in both Brazil and the United States was crucial to its development.
He also mentioned the UN Development Programme's Transformation of Rural Photovoltaic Market Project in Tanzania, where local entrepreneurs are helping bring authentic and affordable solar energy systems to rural areas.
"Despite the strong benefits that these solar technology systems bring to health centres, schools, businesses and individual households, low quality imitation products sold at small electric shops threaten to hurt their reputation," said Moriarty.
"Innovation is at the heart of civilisation."
The pursuit of new knowledge is at the centre of the human spirit and is what led Thomas Edison to invent and develop technologies like the light bulb, said the ambassador.
The US intellectual property system let others to build upon Edison's work by granting him patent protection that allowed him to reap financial benefit for his significant contribution to society, he argued.
"We must ask ourselves: Who are the Thomas Edisons of today? Where are they? And, how do we ensure that intellectual property protections are in place to encourage their innovative spirit and support the safe and secure distribution of technologies to those who desperately need them?"
"As we work to address global challenges such as the current international economic crisis, climate change and clean energy, we must redouble our efforts to encourage and protect intellectual property rights and foster a robust environment for global innovation," said the US ambassador.