RESTRICTED
PREPARATORY COMMITTEE PC/IPL/W/11
FOR THE 1November 1994
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
(94-2289)
Original: English
SUB-COMMITTEE ONINSTITUTIONAL ,
PROCEDURAL AND LEGAL MATTERS
COMMUNICATION FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OFWIPO
The following communication, dated 17October 1994, has been received by
Ambassador Kesavapany, Chairman oftheContact Group, andbytheDirector-General from the
Director-General oftheWorld Intellectual Property Organization.
_______________
Initssession heldfrom September 26toOctober 4,1994, theGeneral Assembly ofWIPO
metandconsidered adocument, which Ihadsubmitted toit,entitled "WIPO andtheWTO andTRIPS
Agreements" (document WO/GA/XV/2, copyenclosed).1
After afulldiscussion, theGeneral Assembly adopted thefollowing Resolution:
"1. Having noted thatthepreamble oftheAgreement onTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights states thattheMembers oftheWorld Trade Organization
desire toestablish amutually supportive relationship between theWorld Trade
Organization andtheWorld Intellectual Property Organization, theWIPO General
Assemblyherebyalsoexpressesthedesiretoestablishamutuallysupportiverelationship
betweentheWorldIntellectualPropertyOrganizationandtheWorldTradeOrganization.
"2. Inaccordance withitsdesire toestablish amutually supportive relationship
betweentheWorldIntellectualPropertyOrganizationandtheWorldTradeOrganization,
theWIPO General Assembly decides toestablish anadhocworking group opento
allMember States ofWIPO:
(i) toadvise andcooperate withtheDirector General ofWIPO
inhiscontacts withthecompetent organs ofGATT/WTO;
(ii) todiscuss matters concerning possible cooperation between
WIPO andWTO;
(iii) toconsider theestablishment ofanadhocinformal
WIPO/GATT-WTO Consultation Group onallmatters
concerning possible cooperation between WIPO andWTO.
1Interested delegations canobtain acopyofthisdocument fromtheGATT Secretariat (office 3014,
tel:7395115/5114).
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Page2
"3. TheWIPO General Assembly decides thattheInternational Bureau should be
atthedisposal ofanyStatethatexpressly asksforadvice onquestions ofcompatibility
ofitsexisting orplanned national intellectual property legislation notonlyintreaties
administered byWIPO, butalsowithother international norms andtrends, including
theAgreement onTrade-Related Aspects ofIntellectual Property Rights, andthatthe
International Bureau should prepare studies ontheimplications ofthesaidAgreement
onthetreaties administered byWIPO."
Itgoeswithout saying thattheSecretariat ofGATT willbeinvited toparticipate inanobserver
capacity inthemeetings oftheadhocworking group referred toinparagraph 2oftheabove quoted
resolution. Enclosed isacopyofthefullreport ofthesession oftheGeneral Assembly contained
indocument WO/GA/XV/3.2That document alsocovers another agenda item, namely, Matters
Concerning theDraft Treaty fortheSettlement ofDisputes between States intheField ofIntellectual
Property, which might beofinterest toGATT.
2Interested delegations canobtain acopyofthisdocument fromtheGATT Secretariat (office 3014,
tel:7395115/5114).