Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Australian business exporting intellectual property (IP) products to the Asia-Pacific region has a strong interest in the deliberations of a workshop being held in Sydney tomorrow, 22 March.
The Government-Industry Workshop on IP Enforcement in the APEC Region will help to improve access to important export markets for Australian innovators and creators by developing processes to improve regional cooperation on IP enforcement. It will do this by working towards a more coordinated and effective mechanism for industry and government cooperation on IP enforcement. Effective enforcement of IP rights is critical if innovators and creators are to take advantage of the benefits of their intellectual property, particularly through doing business with our major trading partners.
Particular focus will be paid to IP issues for computer software, branded goods and collective management of copyright for musicians, authors and publishers. The workshop will also address broader issues of IP enforcement as a part of strategic management of IP rights.
The workshop, to be opened by Pamela Fayle, Australia's Ambassador to APEC, will be attended by 150 industry representatives and officials representing a broad cross-section of Australian industry, business and professionals and from around the Asia-Pacific region.
The workshop is being held in conjunction with a meeting of the APEC Intellectual Property Experts Group (IPEG). The APEC IPEG is a forum for cooperation and policy dialogue on IP issues in the Asia-Pacific region. The group considers a range of IP issues including developments raised by electronic commerce and biotechnology.
The workshop is hosted by the Australian Commonwealth Government (jointly through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Attorney-General's Department and IP Australia), and by the NSW Government (through the Department of State and Regional Development).
For further information: Andrew Witheford - 02 9338 6900 or 0410 527 486
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