United States Mission Geneva

“In many ways, creativity and innovation are the engines of the American economy. At USTR, it is our mission to ensure that American workers, businesses, farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs are able to sell their goods and services in a global market place that allows Americans to compete on an equal footing.

Today, because of advances in technology and falling trade barriers, information and ideas circle the globe faster and more freely than ever. But these same trends have also increased intellectual piracy, from illegal file downloads to bootleg recordings to counterfeit products.

Ambassador Tichenor, accompanied by Lynne Beresford, Commissioner of Trademarks of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), deposited the U.S. instruments of ratification for the Singapore Trademark Law Treaty on October 1, 2008 with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Francis Gurry. The U.S. is the 8th Member State to have ratified the Treaty.

We meet at an hour of great promise and hope. For before us is great promise for WIPO and all who are dedicated to its success and hope that the divisions of the past can be left behind as we unite in a common cause in pursuit of a brighter future for this vital organization and all who rely on it. We observe today not a victory of one candidate but a new chapter of progress for the World Intellectual Property Organization, marking an end as well as a new beginning, bringing with it change as well as renewal. For it is in our hands, Member States, the new DG, the Secretariat, WIPO staff, and all the relevant stakeholders to build together the World Intellectual Property Organization we seek and need in the 21st Century. The mantle of leadership has been passed and together, we are well able to assure success in this endeavor.

U.S. Ambassador Warren Tichenor welcomed decisions taken by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states to reduce Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filing fees, and approve a transitional Program & Budget for 2008/09 at meetings of the WIPO General Assemblies on March 31, 2008. The PCT Assembly approved an across-the-board five percent reduction in PCT fees as well as additional reductions for individual filers in developing countries.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

First, on behalf of Group B, let me express our great admiration and warmly congratulate you, Mr Chairman, for your stewardship in creating the proper conditions and positive atmosphere for convening this extraordinary session of the General Assembly. I personally and on behalf of Group B would like to say publicly that you, Mr. Ambassador, have been a model and an exemplar of integrity, dignity and probity of sound judgement in bringing together all of the genuine, heartfelt positions of various groups so that a productive way forward can be achieved and which is at hand today, and we thank you for that, sir. We are confident that you will continue to ably and justly guide our discussions as we move towards adoption of WIPO’s Program and Budget for 2008/2009 later today.

First, on behalf of the United States, let me express our satisfaction with the agreement we have reached today, and reiterate my personal thanks and admiration for your stewardship in guiding this extraordinary session of the General Assembly to a consensus-based outcome.

I also extend my thanks to my fellow representatives to WIPO for the constructive spirit displayed during this meeting. I also thank the staff of the International Bureau, and especially the interpreters, for their role in the successful outcome of this meeting.