US Mission Geneva

October 1, Ambassador King delivered the U.S. Statement at the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

The U.S. is very concerned that WIPO conducted technical assistance projects and transferred U.S.-developed technology to countries subject to UN Security Council sanctions without the knowledge of the United States, other Member States, or the appropriate UN Security Council sanctions committees. The United States is primarily concerned with three questions: what happened, how to correct it, and how to prevent it in the future.

Our success today not only benefits audiovisual performers, but it also reaffirms the importance of working together in a multilateral environment. Multilateralism provides a stage on which states can act to overcome differences and provide real benefits to humanity, including the advancement of development through effective use of intellectual property.

The annual Special 301 Report highlights improvements in and concerns about the adequacy and effectiveness of U.S. trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

This Report reflects the Administration’s resolve to encourage and maintain effective IPR protection and enforcement worldwide. It identifies a wide range of concerns, including troubling “indigenous innovation” policies that may unfairly disadvantage U.S. rights holders in China, the continuing challenges of copyright piracy over the Internet in countries such as Canada, Italy and Russia, and the ongoing, systemic IPR enforcement issues presented in many trading partners around the world.

Anatole Krattiger from the Global Challenges Division at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) explains what he does and the goals of the Global Challenges Division.

Tom Bombelles from the Global Challenges Division at WIPO, explains what WIPO does and the importance of balancing the social and humanitarian need to provide access to important, life saving drugs for all and supporting innovation, which is a risky, long and expensive process. View This Video See More Videos in This Series

Chinese audiences will have access to significantly more U.S. films under a new agreement between the governments of China and the United States

Hand in hand with the South African mission, Mission Geneva welcomed nearly 100 guests on December 1 to a preview screening of the South African film “Otelo Burning” and dinner. The International Federation of Film Producers Associations generously sponsored the event. Timed to coincide with the Preparatory Committee meeting for the Diplomatic Conference for the Protection of Audio Visual Performances, the co-hosted evening also celebrated the music of “Mama Africa” Miriam Makeba and South African works of art.