Opening Statement of the United States of America at the 64th Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization — WIPO
Remarks by Kathi Vidal
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO
Thank you, Chair.
The United States is pleased to see you presiding over the General Assembly.
Sustainability is an important theme as we look to solve global challenges such as climate change.
At the IP5 Heads of Office meeting held in June, we also focused on the need to address climate change on a global scale.
- We learned that half of the energy reductions needed to reach net zero will come from technologies that have not yet been commercialized.
- Thus, WIPO’s success in “promoting protection of intellectual property throughout the world” has never been more important.
As a WIPO Green Partner, we want to reach a new generation of innovators, facilitate collaboration, and accelerate investment in green technology.• We look forward to working with WIPO to make this happen.
With 96% of WIPO’s income generated by fees from patent, trademark, and industrial design applications, it is important that all of WIPO’s registration systems be self-sustaining.
- If not, they should increasingly plan and move towards this goal.
- This ensures that applicants are not paying for services they do not receive.
Financial sustainability at the Union level ensures WIPO as a whole can continue its successful operation and protection of IP across the globe.
Finally, we express our support for Ukraine and WIPO’s work over the last year to help Ukraine maintain and advance its IP system during Russia’s unjust and brutal war.
We thank the Secretariat for its Report on the Assistance and Support for Ukraine’s Innovation and Creativity Sector and Intellectual Property System.
We look forward to discussing the specific assistance being provided to Ukraine and its people.
Ukraine’s innovators will play a critical role in rebuilding their country, and contributing to the global advancement of science, technology, and industry.
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