IPR and Innovation 23, Letter to WIPO by 85 think tank leaders from 51 countries

Last night, today in the US, a coalition of 85 independent think tanks and institutes from 51  countries, led by the Property Rights Alliance (PRA) sent a letter to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Dir. Gen. Francis Gurry, about International Guidelines on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection.

The eight guidelines are as follows:

1. Rule of Law, Property, and a Transparent Political Environment are the Foundation of Fair and Prosperous Societies.

2. Intellectual Property Rights are Affirmed in International Treaties as a Human Right.

3. Intellectual Property Rights Promote Free Speech and Expression.

4. Intellectual Property Rights are Integral to Consumer Protection and Global Security.

5. Strong Intellectual Property Rights and Contractual Freedom Promote Free and Competitive Markets.

6. Intellectual Property Rights are Vital to Economic Competitiveness.

7. Intellectual Property Rights Must Be Protected Through Effective IP Provisions in Trade Agreements.

8. Intellectual Property Rights Must Be Respected and Protected on the Internet.

Minimal Government Thinkers is among the 85 co-signatory organizations and think tanks. Among fellow Asian free market leaders who also signed and supported the statement are Wan Saiful Wan Jan (IDEAS, Malaysia), Fareeza Ibrahim (SEANET, Malaysia), Kriengsak Chareonwongsak (Inst. of Future Studies and Development, Thailand), Andrew Shuen (Lion Rock Institute, HK), Feng Xingyuan (CIPA, China), Kim Sun-taek (KTA, Korea), Barun Mitra (Liberty Institute, India), Robin Sitoula (Samriddhi, Nepal), Ali Salman (PRIME, Pakistan), and Raza Ullah (Alternate Solutions Inst., Pakistan). 

The statement made this concluding note,

We encourage you to consider these guidelines as you review and discuss new and existing treaties, laws and regulations governing IP. Advanced societies have long understood that by protecting the proprietary rights of artists, authors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and inventors, they were promoting the greater public welfare. The continued protection of these fundamental rights is essential to globalinnovation, creativity and competitiveness.

Thanks to Lorenzo Montanari, Exec. Dir. of PRA, for initiating this important letter, available here. I also reposted it in my slideshare account.
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See also:

IPR and Innovation 19: The Policy Workshop Seminar in Hong Kong, October 21, 2014 

IPR and Innovation 20: The GIPC Intellectual Property Index, 2015 Report, February 06, 2015

IPR and Innovation 21: Recent News + IPN Assistance to Asian Think Tanks, February 15, 2015 

IPR and Innovation 22, The USTR 301 Report 2015 and the Philippines, July 10, 2015 

IPR and Medicines 34, Another Forum on TPP and IP, Manila, May 27, 2015

IPR and Medicines 35, New paper from Geneva Network, July 17, 2015