The International Intellectual Property Institute, IIPI, in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, The George Washington School of Law and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, will hold an international conference on Specialized Intellectual Property Courts on September 12-13, 2002, in Washington D.C.
A number of countries around the world have or are contemplating the establishment of specialized courts and other adjudicative systems for the trying and settlement of intellectual property disputes. This conference will bring judges, practitioners and policymakers from countries as varied as Bosnia, the Philippines, Poland, Vietnam, Great Britain, South Africa, India, Jordan and Thailand to discuss the role of Specialized IP Courts and share information concerning their respective systems of addressing intellectual property disputes.
Conference participants will have the opportunity to critically evaluate the Specialized IP Court models presented – from developed economies, economies in transition and developing economies – assess the conditions which have allowed for success or generated problems, and use this exposure in their ongoing efforts to develop and strengthen systems for the enforcement and adjudication of IP cases. “We need to support efforts being made around the world to strengthen intellectual property enforcement, since strong judicial systems are essential to economic growth and foreign direct investment,” said Ms. Gillespie-White, IIPI Projects Counsel.
Professor Martin J. Adelman, has been named conference chairperson. Professor Adelman serves as Director of the Intellectual Property Law Program and Director of the Dean Dinwoodey Center for Intellectual Property Studies at George Washington University Law School.
Confirmed speakers include The Honorable Edward J. Damich, Chief Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims, The Honourable Justice Kevin Lindgren, Judge of the Federal Court of Australia and President of the Australian Copyright Tribunal, The Honorable Vichai Ariyanuntaka, Judge, Central Intellectual Property & International Trade Court of Thailand, Esmé du Plessis, Partner, Adams and Adams (South Africa), and Robin Whaite, Partner, Linklaters & Alliance (United Kingdom)