Both Events Draws Policymakers from the IP Community
The International Intellectual Property Institute’s Chairman Bruce A. Lehman, was invited to speak by the Center for Intellectual Property Studies at the Universidad Externado at its annual Congress on Intellectual Property. The focus of this year’s Congress was on the economic impact of intellectual property in Colombia. Mr. Lehman’s speech on “Confronting the Challenges of a Knowledge and Information Economy” highlighted the benefits of intellectual property policies for economic growth and development, and also identified Colombia’s potential to become a strategic international player in the knowledge and information economy. Over 150 people attended this two day event. Attendees included attorneys, public officials, executives, and representatives from various interest groups.
Additionally, Mr. Lehman was also invited by speak by the Medellin Chamber of Commerce and the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) at a working roundtable with public officials from different Colombian agencies with responsibilities for intellectual property issues. The informal atmosphere and interaction of this event helped facilitate frank discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of Colombia’s current intellectual property system. The roundtable also served as a brainstorming session on how to strengthen agencies and enforcement particularly in the context of the future United States-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
For more information concerning these events, please contact Santiago Pinzon at spinzon@iipi.org.
Photo © Andrey Shchekalev 2006