Resolution on Draft Co-operation Agreement Between the OAU and the World Intellectual Property Organization

CM/Res. 542 (XXVIII)

RESOLUTION ON DRAFT CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OAU AND THE WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION

The Council of Ministers of the Organization of Africa Unity, meeting in its Twenty - Eight Ordinary Session in Lome, Togo, from 21 to 28 February 1977.

Considering the important role being played by the intellectual property, namely lite rary and artistic works, inventions and trade marks, cultural and economic development of countries throughout the world,

Considering that international co-operation in this field is based essentially on conventions administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),

Noting that WIPO, and Inter-governmental Organization of universal scope, now belongs to the United Nations System,

Considering that since it became a part of the UN System, WIPO has strengthened considerably its activities in favour of developing countries and African countries in particular,

Considering also the urgent need for African States to promote intellectual creativity and encourage investments in production dissemination of information and ideas, transfer of technology and the establishment of the fair trading practices,

Noting further that the WIPO assists developing countries in the promotion of their industrialization, trade and cultural, scientific and technical development by modernising their system of industrial property and royalties as well as in meeting some of their needs in the field of technical documentation and transfer of technology and technical know -how,

1. INVITES OAU Member States, which have not yet done so, to consider the possibility of acceding to the Convention establishing WIPO, and to the two main Conventions administered by it, namely the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works;