IP/C/W/633/Add.3

2 October 2017

(17-5274) Page: 1/3

Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Original: English Intellectual Property Rights

TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES: INFORMATION FROM OTHER INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL (GCC)

Addendum

At its meeting of 13 June 2017, the Council for TRIPS agreed to invite intergovernmental organization observers to the Council to update the information on their technical and financial cooperation programmes relating to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.

The present document reproduces the information which has been received from the Secretariat General of the (GCC) by means of a communication dated 26 September 2017.

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1. GCC is an intergovernmental organization with membership of the following states: , Kingdom of , Kingdom of , , , and State of . All of its members are developing countries.

2. In pursuant to Article (20) of the GCC Economic Agreement which states that "member States shall develop programmes encouraging talented individuals and supporting innovation and invention; cooperate in the field of intellectual property and develop regulations and procedures ensuring protection of intellectual property rights; and coordinate their relevant policies towards other countries, regional blocs and international and regional organizations", the GCC Secretariat General directs most of its technical cooperation activities to its member States. Some of these activities are listed in Annex.

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ANNEX1

Activity Date Location Attendance Summary

Workshop on Patent Drafting 16-20 Oct 2016 GCC-SG Researchers and those Workshop in cooperation with WIPO. Headquarters Concerned with inventions from the GCC States Workshop on Benefiting from 6-10 Nov 2016 GCC-SG Employees of the GCC Workshop in cooperation with WIPO. Published Search Results Headquarters Patent Office and the national IP offices Workshop on the TRIPS 21-24 Nov 2016 Manama Officials in charge of IP in Workshop designed to raise awareness on the TRIPS Agreement Agreement and its Bahrain the GCC member States and and the implementation of the obligations therein through laws, implications on the GCC other responsible in the GCC regulations and institutions, as well as its implications on trade, member States Secretariat General investment and transfer of technology in the GCC member States. Middle East International 15-19 Jan 2017 Kuwait Public International exhibition held annually in the State of Kuwait in Exhibition which the GCC Patent Office presents a yearly award of SAR 50,000 in addition to hosting and supporting participation of IP/C/W/633/Add.3 inventors from the GCC States. Cooperation in Patent System 27 Feb – 12 March Oman IP Office - Providing Consultation in Restructuring of Patent Department in

2017 Oman IP Authority. -

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Training programme on 3-5 April 2017 Saudi Chamber of Employees of the GCC As part of training programmes of the GCC IP Training Center in

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Trademarks and industrial Commerce - Patent Office, the national cooperation with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. designs IP offices and IP lawyers On job training in Patent 2-15 Apr 2017 & 14- Bahrain Patent Examiners from Providing training for examiners of Bahrain IP Office and Examination 27 May 2017 Bahrain National IP Office examinations a number of patent applications filed in Bahrain.

Cooperation in Formal And 16 Apr – 15 May Oman IP Office Patent Examiners of Oman Examining a number of patent applications filed in Oman. Substantive Examination of 2017 National IP Office Patent IP Day Celebration 26 April 2017 Arabian Gulf Students of the University As part of the IP Day Celebration. University – Bahrain IP Day Celebration 26 April 2017 GCC IP Training Employees of the GCC IP The programme aims to promote the IP rights and the Center-Kuwait Training Center and those dissemination of IP culture. Concerned In IP Workshop on Patent Litigation 26-27 Apr 2017 GCC-SG Members of GCC Grievance Workshop in cooperation with WIPO. and dispute settlement Headquarters Committee of Patent and law officers of the GCC Patent Office Training programme on 1-3 May 2017 Saudi Chamber of Examiners of the GCC As part of training programmes of the GCC IP Training Center in Formulation of Patent Commerce - Riyadh Patent Office, the national cooperation with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. Examination Reports IP offices and IP lawyers

1 In English only.

Activity Date Location Attendance Summary

Cooperation in Patent 7 May – 5 June 2017 Qatar IP Office Patent Examiners of Qatar Examining a number of patent applications filed in Qatar. Examination National IP Office The 28th International 11-13 May 2017 Kuala Lumpur Public International exhibition held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where Exhibition of Inventions and the GCC Patent Office along with inventors from the GCC States Innovations (ITEX) to open up doors of communications with those concerned in Malaysia and in the world. In addition, the GCC Patent Office hosting and supporting participation of inventors from the GCC States. Cooperation in Patent Filing 14-17 May 2017 Kuwait IP Office Formal Examiners of Kuwait On -the-job training in electronic filing, formal examination, 24 Apr – 27 May National IP Office granting, publishing and customer service. 2017 Cooperation In IT System 11-13 Jul 2017 Bahrain IT Team of Bahrain National Strengthening the IT system In Bahrain IP Office to assure its IP Office compatibility with GCC Patent Office databases and e-filing system. Cooperation In IT System 2 Jul 2017 Kuwait IP Office - Providing computers and scanners for all employees in Kuwait IP Office (Patent section).

IP/C/W/633/Add.3

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