Issues of experience exchange in the field of intellectual property and copyright protection, as well as in the development of training programs and materials with an emphasis on the use of information and communication technologies were discussed at a videoconference held today in the Ministry of foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.

The forum was attended by experts from the world intellectual property organization (WIPO), representatives of a number of relevant ministries and departments of the country, and the media.

During the videoconference, such topics as the expansion of the legal framework for IP in Turkmenistan, in particular, our country's accession to the Marrakesh Treaty on facilitating access to published works for the blind, visually impaired or otherwise visually impaired, as well as to the Rome Convention on the protection of the rights of performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organizations were discussed.

WIPO is a United Nations Agency that deals with the use of intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trademarks, designs, etc.) as a means of stimulating innovation and creativity in science and the economy.

Turkmenistan attaches great importance to multi-faceted cooperation with reputable international organizations, including WIPO, of which it has been a full member since 1995.

State regulation in the field of intellectual property protection is carried out by the State intellectual property service of the Ministry of Finance and economy established by the decree of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov dated March 1, 2013.

In August 2015, the program for the development of the intellectual property system of Turkmenistan until 2020 was launched. The main legislative framework for the protection of intellectual property is the Constitution of Turkmenistan, the Civil code, the laws "On legal protection of inventions", "On legal protection of algorithms, programs for electronic computers, databases and topologies of integrated circuits", "On legal protection of selection achievements" and other normative acts.

They contain legal norms that affect the protection of intellectual property and regulate the rights of legal entities and individuals to intellectual property. During the period of existence of the national IP system, a significant step has been taken in the field of cooperation with foreign partners.

In 2015, Turkmenistan joined the Geneva act of The Hague agreement on international registration of industrial designs of 1999 and the Nairobi Treaty for the protection of Olympic symbols, and in 2016 – the Berne Convention for the protection of literary and artistic works.

At the conference, an interesting discussion of best practices in addressing legal issues related to IP rights took place in a video format. A separate topic is the legal registration and protection of intellectual property rights in Turkmenistan. The training programs and agreements in force at WIPO were also reviewed in detail.

During the forum, consultations were held with representatives of universities and research institutes of our country, who shared their experience in using international standards in the field of intellectual property policy.

During the videoconference, WIPO experts presented various training programs that are used to enhance knowledge and skills in the field of intellectual property in the organization's member States. Distance courses are a common method of training, the speakers noted, emphasizing their readiness to assist Turkmenistan in developing educational programs, improving the skills of specialists, and providing training manuals in this direction.

During the interested exchange of views, the emphasis was placed on the high potential of partnership, prospects for expanding cooperation in the context of implementing the country's socio-economic development Program.

Among the main tasks of the world intellectual property organization is to stimulate innovation and creativity, and promote market relations in this area. In this regard, the participants of the videoconference discussed the issues of accession to the Marrakesh Treaty, which was adopted by the member States of WIPO in 2013.

This is the first copyright agreement based on human rights principles, with specific references to the Universal Declaration of human rights and the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCPD). In accordance with the terms of the agreement, printed works, e-books, audiobooks, Newspapers, magazines and musical scores, as well as illustrations and images in these works, are subject to this Agreement.

At the same time, the participants of the videoconference exchanged views on joining the Rome Convention on the protection of performers, producers of phonograms and broadcasting organizations. The administrative functions of the above-mentioned Convention are performed by WIPO jointly with the International labor organization (ILO) and the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

Turkmenistan has adopted the law "On copyright and related rights" and is continuing to improve legislation in this area in order to bring it into line with international law.

Noting the growing relevance of copyright protection in the context of ongoing changes in the field of business and technology, it was noted that the Turkmen side is ready to consider and study all incoming proposals to expand cooperation.

At the end of the conference, participants expressed their desire to develop a productive exchange of experience with WIPO and other international organizations in this matter, the state news Agency of Turkmenistan reports.