ICC’s mission

ICC was created in 1919 by a handful of entrepreneurs to:

promote cross-border trade and investment and the multilateral trading system

represent business all over the world

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ICC members

ICC has hundreds of thousands of members in 130 countries:

Companies Of all sizes and from all sectors

Chambers of commerceRegional, national and local

Business associationsNational and sectoral

and worldwide offices in over 90 countries

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ICC activities

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ICC has three main activities:

Rules-setting Arbitration Policy

Intellectual Property in ICC

Commission on Intellectual Property World business views on key IP issues since 1920’s

BASCAPHigh level initiative uniting different sectors worldwide to fight against counterfeiting

Roadmap on current and emerging IP issues Annual overview of key intellectual property policy issues – Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, French and Dutch

Chambers of commerce in ICC

Global network of 12 000 chambers of commerce representing over 130 countries

World Chambers Congress – 2007 Istanbul (1600 participants, 118 countries); 2009 Kuala Lumpur

World Chambers Network – networking, information exchange, business opportunities

Trade facilitation role – ATA Carnets; certificates of origin

World Chambers Federation

Chambers of commerce and IP

According to feedback from member chambers

Vast majority outside Europe and the US do not have any significant activities relating to IP protection

However many recognize the importance of IP and are interested in IP activities

Those with IP programmes within Europe often supported by EC or EPO initiatives.

Chambers of commerce and IP

Training/awareness raising (Romania, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Bombay, Uruguay)

Guides (Barcelona, Mongolia)

Expert advice/assistance (Italy, Hamburg, Mongolia, Romania)

Advocacy (Israel, US, Malaysia, Canada)

Newsletter/website (Uruguay, Romania, Italy, Mongolia, Zurich)

Expert committees /networks (Sweden, Bangladesh, Israel)

Others:

- toolkit on informal IP protection (South Ostrobothnia),

- surveys (Sri Lanka),

- exhibitions and awards (Mongolia

IP activities reported by member chambers include

Obstacles faced by chambers

Lack of awareness among chambers re importance of IP

Lack of expertise within the organization and sometimes the region/country

Isolation and lack of a support network

Lack of human and financial resources

ICC IP tool kit for chambers

• Aim to encourage and help chambers set up IP programmes for local businesses

• Tool-kit for chambers, not for businesses

• Will not reinvent the wheel – use existing materials and resources where available

• Tools which are flexible and adaptable to different cultures, business/legal environments and languages

• Started defining contours of project in March 2007

Participation

Interest in project from nearly 60 chambers in Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, North and Latin America

Participants include• national chambers (e.g. Uruguay, Israel, Malaysia) • regional chambers (e.g. Zanzibar, West Sweden)• city/municipal chambers (e.g. Manizales, Geneva, Durban)• IP experts from IP Commission• ICC National Committees

Work carried out by ICC secretariat and member volunteers

Tools in preparation

Arguments to explain why chambers of commerce should integrate IP into their activities

Model guide to be adapted by chambers for their local businesses – existing guides to be used as a basis

Short messages for companies – why they should take IP into account in their business

Web-based resource bank - compilation of experiences; network of chambers with IP activities; useful resources eg WIPO SME page

Possible future tools

Seminar templates

Guidance on possible initiatives e.g. news letter, websites,

incentives/awards, IP marketplaces, partnerships etc.

Training the trainers

Programmes for training chamber staff in cooperation with WIPO

Pilot programme for Europe in Geneva - first quarter 2008

Programmes in Latin America – obtaining finance

More information on ICC’s IP activities and

its World Chambers Federation

can be found at

www.iccwbo.org