Statement by Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, at the 48th Series of Meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s General Assemblies

(September 23, 2010) The intellectual property protection recognizes the dignity of man and his work that becomes an expression of, and a contribution to, the growth of the individual personality and to the common good, says the Holy See. Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, Permanent Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, said this in Geneva at the 48th Series of Meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s General Assemblies. This is because intellectual property protection recognizes the dignity of man and his work that becomes an expression of, and a contribution to, the growth of the individual personality and to the common good. He added that Economists recognize several mechanisms through which Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) may stimulate economic development, particularly in the developing countries and thus attract significant new inflows of technology, a blossoming of local innovation and cultural industries, and thus reduce the technology gap between developing and developed countries. Further, he said that the increase of benefits available to countries from IPRs depends on their ability to absorb and develop technologies and new products. In this context three issues are of great importance, namely the ability to adapt new technologies along with high levels of education to train adequate and qualified human capital; secondly, to promote Research and Development at the local level and finally, increased flexibility for researchers to form new business concerns. The ultimate goal said the Archbishop is the main goal should be toward the good of all, the pursuit of more equitable international relations, especially with regard to poorer and more vulnerable people.