INNOVATION GOES GREEN WITH THE SUPPORT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

By Ambassador John A. Cloud

On April 26, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the international community will observe the ninth annual World Intellectual Property Day to raise international awareness about the importance of intellectual property to our wellbeing.  This year's theme, "Promoting Green Innovation," emphasizes the importance of intellectual property (IP) to advancing the development of green technologies and eco-friendly products that support a healthy environment and promote sustainable agricultural and economic development.

We are in a period of heightened concern about both climate change and global economic crisis.  Historically such challenges have sparked innovation, presenting new opportunities to benefit from intellectual property.  By encouraging enforcement of trade rules, including intellectual property protection, we can support innovative industries, create new jobs and solve global challenges.

Creative individuals and industries continue to generate solutions to some of the most difficult problems that face the world today.  Intellectual property protections help foster environments in which creativity and innovation can thrive and contribute to economic development and improved quality of life around the world:

Recently, Brazil has undergone a Green Revolution, dramatically increasing agricultural production.  Investment in research, technology transfer, and the use of new technologies has been essential to this success.  For example, a soybean variety breeding initiative with the United States helped Brazil become a major soybean producer.  New technology allowed farmers to minimize the turning of the soil before planting a new crop, decreasing erosion.  Crucial to the development of these new technologies is the intellectual property protection provided in both Brazil and the United States.

Innovation is at the heart of civilization.  The pursuit of new knowledge is at the center of human spirit and is what led Thomas Edison to invent and develop technologies like the light bulb.  The U.S. IP system allowed others to build upon Edison's work by granting him patent protection that allowed him to reap financial benefit for his significant contribution to society.  We must ask ourselves: Who are the Thomas Edisons of today?  Where are they?  And, how do we ensure that IP protections are in place to encourage their innovative spirit and support the safe and secure distribution of technologies to those who desperately need them?

In his inaugural speech, U.S. President Barack Obama reminded us that "our minds are no less inventive" and "our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year."  As we work to address global challenges such as the current international economic crisis, climate change and clean energy, we must redouble our efforts to encourage and protect intellectual property rights and foster a robust environment for global innovation.