Mihaly Ficsor: “UACRR should be a center of intellectual property reform in Ukraine”

On January 18-19 the representatives of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and UACRR had the meeting with WIPO expert Mihaly Ficsor and WIPO counselor Anita Huss-Ekerhult to discuss the copyright and related rights collective management sphere in Ukraine.

Intellectual property reform is one of priorities of Ukrainian government. Framing a legal basis of intellectual property rights protection and collective rights management is the first step on the way of reform implementation.

Intellectual property reform will be realized on three directions:
– institutional changes;
– reorganization of collective rights management system;
– lining up with EU legislation.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv has emphasized the importance of this reform. “For 25 years Ukraine couldn’t set intellectual property realm in motion. But in 2016 we arranged two thematic forums in Lviv and Kharkiv. Now we plan to undertake the similar forums in Odesa and Kyiv. It is important for us to gather support of Verkhovna Rada for starting of reform by legislative action” – he said.

“The aim of Ministry is to improve the collective rights management bill with the help of WIPO, complementing it by 26/EU Directive norms. Then the bill would be ready for presenting at Verkhovna Rada. We plan to finish up to the middle of February and then to arrange an expert counsel” – said Mykhailo Tytarchuk.

Mihaly Ficsor said WIPO will cooperate and help Ukraine on all fronts. “For reform implementation is important the engaging of UACRR. Acting of such organizations as a center of copyright sphere is the common world`s practice” – he said.

me.gov.ua