Time is of the essence. The last 25 years have seen an unprecedented expansion of the concentrated legal authority exercised by intellectual property rights holders… So far, however, neither the substantial risks of intellectual property maximalism, nor the benefits of more open approaches, are adequately understood by most policy makers or citizens. This must change if the notion of a public interest distinct from the dominant private interest is to be maintained.
These words are taken from the opening paragraphs of the Washington Declaration on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest, an “action agenda” devised by 200 participants from 30 countries across the world who came together for the inaugural 2011 Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest in Washington, D.C., in 2011.
Sixteen months later, this broad coalition of civil society groups and developing country governments will come together in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to mark their progress. The theme for this year’s Congress will be “Setting the Positive Agenda in Motion,” and will have a special focus on developments and opportunities in the so-called “BRICS” group of emerging economies.
Registration to attend the Congress is open until November 1, 2012. The Congress will cover the registration fees and all on-site costs for all attendees, including lunches and dinner receptions.