Increasing Public Awareness Underlines Strong IP Enforcement Mechanisms – Rodriquez
13-Jun-2007
AMMAN - Jordan's Secretary General of Industry and Trade Ministry Montaser Oklah and US Ambassador to Jordan David Hale inaugurated a workshop on June 13, 2007, addressing Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) at Hyatt Hotel Amman, ag-IP-news Agency reported.
The event is co-organized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).
Joseph C. Rodriquez, Attorney – Advisor at the Office of Enforcement, USPTO discussed how both public awareness and training regarding Intellectual Property (IP) enforcement agencies will turn the wheel of economic development.
“Increasing public awareness will underline strong IP enforcement mechanisms to reach economic development,” Rodriquez told ag-IP-news Agency.
Rodriquez, who concentrates 20 percent of his work on IPRs laws and policies and 80 percent on IP enforcement training, develops technical assistance projects which get implemented and trained at the global IP training academy in Alexandria, Virginia.
“Our next goal is to bring our global IP training academy to Amman in November, where we will look at strategic training methods to combat IP counterfeiting and work closely with customs and public officials,” Rodriquez highlighted.
During the workshop, the role of IP in economic development was addressed by Microsoft (TBC) Country Manager Zeid Shbeilat, Hikma Pharmaceuticals IP Counsel Hiba Zarour and Nuqul Group Chief Operating Officer Dr. Wael Masarweh. The session was moderated by the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP) Manager Mutasem Dmour.
The second session entitled "Resources for Creating, Managing, and Protecting IP Assets", was moderated by Rodriquez and discussed by Director of the National Library Mamoun Talhouni, Judge/First Instance Court of Amman Nihad Al-Hisban in addition to Jordan Intellectual Property Association Board Member Tawfik Tabaa.
The event is sponsored by the United States Agency International Development (USAID) and the Sustainable Achievement of Business Expansion and Quality (SABEQ).