Azernews.Az

By Rashid Shirinov

Azerbaijan may become one of the first countries in the world, which will accept a long-term national strategy in the field of protection of intellectual property rights.

The preparation of the national strategy for the protection of intellectual property in Azerbaijan is nearly over, Niyazi Rahimov, head of the State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patents, told reporters on May 24.

The national strategy of industrial property, trademarks and patents’s protection is stipulated in “Azerbaijan 2020: look into the future” development concept.

This strategy reflects the problems of intellectual property, methods of dealing with the production and sale of counterfeit products. The strategy provides 30 target areas, which comprise about 90 specific activities.

Rahimov mentioned the national strategy aims at the further upgrade of the intellectual property protection, its integration into the existing international system, and the provision of effective services in this area.

The strategy is being prepared with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and in accordance with the agreement signed with this organization.

Azerbaijan joined WIPO in 1995 and was rated significantly high in its annual rankings. The main criterion for registration is that the registered product or solution must be innovative and have no analogues.

Rahimov said that over 1,100 foreign patents on industrial designs were registered in Azerbaijan. The number of local patents amounts to 350. These patents are mainly granted for industrial goods, building materials and consumer products.

“Within WIPO Azerbaijan has acceded to a number of agreements. At the same time, legislation in this area in Azerbaijan have been fully aligned with international requirements. The main purpose is to protect the rights of inventors and the know-how. This process contributes to the competitiveness of local products,” he emphasized.

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