Update

From the organization of the Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest we understand that in the face of the global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization for COVID-19, the main thing is the care of our participants and the support to society in this moment of crisis. Now more than ever it requires the solidarity of those of us who have always understood the importance of thinking about the public, the common.

At this time we are going through a scenario of uncertainty regarding what will be the development of the year 2020, therefore the final decision has been to move the Congress to 2021. However, the Week of Intellectual Property, Public Interest and Covid-19 from October 5 to 9. You can find more information in this link.

What it is

The Global Congress on Intellectual Property and The Public Interest is the largest and most important global meeting of academics and advocates working at the intersection of intellectual property law and the promotion of public interest. The main objective of the Congress is to promote the formulation of evidence-based policies by fostering partnerships between academics and policy advocates around the world.

The specific objectives of the Congress were summarized in the 2011 Washington Declaration on Intellectual Property and Public Interest. http://infojustice.org/washington-declaration-html.

History

The First World Congress on Intellectual Property and Public Interest was held from August 25 to 28, 2011 at the American University Law School in Washington, DC. The main objectives of the Congress were to articulate a positive agenda for the reform of Intellectual Property policy and strengthen international capacities for the formulation of evidence-based policies. Nearly 200 participants from more than 30 countries for 3 days were part of the drafting and signing of the Washington Declaration on Intellectual Property and Public Interest. The organizers of the Congress including the American Assembly, the Technology and Society Center of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (Brazil) and the Center for International Trade and Sustainable Development (Geneva).

The subsequent meetings of the Congress were organized by the Technology and Society Center, FGV Direito, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; by the Intellectual Property Unit of the University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, and by the Internet and Society Center, New Delhi, India and Washington.

This year’s Congress will be organized by the Karisma Foundation, IFARMA Foundation, Internet Center and Society of the Universidad del Rosario (ISUR), Health Mission of Colombia and InternetLab of Brazil and will be held in the city of Cartagena de Indias in August 2020.

Declarations

You can check the Washington Declaration in this link.