Barbados’ Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organisations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, and WIPO Director General, Daren Tang, discuss how Barbados can contribute to WIPO’s work on the metaverse. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade)

Barbados’ Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organisations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, recently paid a courtesy call on the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) Director General, Daren Tang.

At the outset, Director General Tang commended Barbados’ leadership, particularly that of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley on the global sphere, as well as on issues of importance to small island developing states.

During the meeting, the WIPO Director General noted that over the last two years, the WIPO Academy had shifted its focus to developing practical skills, for example on IP commercialisation, including in the areas of IP for gamers, IP for Start-ups, and mentoring.

The Director General noted that WIPO was working on a number of programmes with The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and expressed interest in scaling up its collaboration. 

Mr. Tang responded positively to Barbados’ request for assistance regarding the recognition of The UWI Cave Hill Campus as a National Focal Point for a Technology and Innovation Support Centre.

Barbados is perceived as a bridge builder and he requested the country’s assistance with building convergence, as well as being a constructive voice in the discussions, particularly in light of the vast divergences in positions in the negotiations on traditional knowledge and folklore.

The WIPO Director General recalled that the organisation had established a new Frontier Division, which was charged with looking inter alia at emerging areas and their linkages to IP.  

Mr. Tang cited the metaverse as an example, and noted that Barbados’ innovation in establishing a metaverse Embassy was one of the main reasons for extending the invitation, acknowledging that he aimed to dispel the notion that the metaverse was only for large countries.

Ambassador Wilson also commended the Director General on the progress that WIPO had made under his leadership, particularly the advancement towards a skills-based approach to the organisation’s academy programmes, and expressed appreciation for the WIPO climate handbook.  

Ambassador Wilson indicated that the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO) required assistance in institutional strengthening, in light of its plan to privatise some aspects of its work.

In response to this request, the Director of the Division for Latin America and the Caribbean noted that initial consultations had commenced with the Registrar of CAIPO, and consideration was being given to using WIPO’s Industrial Property Administration System (IPAS), a software developed and owned by the WIPO to support the processing of patents, trademarks and industrial designs from filing through to the grant of rights and post-grant processes.  

It was noted that in addition to IPAS and the Cloud Project, Barbados could also consider the development of an IP strategy and working with CAIPO on an institutional strengthening programme.

The Ambassador welcomed WIPO’s interest in working with Barbados on an IP and tourism project, which could, among other areas, include branding, geographical indications, and cultural expressions.  He indicated that he would discuss this with the Tourism Ministry.            

Both envoys committed to continuing the conversation and building on the relationship between Barbados and WIPO.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade

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