The Department of Intellectual Property (DoIP), Ministry of Economic Affairs in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is conducting a National Seminar on Copyrights and Related Rights from 25 to 26 July, 2019 in Thimphu.

The primary objective of the workshop is to internalize Bhutan’s current Copyright Framework by seeking clarity from the international experts to ensure coherence with the international norms and standards. The two days seminar seeks to delve into ascertaining some of the emergent legislative and enforcement challenges in national copyright system and explore measures in addressing these legal impediments to enable the national copyright system to meaningfully contribute to national developmental goals. In addition, the seminar will discourse on the significance and the role that copyright plays in fostering creative industries to contribute to socio-cultural development especially in developing countries. One of the most pertinent topics that will be deliberated during the seminar is on the importance of the International Treaties such as WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT), WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) for protecting Copyright and Performers and Producers of Phonograms respectively in the digital environment. Likewise, other treaties such as Beijing Treaty for protection of Audio-Visual Works and Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled will also be deliberated.

With facilitations by Copyright experts from the Copyright Development Division, WIPO, Japan Copyright Office (JCO), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, Affiliated Professor of International Copyright, University of Copenhagen, Denmark and National resource speakers, the seminar is being attended by 25 participants from public and private agencies involved in Copyright field.