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Intellectual property office to open in Russia

MOSCOW, January 21. /ITAR-TASS/. A Russian government commission has approved draft law to ratify agreement between the government and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to establish a WIPO office in Russia, says the official site www.government.ru.

The agreement was signed in Geneva in April last year and has been temporarily applied since June 10, 2013. The document stipulates the office’s goals and functions, the parties’ contribution and rights, and privileges and immunities for the office and its employees in Russia.

According to the government, the office will work to protect intellectual property rights, support the WIPO’s global registration systems, develop training of a skilled labour force and organise practical conferences and seminars.

The office will be financed by allocations for the Russian patent office Rospatent in the federal budget in 2014 and the planned period 2015 and 2016.

WIPO is the United Nations' agency tasked to develop accessible international intellectual property systems. It promotes measures intended to improve safeguards and harmonise national legislation.

WIPO offices operate in four countries: U.S. (New York), Japan (Tokyo), Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), and Singapore.

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