The 17th session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Working Group, which is taking place from February 19 to 21, 2024, at WIPO Headquarters (Geneva, Switzerland), has become a special for the international IP community and Ukraine.

Representatives of WIPO Member States, the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva and the Ukrainian IP Office, despite active Russia’s attempts to counteract, started the meeting of the 17th session of the PCT Working Group with words of solidarity and a minute of silence for the victims of the Russian aggression:

“As we approach the 24th of February, we feel obliged to reflect seriously on the horrific second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as this brutal attack was only the culmination of a decade-long Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. February 24 is a day every Ukrainian will remember for the rest of their lives. At around 5 a.m., Russia launched missile attacks on numerous Ukrainian cities. A column of enemy vehicles and troops invaded the independent and sovereign territory of Ukraine. Currently, nearly 26% of Ukraine remains occupied. 50% of the territory occupied after 24 February 2022 was liberated by the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Russia continues terrorizing Ukrainian civilians by attacking critical infrastructure and residential areas resulting in significant casualties and destruction. In 2023, Ukraine overcame 6,000 air alerts. More than 7500 missiles as well as more than 3800 drones have been fired by the Russians at Ukraine since the beginning of the war.” – emphasized Bogdan Paduchack, First Deputy Director of the IP Office.

In his statement to the WIPO member states, Bogdan Paduchak also provided statistics on the terrible consequences of the war for the cultural sphere of Ukraine:

“Russian aggression has also led to the destruction of Ukraine`s cultural heritage on a scale unseen since World War II. Russian occupiers damaged or destroyed 1,702 objects of cultural infrastructure, including 681 libraries, 106 museums and galleries, 35 theatres, cinemas and philharmonics, as well as 872 objects of cultural heritage of Ukraine, including monuments, monumental art and architecture. Losses in the field of culture caused by Russia’s war of aggression reached 7 bln USD.”

Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine undermines the efforts of WIPO, other UN agencies and Member States to address global challenges, while using all privileges and abusing international humanitarian and IP law. The Ukrainian delegation called on WIPO and its Member States to take seriously the issue of the WIPO External Office in the Russian Federation, emphasizing the need to close it. A country that grossly violates WIPO principles and its legal obligations does not deserve the privilege of hosting a WIPO office.

Mr. Ramiz Ramazanov, Counselor, Economic Section of the Permanent Mission of Ukraine

to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva

Representatives of the international IP community, in particular, Moldova (on behalf of the CEBS group), the Netherlands (on behalf of Group B), Belgium (on behalf of the EU), Poland and France, expressed their solidarity and support for Ukraine.

In particular, the coordinator of the CEBS group in her statement pointed: “The damage to the infrastructure serving scientific, educational, research and cultural institutions, cause tremendous loss of the potential and capacity of various stakeholders of the Ukrainian IP ecosystem. It is our duty as members to this international community to facilitate the voice and demand respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international obligations.”

In turn, the representative of Group B (Netherlands) stated: “We condemn this unjustified and unprovoked war in the strongest possible terms. We recall the UN General Assembly resolution A/ES-11/L.7, which reiterates its demand for the Russian Federation to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its armed forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and calls for a cessation of hostilities, as well as an immediate cessation of the attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure and any deliberate attacks on civilian objects, including those, that are residences, homes, schools and hospitals.”

The EU delegate remarked: “We are here today at WIPO discussing the importance of patent cooperation in a situation where, since the beginning of the war, relentless bombings by the Russian army has deliberately targeted civilian population and infrastructure, universities and research centers, libraries and innovation hubs, with countless casualties civilian casualties among women, elderly, persons with disabilities and children. For as longs as Russia does not reverse course and abide by the principles of the UN Charter and its international obligations, it is clear that business as usual with the country at the UN and other multilateral organizations is no longer an option.”

Recognizing the importance of WIPO's assistance and support to Ukraine, Member States also expressed their appreciation to WIPO for the implementation of the decision of the 63rd series of meetings of the WIPO General Assembly A/63/8 «Assistance and Support for Ukraine’s Innovation and Creative Sector and Intellectual Property System», emphasizing the need for Russia to comply with the principles of the UN Charter and its international obligations.

The recording of the webcasting is available at the link.

Find the statement of the Ukrainian delegation in English following the link.

22 February 2024