Technical assistance

In 1994, the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) established enforceable global minimum standards for most intellectual property rights (IPRs). Article 67 of TRIPS requires developed country Members to provide technical and financial cooperation to developing and least-developed country Members.

A number of international programmes and resources exist to help developed countries meet their international obligations on technical assistance:

• WIPO 's Cooperation for Development Program;
• World Health Organization - Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health;
• Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Assistance to Least Developed Countries;
• Recent research reports from the World Bank, Intellectual Property and Development and, Poor People's Knowledge;
• The World Trade Organization / Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Trade Capacity Building Database;
• The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) are implementing a capacity building project on intellectual property rights and sustainable development;
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe IP Advisory Group