The Global Intellectual Property Challenges Forum was held today, with the participation of more than 30 international bodies among the leaders of the intellectual property offices of the G20 countries, international organizations and intellectual property offices of the guest countries, opened by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, chaired the session by Dr. Abdulaziz bin Muhammad Al-Suwailem, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property. During the forum's work, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property spoke about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges it posed to intellectual property. He said: "This epidemic has imposed difficulties on global economies, public health and intellectual property, as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made unprecedented achievements by taking preventive measures and addressing the expected repercussions on the global economy," indicating that the presence of heads of intellectual property offices regarding joint recognition the importance of intellectual property being an essential component of innovation-based economies. At the end of the closed session, the chair of the session the CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Swailem, announced the joint statement of the intellectual property offices in the G20 countries, which indicated in its content the recognition of the participating offices that intellectual property is an essential element in innovation-based economies through which it contributes in achieving sustainable development goals, and an integral component of global trade, and based on this recognition, intellectual property offices seek to exchange information related to intellectual property policies, explore office practices and procedures, exchange experiences in the use of digital technologies, and work to enhance both the role of World Intellectual Property Organization and cooperation in the field of intellectual property among the G20 countries. The Global Intellectual Property Challenges Forum comes as a response to the priorities related to intellectual property in light of global pandemics and crises. This was organized by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and the Saudi Secretariat for the G20 within the program of international conferences on the sidelines of the Kingdom's presidency of the G20.
