Govt to protect copyrights in forestry sector
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo signed an agreement with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) yesterday endorsing Indonesia's commitment to protecting intellectual property rights on forest-based research products.
The agreement was signed here by Djamaludin, on behalf of the Indonesian government and Jeffrey A. Sayer, the director general of the CIFOR.
Djamaludin acknowledged the need to recognize and protect intellectual property rights on forest-based research products because several cases in this country have shown that a failure to do so has harmed the party whose property rights were violated.
Many Indonesian researchers, he said, often study abroad and return home bringing with them the results of their research during their studies.
After returning, they work for private companies and apply the results without the consent of the research center from which they were obtained.
"It becomes really harmful when the company then uses the products for commercial purposes," Djamaludin said.
He said the recognition of intellectual property rights will also help people understand that the potential of Indonesia's forests are not limited to wood products, but also include non- wood products because Indonesia can be a haven for ecotourism and forest-based research.
Protection
The agreement states, among other things, that any intellectual property created by collaborative research between CIFOR and any Indonesian research institution will be given adequate and effective intellectual property protection and rights.
According to the agreement, each party should ensure that the other party receives rights to intellectual property by obligating its scientists and other research staff to file for intellectual property protection in the name of their research institutions only.
The agreement also states that any intellectual property, data or information resulting from collaborative research activities will be jointly owned by the two parties and both would be allowed to use it for research purposes without restriction.
If it is to be used for commercial purposes by one party, the other party shall be entitled to a fair share of the royalties or profits derived from the exploitation of such property.
In determining the fair share, the parties will take into account the potential value of the products in the market, the degree of each party's contribution to the collaborative research and the value that the object of the research has contributed to the market. (pwn)