Govt to protect copyrights in forestry sector
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)