Article entitled "the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Azerbaijan" published at European University Business School
Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Significant results have been achieved in the use of intellectual property for economic, social and cultural development. The issues related to the development of intellectual property have been included in the “Azerbaijan 2020: the vision to the future” development concept.
Considering that the development of the intellectual property system and the expansion of international cooperation in this field are considered as priorities, the long-term national strategy on the development of intellectual property which combines fields of industrial property and copyright has been elaborated. The strategy clearly identifies medium- and long-term objectives, the implementation of which we have already begun. Elaboration of a national strategy on intellectual property ensures the improvement of national legislation on intellectual property and further adherence to international treaties and agreements, solving vital matters, including the establishment of centers for training and retraining and capacity-building through the development of the technical infrastructure.
The improvement process of administrative and legislative framework in the field of copyright law has continued. A number of new legislative acts, including the law on “Enforcement of intellectual property rights and fighting against piracy” have been adopted. Moreover, the Center for Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights has been established, in order to enforce intellectual property rights and organize the management of rights in digital networks. Positive results have been obtained in the field of the enforcement of rights and the fight against piracy. This law will play an important role in strengthening the measures to fight against piracy. Also, the Center will provide intellectual property goods with a special control mark and strengthen legal capacity-building in the field of enforcement of intellectual property rights. In 2012, the Center for Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights became the member of the WIPO Global Network on Intellectual Property Academies. This has opened new perspectives for the effective implementation of the Center’s activities and cooperation and exchange of experience with intellectual property academies and training centers of other countries. As a result of the measures implemented, the economic weight of intellectual property in Azerbaijan has increased and the level of piracy has decreased substantially in various sectors.
Azerbaijan is keen to continue its efforts to further conduct reforms in the field of protection and the enforcement of intellectual property rights. The development of the intellectual property system in Azerbaijan will also be a positive step toward integration into the multilateral trading system aimed at diversifying the economy, developing the non-oil sector, attaining high standards of living and ensuring sustainable socio-economic development.
As a landlocked developing country, Azerbaijan pays great attention to innovation and creativity. During recent years, innovative development of the country advanced quickly; the material base for innovative activities was created and the efficiency of the relevant structures was increased.
According to analysis conducted in 2012, the share of copyright-based industry equaled 4.5% of the GDP. The information system in the field of copyright has been improved and application of an electronic database on registered copyright objects and right holders has been ensured. Since the application of the registration system, several thousand works and related objects have been registered. Taking into account the legal importance of registration, an electronic database called “Registration” related to the registration of works was created, the digital online registration system has been improved and the digital library on folklore has been enriched. At the moment, more than 730 musical samples are being kept in this library. Within the CIS region, Azerbaijan is one of the first countries within the CIS region to implement the voluntary registration of works.
By Dr. Murad N. Najafbayli, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to the UN Office and other international organizations at Geneva and Dr. Emin Teymurov is the third Secretary of the Permanent Mission, EU Lecturer
