Page 60 - AI Governance Day - From Principles to Implementation

AI Governance Day - From Principles to Implementation

Balancing intellectual property and innovation

Mr. Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),
addressed the balance between intellectual property rights and promoting innovation and
equitable access in AI governance. Director General Tang highlighted that intellectual property
(IP) should be viewed as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.

"We have to look at IP as a means to an end […] creating jobs, supporting
entrepreneurs, supporting people who have got the hunger to pick up skills and
need those skills to bring their ideas to the market. […] Ultimately, it is a catalyst for
growth and development." (Daren Tang)

Mr. Tang emphasized the need for an ecosystem approach to ensure that technology can be
meaningfully absorbed, particularly in the global South. Tang also underscored the human-
centered nature of the IP system, which places the human creator at its core.

"We need to make sure that AI and technology enhance and supplement our
humanity." (Daren Tang)

Figure 32: Daren Tang, Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO)

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