بررسی بهترین شیوه های بین المللی در اشاعه اطلاعات مالکیت معنوی

The Information Branch of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is responsible for disseminating information on intellectual property (IP) through its Outreach Program. As a basis for developing this program, CIPO engaged a consultant group to establish benchmarks against international best practices in IP awareness, promotion and education as part of a strategy to establish a strategic direction, or framework, that would facilitate this task. This article sets out the approach to this project, the written survey questionnaire generated, the results and the implications for CIPO’s Outreach Program. The questionnaire was distributed to a limited number of Intellectual Property Outreach Organisations (IP Offices and the European Commission) around the world, including CIPO itself, to obtain information on key program activities, key targeted clients, key strategic partners and related program design details. For comparison purposes, the same questionnaire was also sent to a small number of other Canadian “Non-IP” Organisations in order to learn more about their information dissemination practices. The responses, while containing varying degrees of completeness, when combined with other available research material, provided useful comparisons with current and planned CIPO dissemination strategies. Top-ranked programs include Internet Web site information, Customer Call Centres, publications and speaking engagements. Broad conclusions are that CIPO’s major programs and key clients closely parallel those of the other IP Outreach Organisations. Top-ranked key clients include small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the general public, inventors, large business and industry associations. Top-ranked strategic partners include other government departments and agencies. The additional research provided an inventory of other, unique programs. However, the responses did not provide the conclusive data on program design criteria, performance measurement or information dissemination resource allocations that were anticipated.

The Information Branch of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is responsible for disseminating information on intellectual property (IP) to its clients and to the Canadian public. As early as the year 2000, CIPO had articulated its information dissemination approach around four essential elements: basic intellectual property information; awareness/promotion; education/training; and value-added information. the Information Branch wished to build on this approach and asked Industry Canada’s Management Consulting Centre to assist them by undertaking two related tasks: • Research and summarize IP information dissemination “best practices” in selected international IP offices; and, • Research the Canadian situation in the context of these global best practices and develop a collaborative approach and a strategic IP “outreach framework” as a deployment plan. As part of the development of its deployment plan, it was realized that CIPO must gain a better understanding of its clients and their needs, and assess three key questions: • Are we providing the right information to the right groups? • For such essential information on IP and its use as may be lacking, who needs to fill the gap? • How do we measure the effectiveness of our Outreach activities?

In view of the stated objective of this study to establish benchmarks against international “best practices” in the dissemination of IP information to clients and the public, the responses obtained from various IP Outreach organizations (IPOs and other institutions) during the present study have provided valuable information useful to CIPO for its planning purposes. It is felt that these results should be of use to other IPOs and Outreach organizations as well. The emphasis appeared to be more on current practices and technologies rather than new and innovative ways of disseminating information, which is probably not surprising, as this reflects most Offices’ current preoccupations. As a guide to future Outreach planning, the consultants have indicated that any new initiatives should respect four essential principles: • Tailor products and services for specific purposes and targeted clients, i.e., “one size does not fit all”; • Target clientele and/or partners with specific IP information dissemination activities and programs, i.e., avoid “all things for all people”; • Leverage the reach and programs of partners to optimize resource utilization; and • Measure new products and services against expected costs, revenues, targets and outcomes. Based on these results, CIPO has adopted a strategic approach or framework, to identify those existing awareness, outreach and partnership programs and directions which provide the biggest return on investment or “bang for the buck”. Further studies will also help identify the tools necessary to measure and support the effectiveness of new awareness, outreach and partnership products, services and directions. The results of this study have constituted a useful resource material for CIPO in developing its current IP Outreach Action Plan.