COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (CDIP)
Background
“The Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) was established by the WIPO General Assembly in 2007 with a mandate to: develop a work-program for implementing the 45 adopted Development Agendarecommendations; monitor, assess, discuss and report on the implementation of all recommendations adopted; and for that purpose to coordinate with relevant WIPO bodies; and discuss IP- and development-related issues as agreed by the Committee, as well as those decided by the General Assembly.”1 The creation of the CDIP was strongly influenced by the Group of Friends of Development.
Despite the number of projects developed under the CDIP, only a limited number have focused specifically on flexibilities, indicating an imbalance in the current scope of activities.
The thirty-fifth session of the CDIP (November 17–21, 2025) reviewed progress on the Development Agenda, evaluated ongoing projects, and considered new proposals. Developing countries emphasized the role of the CDIP as a central forum for development-related issues, including access, equity, and the protection of traditional knowledge, while other Members supported a more limited scope of activities.
Next meeting (Thirty-Seventh Session):
Date: November 16 to November 20, 2026
Website: https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=89950
Agenda not yet available in the website.
Key Issues
- Adopted project: A proposal submitted by Senegal on the use of intellectual property to support sports development was approved.
- Deferred proposals:
- United Kingdom (cross-border counterfeit trade): The proposal focused on enforcement measures. Concerns were raised regarding the absence of references to flexibilities and safeguards;
- Venezuela (doll-making artisans): The proposal aimed to support livelihoods and cultural expression;
- Dominica (IP for climate resilience): The proposal addressed the use of intellectual property systems in the context of climate resilience, particularly for small island states. Questions were raised regarding its alignment with the Committee’s mandate.
- Broader implications: Discussions reflected continued divergences regarding the scope of the CDIP’s work. Developing countries emphasized a broader approach, including issues related to traditional knowledge, climate, and cultural industries, others supported a more limited focus.
References:
- The WIPO Development Agenda Recommendations. https://www.wipo.int/ip-development/en/agenda/recommendations.html
- Building Up a Balanced Global Intellectual Property System: Report of the WIPO Assemblies’ 66th Series of Meetings, Health, Intellectual Property and Biodiversity Programme, South Centre, October 2025. This report reviews the key discussions and outcomes of the 66th Series of Meetings of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Assemblies held in July 2025. The South Centre | SC Report on 66th Series of Meetings of WIPO Assemblies, October 2025
- Nirmalya Syam, Mainstreaming or Dilution? Intellectual Property and Development in WIPO, Research Paper No. 95 (South Centre, Geneva, 2019). https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3559643.
- Nirmalya Syam, “Developing Country Priorities Under Scrutiny at WIPO: Key Outcomes of the Thirty-Fifth Session of the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property”, SouthNews, No.545, 2 December 2025. https://mailchi.mp/southcentre/southnews-developing-country-priorities-under-scrutiny-at-wipo-key-outcomes-from-the-35th-session-of-the-cdip
