Saudi Arabia Assumes Leadership Role at WIPO Conference on Design Law Treaty.

Riyadh: The 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have elected Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Suwailem, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), to chair the Diplomatic Conference on Design Law Treaty, demonstrating confidence in Saudi Arabia's international stature and effectiveness in the field of intellectual property. The decision was made at the opening of the conference in Riyadh, expected to last 12 working days from November 11 to 22, which represents the final stage of the negotiations of the treaty that aims to unify global systems for design registration. According to Saudi Press Agency, the conference chair's role is crucial in overseeing the conference proceedings, managing its internal committees, facilitating negotiations, and bridging viewpoints among WIPO member states. The goal is to encourage the adoption of the treaty that provides an international legal framework to standardize and simplify design registration procedures, thereby bene fiting creative individuals and private-sector entities by protecting their intellectual property rights. This election acknowledges Saudi Arabia's significant efforts to bolster the intellectual property environment locally and internationally, as well as its active role in supporting intellectual property rights and promoting innovation. The Kingdom's leadership role represents an important step toward reinforcing its status as a global hub for innovators and investors in the creative industries, contributing to building a solid and sustainable knowledge-based economy. This conference also reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting the protection of intellectual property rights, benefiting individuals and institutions, and contributing to achieving sustainable development goals worldwide.