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<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Dear Members,<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>This is to inform you that the Internet Society (ISOC) now has an
official "Permanent Observer Status with the World Intellectual Property
Organization" (WIPO). This is an important step for ISOC as it gives us
the opportunity to engage governments, business and civil society on vitally
important current discussions taking place in WIPO. For example, ISOC is
increasingly influential as we bring our expertise to bear on intellectual
property issues in cyberspace, such as copyright in the on-line environment,
intellectual property and development, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Last June, the Internet Society was granted status with the WIPO
Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). Our participation
showed WIPO the value of our organization's expertise. At the same time, we
found other areas where ISOC can contribute to the work of different Committees
within WIPO. As a result, in May 2010 we applied for Permanent Observer status
in WIPO. After discussion, our application was approved at the recent WIPO
General Assembly, and officially came into effect on 29 September 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><u1:p> </u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>WIPO "... is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is
dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual
property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and
contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest.
WIPO was established by the WIPO Convention in 1967 ... to promote the
protection of IP throughout the world through cooperation among states and in
collaboration with other international organizations" (<em><i><font
face="Courier New"><span style='font-family:"Courier New"'>source: WIPO website</span></font></i></em>).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><u1:p> </u1:p><font color=black><span style='color:black'> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>We will keep you informed of our work in
this important forum as we deepen our engagement.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Read more about WIPO: <a
href="http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/what_is_wipo.html">http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/what_is_wipo.html</a>
<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>ISOC partnerships with international organizations: <a
href="http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/community/">http://www.isoc.org/pubpolpillar/community/</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>ISOC and intellectual property issues: <a
href="http://www.isoc.org/internet/issues/property_rights.shtml">http://www.isoc.org/internet/issues/property_rights.shtml</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Best,<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Constance Bommelaer<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Senior Manager<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Strategic Global Engagement <u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Internet Society (ISOC)<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><font size=2 color=black face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><a href="http://www.isoc.org/">www.isoc.org</a>
<u1:p></u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><u1:p> </u1:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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