WIPO China: WIPO Diplomatic Conference to Conclude a Design Law Treaty Opens in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
产权组织成员国代表于2024年11月11日就旨在支持世界各地的设计者寻求外观设计保护的拟议条约开启了最后阶段的谈判，总干事邓鸿森呼吁谈判者发挥创造力，找到趋同领域，以最终达成条约。
Delegates from WIPO’s member states opened on November 11, 2024, the final stage of negotiations on a proposed treaty that will support designers around the world in seeking protection for their designs, with Director General Daren Tang calling on negotiators to be creative in finding areas of convergence to finalize the treaty.
该条约草案旨在简化全球外观设计保护体系，使设计者能够更轻松、更快捷、更经济地在本国和海外市场上保护其成果。
The draft treaty aims to streamline the global system for protecting designs, making it easier, faster and more affordable for designers to protect their work in home markets as well as overseas.
产权组织总干事邓鸿森在沙特阿拉伯首都利雅得阿卜杜勒·阿齐兹国王国际会议中心向900名与会者致辞时，强调了此次外交会议的重要性，指出“外观设计权不仅仅是一个法律或技术问题，它还是一种开创业务、支持生计和创造未来的手段”。
Addressing some 900 participants gathered at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, WIPO Director General Daren Tang highlighted the importance of the diplomatic conference, noting that “design rights are not just a matter of law – they are a means of building businesses, supporting livelihoods and forging brighter futures.”
“在接下来的两周里，我们将迎来千载难逢的机遇，向世界各地的设计者提供支持。携起手来，我们可以让外观设计保护更简单，更方便。我们可以精简和协调流程，让设计者能够更轻松、更经济地保护自己的外观设计并将其转到境外，”邓先生说。他补充道：“如此一来，我们就可以向设计者赋能，使之发挥更大的创造力，创造出更令人叹为观止的设计，让我们感到愉悦，激发创意，释放创新。”
“Over this next fortnight, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to support designers around the world. Together, we can help make design protection simpler and more accessible. We can streamline and harmonize processes and we can make it easier and more affordable for designers to protect and move their designs across borders,” Mr. Tang said, adding: “In so doing, we will empower designers to create even more amazing designs that will delight us, spark creativity and unleash innovation.”
总干事说：“19年来，我们一直为这一刻而努力。现在，终点线已经近在眼前。为了跨越终点线，我们必须准备好架起沟通的桥梁，找到趋同领域，并发挥创造力，达成必要的妥协。”
The Director General said: “For 19 years, we have worked toward this moment. Now, the finish line is in sight. To cross it, we must be prepared to build bridges, find areas of convergence and be creative in achieving the needed compromises.”
他说产权组织社群已多次证明其应对挑战的能力：“今年5月，我们克服了重重困难和挑战，就具有里程碑意义的《产权组织知识产权、遗传资源和相关传统知识条约》达成了共识，创造了历史。”
He said that the WIPO community has repeatedly shown its ability to rise to the occasion: “In May, we made history, overcoming difficulties and challenges to reach consensus on the landmark WIPO Treaty on IP, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge.”
他呼吁谈判人员在这一成功的基础上再接再厉。“在接下来的10天里，让我们秉承同样的精神，在本次外交会议上取得成功。让我们共同支持世界各地设计者的生活和生计，携手建设一个更具活力的知识产权生态系统，共同证明多边主义能够为我们所有人带来更美好的未来。”
He called on negotiators to build on that success. “Over the next 10 days, let us draw on this same spirit to achieve success during this diplomatic conference. Together, let us support the lives and livelihood of designers everywhere. Let us build a more vibrant IP ecosystem and let us show that multilateralism can deliver a better future for all of us.”
沙特知识产权局首席执行官阿卜杜勒阿齐兹·穆罕默德·斯韦莱姆博士当选外交会议主席，他向与会代表表示欢迎时，回顾了沙特王国对多边合作的承诺，呼吁谈判人员加紧努力，以最终达成条约。
Dr. Abdulaziz AlSwailem, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), who was elected as President of the diplomatic conference, welcomed delegates to Saudi Arabia, recalled the Kingdom’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and called on negotiators to step up their efforts to finalize the treaty.
他表示，该条约通过简化注册程序和统一要求，是向规范外观设计注册申请程序迈出的关键一步，将使设计者受益。
He said the treaty represents a pivotal step in regulating the process for filing applications to register designs by streamlining registration procedures and standardizing requirements for the benefit of designers.
“我们必须共同努力，使新条约成为现实，从而支持外观设计并最大限度地发挥其影响力，为子孙后代提供一个有利于创新的环境，”斯韦莱姆博士说。
“We cannot stress enough the need to work together in order to make reality a new treaty that will support designs and maximize their impact, and thereby provide future generations with an innovation-friendly environment,” Dr. AlSwailem said.
图：WIPO｜Photo: WIPO
什么是外观设计法条约？
What is the Draft Design Law Treaty?
当前以外观设计法条约作为工作名称的案文草案将显著地方便设计者，特别是小型设计者和微型、小型和中型企业注册其作品。外观设计法条约将处理获得外观设计保护的程序，不涉及外观设计的法律定义或保护条件等问题，这些问题仍属于缔约方的权限范围。
The current draft text with the working title Design Law Treaty (DLT) would make it significantly easier for designers, especially smaller scale designers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to register their work. The DLT would deal with the procedures for obtaining design protection, not with questions such as the legal definition of design or the conditions for protection, which would remain within the purview of the contracting parties.
其他知识产权类别（包括专利和商标）中已经存在类似的条约。外观设计法条约旨在填补外观设计领域的空白。一份“基础提案”将作为谈判的基础。
Similar treaties already exist in other intellectual property (IP) categories, including patents and trademarks. The DLT aims to fill the gap in the area of designs. A "Basic Proposal" will serve as the basis for negotiations.
2023年——数据可用的最近一年——国内外观设计申请占外观设计申请总数的82%，这表明通过简化注册流程，跨境申请变得更方便，数量有望增加。
Domestic design applications accounted for 82 percent of the total design filings in 2023, the latest year for which there are data, showing the potential for increased filing across borders that would be made easier through streamlined registration processes.
外观设计使产品对消费者产生吸引力，从而影响消费者的选择。事实上，产品的成功往往取决于其外观设计。外观设计对于所有“创意从业者”都很重要，无论是个人、中小企业还是大型公司，也无论来自哪个经济部门。外观设计是能够提高产品市场价值并带来竞争优势的商业资产。
By making products attractive to consumers, designs drive consumer choices. In fact, a product’s success is often due to its design. Designs are important for all “creatives,” whether individuals, SMEs or larger companies, in all economic sectors. Designs are business assets that increase a product’s market value and provide a competitive advantage.
一般而言，设计者需要遵循其寻求保护的国家知识产权局规定的申请程序。外观设计权具有地域性：在一个国家（或地区）获得保护的权利仅限于该国（或地区）。
Generally, designers need to follow the filing procedures set by the IP office of the country in which they seek protection. Design rights are territorial: The rights arising from protection obtained in one country (or region) are limited to that country (or region).
由于不同国家的程序大相径庭，设计者很难保护自己的外观设计。外观设计法条约将通过简化保护程序和消除繁琐环节来应对这一挑战。
Procedures vary significantly from one country to another, making it difficult for designers to protect their designs. The DLT will address that challenge by simplifying protection procedures and eliminating red tape.
什么是外交会议？
What is a Diplomatic Conference?
产权组织外交会议通常根据产权组织大会的一项决定举行，该决定确定了会议的目标和与会的一般条件。外交会议受其自身的议事规则和习惯国际法管辖。因此，条约和最后文件是由外交会议本身通过的。
A WIPO diplomatic conference is typically convened by a decision of the WIPO General Assembly, which defines the objective of the conference and the general conditions for participation. Diplomatic conferences are governed by their own rules of procedure and customary international law. Accordingly, it is the conference itself that adopts the treaty and a final act.
外交会议工作时分为全体会议和若干个委员会。第一主要委员会就所有实质性知识产权条款进行谈判和协商，并建议全体会议通过这些条款。第二主要委员会负责就行政规定和最后条款进行谈判与协商，例如谁有资格加入未来的条约以及使条约生效的条件是什么。此外，还成立了其他三个委员会：资格证书委员会负责核查参加外交会议和签署条约的各代表团的资格证书；起草委员会负责确保条约六种语文的文本同等作准，互相一致；指导委员会由所有委员会的主席团主要成员组成，负责确保外交会议按计划进行。
The diplomatic conference works in plenary and several committees. Main Committee I is to negotiate and agree on all substantive IP provisions and recommend them for adoption by the plenary. Main Committee II is charged with negotiating and agreeing on all administrative provisions and final clauses, such as who can join the future treaty and the conditions for its entry into force. Three other committees are also formed: the Credentials Committee, which verifies credentials of delegations to participate in the conference and to sign the treaty; the Drafting Committee, which ensures the six language versions of the treaty are equally authentic and properly aligned; and the Steering Committee, which includes the chief officers of all the committees and ensures the process is on track.
在所有委员会完成其工作之后，条约将会提交给外交会议全体会议通过。其后，条约将开放供签署。在外交会议结束之际签署条约，并不意味着签署国必须受条约规定的约束。只不过表明签署国有强烈的意向而已。最后文件是一份关于举行过外交会议这一事实的记录，也将在条约通过后开放供签署。
When all committees finalize their work, the treaty is sent to the conference plenary for adoption. It is then open for signature. Signing the treaty at the end of a diplomatic conference does not commit a country to being bound by its provisions. It is, however, a strong indication of intent by the signatory. The final act – a record that the conference took place – is also open for signature after adoption.
利雅得外交会议的召开时间是2024年11月11日至22日。
The Diplomatic Conference in Riyadh is meeting from November 11-22, 2024.
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Click on Read more for more information about the WIPO Office in China.
