Today I write with disappointment and despair. The reason? To obtain IP information in Latin American countries is an extremely difficult task. The information is not just out there and I have to juggle between high street newspapers and magazines – nothing legal. However, I have to say that there are three IP Institutions that have provided me along the way with good and reliable material; they are INPI (Brazil), INDECOPI (Peru) and SAPI (Venezuela).
Yet, for the past two months - day after day, I have been receiving only Government propaganda from SAPI. The information varies from distributing food to the poor, to opening new supermarkets for the deprived. They also cover the closing down of companies that sell regulated products at higher prices and welcoming visits from other Presidents. There is indeed so much info (re: political propaganda) but nothing to do with IP!
I have to admit that I see this with worry. The explanation is that as I read, in a daily basics, Venezuelan newspapers I can see how the country is deteriorating in all senses. Of course this is not the blog to discuss political agendas but certainly this is news that everybody needs to hear. If you go back to all past and present posts in this blog (regarding Venezuela), you will notice how IP legislation (or lack of it) as well as administrative and judicial process is leaving the country in a questionable position. Is it just me or is anyone else feeling the same way?
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3 comments
Write commentsDear Patricia,
ReplyThank you very much for raising this point to the ip-tango group.
Nevertheless, I have to doubt about your reasoning. On one hand, you complain because SAPI is sending to you information that has nothing to do with IP issues, what I find reasonable, provided that such institution was created with a different purpose. On the other hand you make a general comment on "how the country is deteriorating in all senses", referring to Venezuela, presenting a general political statement, by far, out of the scope of the IP Tango Group.
In sending to us this post, don't you think that you are also using the list to distribute political propaganda, replicating the attitude you want to condemn?
Best regards,
Mario
Dear Mario
ReplyYou are right to say that it will be reasonable to find 'political propaganda' if SAPI was created with a different purpose. But as far as anyone is concerned, a National Intellectual Property Institution must be kept serving the public in general and of course only relating to 'IP issues'.
My concern is that, as explained in the post - last paragraph, this situation is not just happening. I invite readers to seek Venezuelan posts and observe for themselves the deterioration of IP (legislation, protection) in Venezuela.
I tried to be objective and leave aside my own political views but if you feel that the post is promoting the wrong idea - that the IP service in Venezuela is working perfectly well, please let the readers know.
Moreover, if you have info which this blog can use for further IP research in Latin America, we will really appreciate that.
Dear Mario
ReplyI understand that the post wanted to highlight that SAPI has deviated from its original purpose of being an IP institution and now seems to be exclusively promoting the achievements of the government. I also call this "political propaganda" which has nothing to do with the objectives of an Intellectual Property Institution.
If Venezuela has decided to use SAPI to promote its political achievements then politicians with a political agenda are inadvertently deteriorating not only the IP legal system but also the credibility of Venezuelan legal institutions.
Best Wishes
Adolfo