At the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (DLT)in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, WCL PIJIP organized a critical side event addressing key provisions of the proposed treaty.

With WIPO’s support, the event featured a distinguished panel moderated by Andrés Izquierdo, representing PIJIP at American University Washington College of Law (AU). The panel included esteemed speakers:

• Sean Flynn
• Margo Bagley
• James Love

High-Level Attendance and Global Engagement

The side event drew participation from over 40 national delegations, including representatives from:

• The United States
• Hungary
• India
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Moldova
• AIPPI, represented by Christopher V. Carani, Esq.

Additionally, we were honored by the attendance of Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah, Ph.D., Ambassador of The Gambia, and Ambassador Madame Pimchanok of Thailand to WIPO and the WTO.

Key Discussion Topics

The discussion focused on some of the most critical and evolving aspects of the Design Law Treaty, including:

✅ Protection of Traditional Cultural Expressions – Addressing concerns about how the treaty can safeguard indigenous and cultural heritage within the design protection framework.

✅ Tracking Race and Gender Statistics – Exploring the potential inclusion of provisions requiring demographic transparency in the design registration process to promote diversity and equity.

✅ Disclosure of AI and Public Funding in Design Creation – Discussing whether the treaty should mandate the disclosure of artificial intelligence involvement and publicly funded contributions in designs seeking IP protection.

The Future of the Design Law Treaty

As the negotiations continue, the discussions from this side event will contribute to the broader conversation on how the treaty can address contemporary challenges in intellectual property law, technology, and equity.

At Andrés Izquierdo & Lawyers, we remain committed to monitoring international IP developments and providing expert analysis on how these negotiations will shape the future of design protection.

For further updates and legal insights, contact our Intellectual Property & International Law team at info@andresizquierdo.com.

Photos: WIPO/Borlant.Best

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