King Of Thailand Receives Wipo Award For Contribution To Ip

[Hairy]

I'd have put this in the "Thailand News Clippings" forum, but I guess you have to be a moderator to start a topic there.

http://www.cafezine.com/depts/article.asp?...62&deptid=6

King of Thailand Receives WIPO Award for Contribution to IP

Monday, January 19, 2009

by: WIPO

Geneva, January 19, 2009 - The King of Thailand, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, received on January 14, 2009, the WIPO Global Leader Award in recognition of his extraordinary commitment to promoting intellectual property and his important contribution to society as a prolific inventor. The award was presented by WIPO Director General, Mr. Francis Gurry, at a ceremony at the Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin, Thailand. Members of the Privy Council, ministers, senior officials and a high level WIPO delegation were in attendance.

In a citation, Mr. Gurry said “In sharing the fruits of your creativity in the form of invention and musical and artistic works, Your Majesty has not only demonstrated the power of intellectual property to enrich and enhance the quality of daily life and work but has also encouraged people everywhere to create, respect and protect it.”

The King of Thailand is an acclaimed artist with a portfolio of over 1,000 works, including paintings, photos, musical and literary works. He is also an accomplished inventor holding over 20 patents and 19 trademarks. Many of the King’s inventions, which include a water aerator and artificial rainmaking technology, have generated concrete and practical benefits for rural communities in Thailand.

The Award Ceremony was preceded by a one-hour audience with the King which featured wide-ranging discussions on the role of intellectual property in promoting creativity, innovation and development.

The Director General also met with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva. The Prime Minister discussed the challenge of using intellectual property to promote development and its importance in generating concrete practical benefits. He noted that a number of the King’s inventions were positively serving the Thai people. Mr. Vejjajiva further underlined his Government’s commitment to intellectual property and referred to the recent decision by the Thai Cabinet to establish a national committee on enforcement to be chaired by the Prime Minister himself. The Director General applauded the Prime Minister and the Thai Government for their engagement in intellectual property issues and the priority given to these important questions.

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More at the link.