Latest news with #DarenTang
The Star
10-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
UN: Investments rise in data, AI, outpacing physical assets
Software and databases account for the fastest growing types of intangible asset investments, growing by more than 7% annually between 2013 and 2022, the report showed. — Pixabay GENEVA: The purchase of physical assets was eclipsed last year by a surge in investment in intangible items like software, data and AI, the UN said Wednesday, describing a "fundamental shift in how economies grow and compete". Investment in intellectual property-backed assets grew three times faster in 2024 than investments in physical objects like machinery and buildings, which have been hit by high interest rates and a subdued economic recovery, the United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) said in a fresh report. The report, which was co-published with Italy's Luiss Business School, showed that intangible investment across 27 high- and middle-income economies grew about 3% in real terms last year, reaching US$7.6 trillion, up from US$7.4 trillion a year earlier. "We're witnessing a fundamental shift in how economies grow and compete," WIPO chief Daren Tang said in a statement. "While businesses have slowed down investing in factories and equipment during uncertain times, they're doubling down on intangible assets," he said, stressing that "this trend has profound implications for policymakers". "Countries that understand and nurture intangible investment will be better positioned to grow and thrive in a global economy increasingly driven by technological, digital and cultural innovation." In 2024, the United States led in absolute levels of intangible asset purchases, investing nearly double what runners-up France, Germany, Japan and Britain pumped into such assets, WIPO said. Sweden meanwhile remained the world's most intangible-asset-intensive economy, with such investments accounting for 16% of the country's gross domestic product. The United States, France and Finland followed, each with an intensity of 15% of GDP. India's intangible investment intensity of nearly 10 percent put it ahead of several European Union economies and of Japan, WIPO said. The report indicated that investment in intangible assets has shown sustained and resilient growth even during periods of crisis, swelling at a compound annual rate of around 4% between 2008 and 2024. That compares to just 1% for tangible asset investments, WIPO said. Software and databases account for the fastest growing types of intangible asset investments, growing by more than 7% annually between 2013 and 2022, the report showed. At the same time, it highlighted that such investments coincided with and were likely driven by the current artificial intelligence boom. AI has already been driving investments in tangible infrastructure, including chips, servers and data centres, and the report suggested it had begun boosting more intangible investments in things like data sets needed to train AI systems. "People think that we are already in the middle of the AI (boom), but we are actually just at the beginning," Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, head of WIPO's department for economics and data analytics. – AFP
Ya Biladi
08-07-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco signs MoU with WIPO to boost cultural heritage protection
Morocco has signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to enhance cooperation in the field of intellectual property, particularly in the protection of copyright and cultural heritage. The agreement was signed on Monday by Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mehdi Bensaid and WIPO Director General Daren Tang, on the sidelines of the WIPO General Assemblies in Switzerland. The deal paves the way for Morocco to integrate new legal tools, such as resale and reproduction rights, via the WIPOCONNECT system. It also aims to promote the «Label Maroc» internationally, reinforcing the legal safeguarding of Moroccan cultural heritage through the country's Intellectual Property Office.
Morocco World
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Morocco Signs Agreement with WIPO to Legally Protect Its Cultural Heritage
Rabat – Morocco has taken an important step to protect its rich cultural heritage. The Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Daren Tang, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva on Monday. This new agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between Morocco and WIPO in the field of intellectual property, especially when it comes to copyright, related rights, and the legal protection of Moroccan cultural heritage. The agreement also allows Morocco to benefit from WIPO's expertise and introduces new legal concepts such as resale rights and reproduction rights, using the WIPOCONNECT system. One of the main highlights of the agreement is the promotion of the 'Label Maroc,' a mark of excellence that will help Morocco promote and protect its heritage internationally. The ministry said in a statement that thanks to this deal, elements of Moroccan heritage such as the caftan and zellige will be protected under international intellectual property law. This will allow Morocco to legally defend its cultural creations if they are copied or misused. Fighting cultural appropriation While UNESCO gives countries international recognition of cultural elements as part of humanity's shared heritage, WIPO provides the legal recognition that helps countries like Morocco fight back in cases of cultural appropriation or theft. This agreement means that if a country or company tries to use Moroccan traditions without permission or respect, Morocco can now take legal action with the support of WIPO. The signing of the agreement Minister Bensaid also held talks with WIPO's Director General about strengthening the partnership between Morocco and the organization. They discussed plans to exchange experiences and host expert visits to support Moroccan artists and creators. Morocco has a rich and diverse culture known around the world, from the colorful caftan and the intricate zellige, to Gnaoua music, and traditional cuisine. In recent years, however, Morocco has faced multiple cases of cultural appropriation, where foreign fashion brands or influencers used Moroccan designs, symbols, or clothing styles without giving credit or understanding their history. For example, international fashion houses have used Moroccan-inspired patterns in their collections without acknowledging their origin. In some cases, Moroccan crafts have even been marketed as products from other countries. To fight this, Morocco has been working to register its heritage legally, both nationally and internationally. This includes adding cultural elements to UNESCO's list of intangible heritage and now, through WIPO, giving them legal protection. Tags: Cultural AppropriationCultureMoroccan Culture
