The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy partnered with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the State of Qatar (MOCI) and Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Law to deliver the second edition of its Intellectual Property (IP) Knowledge and Skills Development seminar.

Held online, the seminar was organized for Juris Doctor (JD) students enrolled in the College of Law’s Law, Technology and IP course and focused on the importance of IP in commerce and the role it plays in economic and cultural development. Expert contributions were provided by faculty members and officials from MOCI and the WIPO Academy on a range of topics, including patents in an evolving international landscape and patent protection within Qatar.

Commenting on the seminar, Fatima Mohamed Al Jaber, a third-year JD student, College of Law, said: “The IP law class lectures, featuring the WIPO and MOCI presentations, addressed a set of principles related to technological methods and intellectual property rights and procedures that benefit consumers, inventors, and interested stakeholders. Of course, lawyers should be aware of the laws to enforce these rights. Thanks to the lectures, I am eager to learn and stay updated about IP law and especially as it applies to new technology.”

Delivered through its University Partnerships Program, Law, Technology and IP forms part of the WIPO Academy's support for universities in delivering IP programs.

“We were honored to again work with WIPO and MOCI to have this special training for our law students,” added Susan L. Karamanian, Dean, College of Law. “The College of Law is committed to building legal capacity in Qatar and the Middle East in areas that support innovation and job growth, and IP is critical to this endeavor. We are grateful to the faculty from WIPO and MOCI for dedicating their time and energy to our students.”