EU Project page - EU for Azerbaijan

Strengthening the Institutional Capacity of the Intellectual Property Agency to manage and protect Intellectual Property Rights in Digital Networks

Project Description

The overall project objective is to enhance the protection and management of copyright and related rights in digital networks. With that in view, the project is assisting the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (COPAT) for the development of the Enforcement Centre on the Intellectual Property Rights (ECIPR).

ECIPR is only recently established under COPAT. Thus, strengthening its institutional capacity is of paramount importance. For this, a Road Map and 3-year Action Plan will be prepared with recommendations on organisational structure, capacity and scope of ECIPR's responsibilities.

In order for ECIPR to achieve its full potential, a number of additional activities will be implemented by the project. All of these activities can be grouped in the following 4 themes: 1) Development of the institutional framework; 2) Enhancement of the institutional capacity; 3) Legal and regulatory review; 4) Implementation of training and public awareness initiatives.

Specific Objective

To improve the law on copyright and related rights and bring it into closer conformity with EU directives and the acquis, will enhance the means of management of copyright and related rights and will strengthen the regime for enforcement of such rights.

Expected Results

- Development of the institutional framework supporting enforcement of copyright and related rights;
- Enhancement of the institutional capacity of the Enforcement Centre on IP rights by supporting the completion of development of a system of application of control marks to products containing protected works, and the creation of a national digital aggregator as a repository of creative material of cultural importance and national heritage;
- Legal and regulatory review and development of new legislation;
- Implementation of training and public awareness initiatives.