INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSE TO THE CAMPAIGN OF LDC"S ON TRANSFERS OF TECHNOLOGY

THESE RESOLUTIONS WERE INTENDED TO HELP FOSTER BETTER TERMS IN AGREEMENTS ON TECHNOLOGY IMPORTS INTO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND TO IMPROVE THE NATURE OF THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERRED. THEY ALSO CALL FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITIES OF LDCS AND TO ENCOURAGE R&D EFFORTS ORIENTED TO THE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THESE COUNTRIES. A CODE OF CONDUCT ON TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS ORIENTED TO THE NEEDS OF THE LDCS IS UNDERWAY IN UNCTAD. A COMPLETION DATE WAS SET FOR THE END OF 1977. THE WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION IS THE SPECIALIZED UN AGENCY CONCERNED WITH PATENTS AND RELATED TYPES OF PROPERTY RIGHTS. IT HAS UNDERTAKEN AN EXAMINATION OF LDC-PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE PARIS CONVENTION, THE BASIC PATENT TREATY. THESE INITIAL RESPONSES WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN THIS SPHERE. THEY WILL ALSO BE INFLUENCED BY THE RESPONSES TO LDC PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES IN THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM WITH RESPECT TO TRADE, AID AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. ALL OF THESE INVOLVE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS. LDCS OBJECT TO THE COSTLY TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS AND THE LACK OF SUITABILITY OF MUCH OF THE TECHNOLOGY IMPORTED. THEIR PROPOSALS FOR ACTION ARE INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIVELY WEAK BARGAINING POSITION OF LDC FIRMS COMPARED TO FOREIGN SUPPLIERS. REFORMS ON RULES AND PRACTICES OF EXISTING INSTITUTIONS ARE MORE PROBABLE THAN SWEEPING CHANGES. PROGRESS WILL DEPEND LARGELY ON THE ALLOCATION OF ADEQUATE FUNDS AND QUALIFIED PERSONNEL AS WELL AS THE BETTER USE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.