Innovation goes green with the support of intellectual property

This week, the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the international community observed the ninth annual World Intellectual Property Day to raise international awareness about the importance of intellectual property to our well-being. This year's theme, 'Promoting Green Innovation,' emphasises the importance of intellectual property to advancing the development of green technologies and eco-friendly products that support a healthy environment and promote sustainable agricultural and economic development.

We are in a period of heightened concern about both climate change and global economic crisis. Historically such challenges have sparked innovation, presenting new opportunities to benefit from intellectual property. By encouraging enforcement of trade rules, including intellectual property protection, we can support innovative industries, create new jobs and solve global challenges.

Creative individuals and industries continue to generate solutions to some of the most difficult problems that face the world today. Recently, Maltese scientists were awarded the 2007 Energy Globe Award for developing a fuel-free, electricity-generating machine that harnesses the latent hydrostatic energy naturally present in a body of water. Intellectual property protections help foster environments in which creativity and innovation can thrive and contribute to economic development and improved quality of life around the world.

Malta's efforts to protect intellectual property rights will boost economic progress and encourage creativity and innovation. The US Embassy is committed to assisting Malta in its efforts to protect this avenue of growth.

Last year, the US Embassy and the University of Malta co-sponsored the visit of intellectual property rights expert Pamela Evers from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. During her visit, which was sponsored by the US Embassy's Fulbright Senior Specialist Programme, she met with government officials and leading lawyers to discuss intellectual property issues common to both the US and Malta, such as software copyrights, film and television rights, and satellite broadcasts.

More recently, Dr Evers participated in a digital video conference on intellectual property rights with the European Law Students' Association. Dr Evers reviewed recent legal developments in the IP field and equipped Maltese law students with a better understanding of the implications of intellectual property rights legislation.

Innovation is at the heart of civilisation. The pursuit of new knowledge is at the center of human spirit and is what led Thomas Edison to invent and develop technologies like the light bulb. The US IP system allowed others to build upon Edison's work by granting him patent protection that allowed him to reap financial benefit for his significant contribution to society. We must ask ourselves: Who are the Thomas Edisons of today? Where are they? And, how do we ensure that IP protections are in place to encourage their innovative spirit and support the safe and secure distribution of technologies to those who desperately need them?

In his inaugural speech, US President Barack Obama reminded us that "our minds are no less inventive" and "our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year." As we work to address global challenges such as the current international economic crisis, climate change and clean energy, we must redouble our efforts to encourage and protect intellectual property rights and foster a robust environment for global innovation.

• Mr Davies is Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy.