§ Mr. Pounderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with 189W regard to Recommendation No. 512 on the Stockholm Conference on Intellectual Property which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 31st January, 1968; and if he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.
§ Mr. William RodgersHer Majesty's Government have not signed the Stockholm Text of the Berne Convention and have no present intention of accepting the application of the Protocol attached to it regarding developing countries. The problems associated with the Protocol are being studied in the Berne Union and Her Majesty's Government intend to await the outcome of this study.
As regards paragraph 7(b) of Recommendation No. 512, Her Majesty's Government consider that the Council of Europe would not provide the most appropriate framework for any "special agreements" and that it is better for the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property in Geneva to study such a proposal which falls within their competence.