International Intellectual Property rights expert Jay Erstling in Bangladesh

Renowned international Intellectual Property or IP expert Jay A Erstling has arrived in Bangladesh on an invitation of the Bangladesh Intellectual Property Forum or BIPF.

He arrived on Sept 14 and will wrap up his five-day visit on Sept 19.

Erstling is an emeritus professor at the Mitchell Hamlin School of Law of Hamline University, USA.

He has served as director-advisor to the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization or WIPO, Geneva, and also as a director of the Office of the Patent Cooperation Treaty or PCT.

Erstling is also an IP counsel at the Patterson Thuente Law Firm based in Minnesota, USA.

During his visit, Erstling has so far attended two high-level seminars in Dhaka and delivered the keynote papers there, BIPF has said in a press release.

He discussed how "intellectual property" could be used as a tool for the sustainable growth of the economy in Bangladesh.

The first seminar was held at the Prime Minister’s Office or PMO, jointly organised by the BIPF and Access to Information or a2i Programme of the PMO.

The other one was held on Monday at the ICT Division in Dhaka’s Agargaon, jointly organised by the BIPF and Bangladesh Computer Council of ICT ministry.

Both the seminars were attended by high officials from the PMO, ICT ministry and heads of different private organisations, according to the press release. 

In his professional career, Erstling has played a significant role in reforming the PCT Policy, expansion and modernisation of PCT management system and development of IP infrastructure in many countries including China, Cyprus, India, Lithuania, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.