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Singapore’s copyright-based
industries contributed significantly to the nation’s economy.
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Preliminary findings of a research
study, undertaken by the IP Academy in partnership with the Intellectual
Property of Singapore (IPOS), found that in 2001, copyright-based industries
generated approximately S$8.6 billion in value-added.
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This represents 5.6% of
Singapore’s GDP. These industries also have a strong impact on Singapore’s
workforce, employing a total of 116,800 persons, equivalent to 5.7% of the
total employment.
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This research project was launched
in November 2003, when NUS Consulting was commissioned to conduct the study.
It is the first study in the world to adopt a new framework developed by the
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
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This framework classifies
copyright-based industries into four categories, based on the degree of
copyright activities in the industries’ output of goods or services. These
categories are:
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1) Core Copyright;
2) Inter-dependent Copyright;
3) Partial Copyright; and
4) Non-dedicated support.
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Industries falling within the Core
Copyright category made the largest contributions, at 2.8% of GDP and 3.5% of
total employment.
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A list of the industries under
each category is shown in Annex
1. The economic contribution for value added and employment, of each of
these categories is shown in Annex
2, Table 1
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“Singapore is pleased to be the
pioneer country to adopt WIPO’s framework. Recognising the economic
spin-offs, it is important that we continue to provide a conducive environment
for IP-intensive industries to flourish. Aside from putting in place an
internationally benchmarked IP regime, Singapore also needs a prevalent and
ingrained culture that respects and rewards creative efforts,” said
Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State for Law and Home
Affairs, who graced the launch of the Anti-Piracy Cinema Trailer today.
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Speaking on the study, Associate
Professor Loy Wee Loon, Deputy Director of the IP Academy, who was on the
research team of the study said “By adopting WIPO’s framework in this
pilot study, Singapore is supporting WIPO’s efforts to standardise the
measure of copyright’s contribution to nation’s economies.”
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“This study is also the IP
Academy’s first research programme, and we hope that its results will be
beneficial to Singapore policy-makers, such as IPOS,” Assoc Prof Loy added.
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Ms Liew Woon Yin, Director-General
of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore remarked “We are indeed
excited about the study. It has helped to align our definition of creative
industries with WIPO’s recommended framework and provide us a clearer
reflection of the direct contributions generated by our local copyright
creators.”
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The study also revealed that over
a 15-year period (1986 to 2001), the core copyright industries grew strongly,
at an annual compound growth rate of 12.8%, in terms of nominal value added.
This compares well to the 9.6% annual growth of Singapore’s overall economy,
over the same period.
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Similarly, employment numbers for
the core copyright industries grew at an annual compound rate of 6.7%, higher
than Singapore’s overall employment at 3.5%. Annex 2, Table 2 reveals
details of how the core copyright industries have grown.
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These results are the preliminary
findings of the study and examine the direct impact of the copyright-based
industries on the economy.
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The study will continue for
another two more months, as NUS Consulting will be examining the indirect
contribution of copyright industries to Singapore’s economy, through the
multiplier effect. It will also cover foreign trade in copyright activities.
Results of the full study will be released once it is completed.
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This study reveals that copyright
is a powerful economic driver and is growing increasingly relevant. Through
this project, the IP Academy and IPOS aim to raise awareness of the growing
importance of copyright activities to Singapore’ economic growth and
development.
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More.....
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Source: Intellectual
Property Office of Singapore Media Release 27 Jul 2004
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Copyright-based industries boost Singapore's economy
