"With 1100 registered participants, this is a record turn out for an AIPPI Forum and ExCo" said Finnish AIPPI president Esa Korkeamaki at the opening ceremony on September 5. Globalisation, a greater awareness of intellectual property issues and the ease of getting to Helsinki have all contributed to this number, he said.

 This is not the first time that Helsinki has hosted the Forum and ExCo. In 1967 the city also hosted the international conference, with 150 people registerd. "How times have changed" said Koreamaki.