In a collaborative effort between the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (SGCAN) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the renewed Manual for trademark examination in the Andean countries was presented in 2023. This document aims to enhance the quality of trademark registration services in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, providing practical recommendations and guidelines for examiners, although its use is not mandatory.

The XXII Congress of the Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI), held from 3rd to 6th December in Mexico City, was an event that brought together distinguished experts and professionals from the world of intellectual property (IP), mainly from Latin America and Spain. With a diverse agenda ranging from academic debates to social events, the congress focused on the significance of protecting IP for economic growth and development in the region.

The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) is an integrated approach against organised and serious international crime in the EU. Member States work with EU institutions to ensure internal security, from information exchange to training and joint operational actions, aiming to dismantle criminal networks.

Organised and serious international crime damages the economy, harming both individuals and society. Criminal networks are often complex, and strategies to suppress crime must equally be multidisciplinary and multiagency to be more effective.

On Monday 11 December the senior management of the Intellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (IP Viet Nam) visited the premises of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain. During the visit, the renewal of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed and exchanges took place on the latest developments and activities and future priorities of both offices. The go-live of the integration of IP Viet Nam trade mark data into TMview was also announced. During the rest of the visit, technical meetings were held with various EUIPO departments.