Before starting the first session of the Roving Seminar on Intellectual Property for SMEs, in Mexico City, on March 22, 2019, Pedro Duarte, project leader of IP Key Latin America said that "both in the European Union and in Latin America , one of the reasons why SMEs do not protect their innovation is the lack of knowledge or information." But taking into account that companies that make intensive use of IP in Europe create 38.1% of direct and indirect jobs, generate 42% of GDP in the EU (about 5,700 million euros) and the IP-intensive industries are those that generate 93% of exports, "bri

The IP Key SEA team contributed to the ‘Workshop on Trade in Counterfeit Food, Beverages, Cosmetics, and Fast Moving Consumer Goods’ in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, on 2-5 April. The workshop highlighted the prevalence of global trafficking in infringing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and its economic impact, as well as measures and technologies to address the problem.

IP Key SEA and EUIPO experts shared their insights during the event in a series of panel discussions covering laws and regulations, conducting investigations, deterrence measures and enforcement coordination.

Representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs and SME assistance body, Darussalam Enterprise, provided insights on the potential development of a sui generis system for protecting geographical indications (GIs) at a meeting organised by IP Key SEA and the Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) in Bandar Seri Begawan on 4 March.

IP Key LA organized, along with the Peruvian IP Office (INDECOPI) a Regional Seminar on Geographical Indications and Trade Marks. The activity consisted of a one and half-day event that took place in Lima in March 28th and 29th.

After the success of Mercosur and Chile Roving Seminars for SME´s in 2018, IP Key LA is organizing a new edition of this activity. The one-day IP Roving Seminar will take place in March 2019 in Mexico City, Guatemala City, San Salvador and San José.

The events are aimed at European and local SMEs and seek to disseminate best practices in the use of IP assets for the development of their businesses, as well as publicizing the mechanisms of use and protection of IPR available to them.