As of 12 November 2018 the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) will use the list of goods and services from the harmonised database (HDB) in TMclass and IMPI’s online tool ClasNiza.

Following IMPI’s decision to use HDB there are now four non-EU IP offices that use and accept terms from this database.

With the extension of the reach of HDB to IMPI through TMclass, this tool now offers users the opportunity to search and translate harmonised concepts among 31 IP offices.

IP Key LA is jointly organizing, with the Andean Secretariat and the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC), an Andean Workshop on Geographical Indications (GIs) and Appellations of Origin (AOs), with the purpose of gathering geographical indications experts and negotiators from the Andean countries, to analyse and review the registration processes and implementation of regulations applicable to GIs and AOs in this region.

IP Key LA and the Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (SIC) of Colombia have organized a two-day Regional Workshop on Trade Marks and Designs Examination Guidelines, to promote connectable discussions with regard to offices’ practices. The activity will be implemented with the collaboration of the Andean Secretariat and in the context of IP Key’s cooperation with PROSUR.

IP Key SEA organised a study visit on plant variety protection (PVP) in Viet Nam on 5-6 November for officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Co-organised by the Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam, the activity highlighted the benefits of a strong PVP system and of membership in the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention).

IP Key China cooperated with CAASA (China Anti-infringement and Anti-counterfeiting Innovation Strategic Alliance) in the organisation of the 2018 EU-China Conference on IPR Protection Online and Innovation, which took place at  Xiamen International Conference Centre (Fujian province) between 3-5 November 2018.

High-level officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam attended an IP Key SEA conference in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on 8-9 November to discuss plant variety protection (PVP) within the international framework. Immediately following a study visit on PVP in Vietnam, the conference highlighted the benefits and opportunities of PVP and of membership to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention).

IP Key SEA organised a study visit on plant variety protection (PVP) in Viet Nam on 5-6 November for high-level officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Co-organised by the Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam, the activity  provided a practical understanding of the benefits of a strong PVP system and of membership in the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention).

As a major step in the process of building and consolidating an IPR network in the region, IP Key LA will hold the IP Enforcement Week in Mexico, with the collaboration of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, the Council of the Federal Judiciary, the General Administration of Customs and the EU Delegation to Mexico. Between November 12th and 16th, activities will take place in different venues of Mexico City.