The activity consists in a two-day workshop in Brazil and will take place next October 23rd and 24th, with the objective of providing a hands-on training on free EPO tools (Espacenet, CCD and Global Dossier). The training, to be carried out by an EPO official, is a contribution by IP Key LA to help Latin American IPOs increase in the efficiency and predictability of their examination decisions though a better understanding of EPO tools and an improved understanding of EPO search reports.

The directors-general and other senior representatives from several Southeast Asian intellectual property (IP) offices met with local producers in northern Italy from 28 September to 1 October to gain a better understanding of how geographical indications (GI) contribute to economic development. Producers of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Garda Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Apples of Val di Non guided the delegates through the unique sites, production processes and labelling that make their products immediately recognisable in international markets.

IP Key China partnered 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.

The directors-general and other senior officials from the Southeast Asian intellectual property (IP) offices discussed a range of new IP tools during a forum with European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) representatives held in Geneva on 26 September.

As of 25 September 2018, Ecuador’s National Service of Intellectual Rights (SENADI) joins TMclass with the latest version of the Nice classification.

This latest addition brings the total number of national and regional IP Offices, including ARIPO, OAPI, WIPO and EUIPO, involved in the tool to 72.

TMclass offers users the opportunity to search for goods and services. The tool also facilitates translation to and from any of the 44 available languages.

Following the success of previous Roving Seminars, IPKey China completed a series of activities on China’s patent system on 17-21 September. The seminar series were organised in partnership with the National Intellectual Property Office, PRC.  Ms. Dong Cheng, Deputy Director General of CNIPA provided an overview of the Patent system in China.

Intellectual property is a powerful tool for investment, growth and job creation. Furthermore, knowing how to manage and exploit IP opens the door to innovation and competitiveness, both in Europe and in Latin America.

For this reason, IP Key Latin America has launched a series of initiatives to support companies, SMEs, universities and other economic actors, focused on the use of IPR in the different stages of the innovation process in a global context or within the framework of transnational association agreements.

The seminar on design and conducing DUS trials in vegetables and ornamentals was successfully concluded in Shanghai on 15 September. This seminar was conducted with the active contributions of EU and Chinese DUS examiners. IP Key China, supporting the CPVO, co-organised the seminar with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MOARA) and the State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFGA, through their PVP agency Development Centre of Science and Technology (DCST). The seminar, which was followed by technical field missions, was held over 5 days, starting on 11 September.

Senior officials from several Southeast Asian IP offices visited producers of products protected as geographical indications (GIs) in northern Italy on 28 September - 1 October to better understand what GI protection does for sustainable development and economic prosperity. The activity focused on how the producers promote their GIs and the EU practices on the enforcement and control of GIs.

The directors-general and other senior officials from the Southeast Asian IP offices attended a forum in Geneva on 26 September with EUIPO and IP Key SEA representatives to discuss the upgrading of services offered to clients operating in Southeast Asia. The activity aimed to improve the IP environment for businesses operating in the region through quality standards and new technologies in the national IP offices.