In consideration of elements of simplification of procedures included in the project for a new law, which is in process in El Salvador, a study visit was carried out by officials from the National Registry Center (CNR) to the Mexican Industrial Property Institute (IMPI).
The activity will focus on the provision of technical support to the integration of data from SEA countries into EUIPO Global tools so that stakeholders in the region will have access to up-to-date and accurate information on trade marks, industrial designs, and geographical indications. The activity also entails the promotion of the tools as part of the other IP Key SEA activities, taking advantage of the different workshops and events, whether virtual or in person.
Through this activity, the IP Key SEA Phase II project will continue to participate in major IPR events (such as IP Fairs, IP contests, and the World IP day event) organised by relevant stakeholders in SEA as a means of promoting increased visibility of the project and its activities, as well as to touch base with the project’s stakeholders and cooperation partners.
This activity will discuss recent developments relating to copyright policy, and policies surrounding related rights, in both the EU and the SEA countries, while opening discussions for the exchange of best practices in tackling emerging digital technologies and their implications on copyright protection and enforcement.
The activity will continue the progressive approach adopted since Phase I of the IP Key SEA project, which advocates for the adoption of voluntary agreements or Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between intermediaries, service providers, and IPR owners in SEA, to be implemented under the supervision of the respective national IP authorities as a means of reinforcing the fight against counterfeiting and piracy in both online and offline environments.
This activity aims to contribute to the continued enhancement of the mediation services available for IPR owners in the SEA countries, and will showcase EU mediation practices and procedures adopted by the EUIPO Boards of Appeal. The workshop will highlight the importance of providing effective mediation mechanisms as an alternative option to protracted court and administrative adjudication proceedings, while ensuring that SEA national mediators are well-equipped with the technical expertise and soft skills necessary for resolving disputes effectively and expeditiously.
The workshop organised by IP Key SEA in collaboration with the International Trademark Association (INTA) provided a platform for closer cooperation between IPR owners and enforcement authorities. Adopting an interactive format allowing for direct exchanges, it offered information on how authorities in South-East Asia can identify counterfeit goods from genuine products.
Virtual Conference on Enforcement Against IP Crimes - 4 October 2023
The activity builds upon the project’s prior initiatives on industrial designs organised within the framework of IP Key SEA Phase I and supports the need to continue discussing issues and latest developments in the area of industrial designs, including international best practices. The activity will include sharing the latest developments in the EU Community Design regime, and EU best practices that may be considered for adoption as part of efforts to enhance the industrial design protection regimes in the SEA countries.