As a follow-up to the support provided by IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) Project on the drafting of trade mark guidelines, the project will organise virtual technical meetings with Trade Mark Examiners of Indonesia, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Thailand on 24, 25 and 28 February 2022. The training sessions will clarify any doubts or questions the users may have regarding the guidelines. The technical meeting will also ensure that the interpretation and application of the guidelines is consistent.

Following the drafting of the Trade Mark Examination Guidelines of the DirectorateGeneral of Intellectual Property (DGIP) Indonesia and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), promotional and training materials will be developed for the IP offices for internal users (examiners and legal officers) and external users (IP attorneys and applicants). This activity aims to promote the use of the guidelines and their consistent application in the examination work of the trade mark examiners.

The IP Key South-East Asia project invited the Brunei Darussalam Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) stakeholders to the “Workshop on Geographical Indications for Brunei Darussalam”, as part of the technical support provided to SEA Countries in the enhancement of the GI system. This event was by invitation only.

IP Key South-East Asia organised its third Webinar Series on Geographical Indications (GIs) on 20 and 21 May 2021.

In 2021, IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) invited senior patent examiners from the patent offices of Malaysia (12 16 April), Indonesia (3 7 May), Vietnam (7 9 June), and Thailand (14 16 June) to attend the ‘Workshop on Advanced Patent Search and Examination’ organised by the project in collaboration with the European Patent Office (EPO). The four national workshops aimed to establish a platform for the exchange of best practices between European patent search experts and senior SEA patent examiners.

On 28 and 29 June 2021, the IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) Project organised a webinar on ‘Combatting Counterfeit Medicines, Medical Devices and Protective Equipment.’ The webinar highlighted the dangers and, at times, fatal risks posed by counterfeit medicines, medical devices and protective equipment, emphasising the global impact of this problem during the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘Technical Meeting on the Thailand Memorandum of Understanding on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights on the Internet’ took place on 30 July 2021. This activity aims to continue to raise awareness about the important role of intermediary service providers (ISPs), such as e-commerce and social media platforms, in the protection and enforcement of IPRs in the online environment.

IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) Project organised a ‘Seminar on the Detection and Investigation of IPR Infringements in Online and Physical Marketplaces’ on 28 and 29 October 2021. The seminar targets law enforcement authorities in SEA and highlights the latest trends in the detection and investigation of IPR infringements in both physical and online/digital marketplaces and which best practices evolve as infringers continue to adapt their methods.

On 30 June and 1 July 2021, IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) Project hosted a ‘Workshop on IPR Customs Enforcement: Risk Indicators, Trends and Issues in SEA.’ This activity sought to contribute to improving the capacities of IP and customs authorities in the SEA countries, and to raise awareness about the latest modus operandi and methods adopted by infringers in the cross-border trafficking of goods.

Following the conclusion of FTAs with Singapore and Vietnam, the IP Key SEA action provided support and assistance for the implementation of the IPR-related commitments undertaken by the SEA countries. To define specific activities, the relevant government agencies and stakeholders were consulted. Indicative activities included studies, seminars, and peer-to-peer meetings to identify the needs of SEA countries and facilitate the implementation of their FTA commitments.