As a follow-up to the Webinar Series on Geographical Indications (GIs) in July 2020, the IP Key SEA organised a third webinar on 25 November focusing on issues on the enforcement of GIs in SEA in the physical and online markets, including the need to for adequate enforcement mechanisms that support both GI owners and consumers. The IP Key SEA had partnered with the IP Offices of Singapore and Viet Nam as well as DG AGRI in delivering the webinar, with presentations on the sui generis system of GI protection in Singapore and the benefits under the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

IP Key SEA, in collaboration with the European Patent Office (EPO), organized a series of online workshops on patent search and examination under the project’s 3rd Annual Work Plan. The events ran from June to October 2020 and targeted senior patent examiners from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

The European Union and Latin American countries have strong ties when it comes to agri-food products. The agricultural sector plays a strategic role in both regions, which demands adequate IP protection, especially regarding geographical indications (GIs).

In 2020, IP Key South-East Asia (SEA) hosted on 6 and 7 October the South-East Asia IP Judges’ Virtual Roundtable. The online event included sessions on vital issues concerning IPR judicial enforcement. Senior IP judges and officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand attended the event.

With the support of the Federação das Indústrias do Estado de São Paulo (Brazil’s largest business association) and the Instituto Nacional de Propiedade Industrial (the national administrator of industrial property rights), IP Key LA organised a two-day webinar on the growing use of blockchain technologies and its advantages for IP enforcement.

The main topic of the event was the interrelation of blockchain technologies and intellectual property, particularly focusing on the potential to improve IP protection and enforcement.