IP Key SEA Publishes Third Annual Work Plan

The IP Key SEA project has published the third annual work plan (AWP) for its second phase, comprising 21 activities and covering areas of intellectual property (IP) rights that range from copyright to patents, trade marks and industrial designs, geographical indications (GIs), plant variety rights and trade secrets.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, the AWP3-2024 has struck a more balanced programme with an increase in in-person or hybrid (online and in-person) events. Apart from seven activities that address cross-IP rights, a strong focus is placed on the enforcement of IP rights, with five activities planned for this topic this year. Trade marks and industrial designs will be featured in three activities each. Copyright, patents, trade secrets and plant variety rights will each have one activity.

Meanwhile, GIs will gain more prominence following a higher interest in the topic both in the European Union and in South-East Asia. Last year, IP Key SEA supported two national GI events in Thailand and the Philippines, arranged a study tour for high-level South-East Asian officials to visit EU GI producers and implemented a social media campaign on EU and SEA GIs. In addition to similar activities for the new work plan, this focus will be further enhanced with plans to organise GI exhibitions in a number of SEA countries, including Indonesia, which has designated 2024 as the ‘Year of Geographical Indications’ (Tahun Indikasi Geografis).

The project team is now busy gearing up for the implementation of this year’s work plan, which will kick off with a webinar to enhance public awareness on trade secrets, tentatively planned for March.