South-East Asia

The Project Management Board (PMB) of the IP Key Southeast Asia (SEA) Project adopted the Second Annual Work Plan (AWP2-2019) on 21 December 2018. AWP2-2019 of IP Key SEA covers an implementation period of 12 months, from 01 January to 31 December 2019, and consists of 25 activities, all contributing to the objectives of the action, which includes support to the negotiations and implementation of FTAs and the IP dialogue in Southeast Asian countries, enhancing the capacity of IP authorities, improving registration practices, and raising awareness on IP protection and enforcement. 

The IP Key SEA team contributed to the ‘Workshop on Trade in Counterfeit Food, Beverages, Cosmetics, and Fast Moving Consumer Goods’ in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, on 2-5 April. The workshop highlighted the prevalence of global trafficking in infringing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) and its economic impact, as well as measures and technologies to address the problem.

IP Key SEA and EUIPO experts shared their insights during the event in a series of panel discussions covering laws and regulations, conducting investigations, deterrence measures and enforcement coordination.

Representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs and SME assistance body, Darussalam Enterprise, provided insights on the potential development of a sui generis system for protecting geographical indications (GIs) at a meeting organised by IP Key SEA and the Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) in Bandar Seri Begawan on 4 March.

IP Key SEA organised a consultation meeting with the Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO), several government ministries, and local producers on 4 March to obtain the viewpoints of stakeholders on the development of a sui generis geographical indications (GI) system in the country.

Officials from IP Vietnam met with IP Key SEA representatives to discuss new national trademark examination guidelines on 21-22 February.

During the meeting, EUIPO External Legal Expert Octavio Espinosa presented the EUIPO Trademark Examination Guidelines as the model for the Viet Nam guidelines. Discussions also focused on the methodology and timeline for drafting the new guidelines, as well as the structure of the guidelines based on the EUIPO model as adapted to the trademark laws and regulations of Viet Nam.

IP Key SEA held a meeting with IP Viet Nam officials, trademark examiners and local IP practitioners in Hanoi on 21-22 February to discuss the drafting of the new national trademark examination guidelines.

IT officials and managers from the IP offices of Southeast Asia met with IP Key SEA and European Patent Office (EPO) representatives in Bangkok on 20-21 February to work through data sharing mechanisms that will lead to enhanced services for both local and international users.

IP Key SEA and the European Patent Office (EPO) organised a meeting with IT officials and managers from the IP Offices of Southeast Asia (SEA) in Bangkok on 20-21 February to discuss data sharing mechanisms between the SEA IP Offices and the EPO.

Enhanced patent data exchange with SEA IP Offices is expected to improve accessibility and transparency of patent information and legal certainty for international enterprises seeking to operate in the region.