ASEAN-Japan signs Intellectual Property cooperation agreement

Thursday 12th of July 2012

MANILA, July 12 -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Heads of Intellectual Property Offices signed an agreement to cooperate on intellectual property.

The ASEAN-Japan Heads of Intellectual Property Offices signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Industrial Property between the ASEAN Member States Intellectual Property Offices (AMS-IPOs) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) on its second meeting on July 11, a press statement from the ASEAN said.

Held in Singapore, this meeting is part of the 38th meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) on July 9 to 13.

Chair of the AWGIPC and Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, Pajchima Tanasanti said the signing of the MOC on Industrial Property ushers in an important milestone in furthering cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in the field of trademarks, industrial designs, patents and utility models, ASEAN said.

Yoshiyuki Iwai, Commissioner of Japan Patent Office, said the MOC will enhance capabilities in ASEAN and Japan in the areas of industrial property protection systems, transparent and streamlined examination procedures and practices, industrial property administration, industrial property exploitation by the private sector and awareness of industrial property.

ASEAN said during this meeting, the AMS-IPOs and JPO adopted the ASEAN Intellectual Property Offices-JPO Action Plan 2012-2013 and exchanged views on cooperation activities and programs the following year.

Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) Tan Yih San said the Action Plan marks a significant milestone in the cooperation history of the ASEAN IP Offices and JPO. Singapore is honored and delighted to host such an event to advance the cooperation among IP Offices in the ASEAN region.

The meeting proposed priority activities for implementation including: the conduct of a study on successful cases of Japanese SMEs in IP commercialization in the creative industry applicable to ASEAN, a workshop on the establishment of IT infrastructure to share dossier information on patent examination, and various support for accession to International Treaties for AMSs.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the AMS-IPOs and the JPO expressed their appreciation to the IPOS for hosting the meeting and their hospitality. (ASEAN/DFA)