Intellectual Property Rights Experts' Group - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
 

Intellectual Property Rights Experts' Group

 

Intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement is a key factor for promoting foreign trade and investment, as well as for boosting economic development. In 1995, APEC recognized this fact and included this issue under the Osaka Action Agenda.

In early 1996, the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI) established an Intellectual Property Rights Get-Together (IPR-GT) to ensure adequate and effective protection, including legislation, administration and enforcement, of intellectual property rights in the Asia-Pacific region based on the principles of the TRIPS Agreement and other related agreements. In August 1997, CTI reconstituted the IPR-GT as a sub-group with explicit terms of reference and renamed it the Intellectual Property Rights Experts' Group (IPEG).

The Intellectual Property Rights Experts' Group (IPEG) implements a work program which aims to -
  • Deepen the dialogue on intellectual property policy.
  • Survey and exchange information on the current status of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection and administrative systems.
  • Study measures for the effective enforcement of IPR.
  • Fully implement the Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
  • Facilitate technical cooperation to implement TRIPS.

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Achievements

Australia organized a self-funded symposium, "Trading Ideas: The Future of IP in the Asia Pacific." The symposium brought together more than five hundred leading intellectual property (IP) policy officials, business executives, patent attorneys, legal professionals and inventors. Held in Sydney from January 28-30, 2007, the symposium looked at the future for business and government in relation to IP, which is one of the most important areas of the knowledge economy of tomorrow.

The symposium covered areas relevant to the health of the global economy such as the harmonization of IP laws and processes across borders to reduce red tape, piracy and counterfeiting in the Asia-Pacific region and the enforcement of IP rights. Participants focused on the incidents of piracy and counterfeiting in the region and what that means for economic growth and jobs in the years to come.

During the IPEG meeting held in January 2007 in Canberra, participants focused discussions on the following agenda items:

  • The APEC Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Initiative, and its three Model Guidelines and suggested reporting templates: The results include proposed new model guidelines on the disposal of confiscated and pirated goods, and on strengthening capacity building. Several other initiatives on IPR border enforcement, best practices and resources, and on signal piracy were introduced;
  • Economies shared information on harmonizing patent application practices, proceedings and laws in the region. Current developments in trademark regulations were discussed and member economies were asked to submit information for ongoing surveys on non-traditional trademarks, as well as, on Plant Variety Protection and on Copyright Limitations and Exceptions.

A symposium on "Internet Prevention Strategy and Enforcement Measures" was held back-to-back with the 25th IPEG meeting from 12-15 June 2007 in Chinese Taipei.


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Current Activities

Drawing together intellectual property agency officials from around the Pacific, the IPEG workshop on "Using Market Research to Develop Effective IPR Campaigns" was held in Singapore on 12-14 December 2007. The workshop, developed in partnership between Australia, Hong Kong, China and Singapore, was aimed at helping APEC economies to improve research on public awareness and attitudes to IPR issues. The workshop was designed to help to ensure that innovation is protected through the development of enhanced local awareness strategies.

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Contact Information
Convenor of the Intellectual Property Rights Experts' Group
Mr. Sivakant Tiwari
Principal Senior State Counsel, Attorney-General's Chambers
1 Coleman Street # 10-00
The Adelfi Singapore 179803
Tel:(65) 6332-5914
Fax:(65) 6338-2979
Email: sivakant_tiwari@agc.gov.sg
(jyuekang@mail.moeaipo.gov.tw)

APEC Secretariat
Ms. Natalie Nii
Director (Program)
E-mail: njn@apec.org

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