Conference on Digital Transformation, IP and Blockchain Technologies

May 29, 2018

On April 16 and 17, 2018 an international conference entitled “Digital Transformation: Intellectual Property (IP) and Blockchain Technologies” took place at the Moscow World Trade Center. Representatives of the Federal Authorities of the Russian Federation, heads of BRICS and CIS IP offices, as well as representatives of the private sector gathered to exchange their views on the growing role of blockchain technologies in the global IP system.

Mr. Grigory Ivliev, Director General, Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the Russian Federation noted that this event is a good opportunity for leading Russian and international experts to address the challenges related to rapid global digitalization and the transformation of the IP system.

Photo: Mr. Bernard Volken, Fuhrer Marbach & Partner, Switzerland, speaking at the event — Mr. Bernard Volken, Fuhrer Marbach & Partner, Switzerland, speaking at the event (Photo: WIPO)

Key topics

Some of the key questions tacked at this interactive event included:

Do we need a cyberspace law in the Russian Federation?
What kind of opportunities are provided by the new conditions regarding the protection of information and IP rights?
How can Blockchain technology and smart contracts be used to mitigate counterfeit goods, brand squatting and cybersquatting?

More than 800 participants took part in the conference.

The event was organized by WIPO in cooperation with the Federal Service for Intellectual Property of the Russian Federation (Rospatent).

High-level participation

Mr. Maxim Akimov, First Deputy Head of the Government of the Russian Federation outlined three main global trends of digital transformation:

Big data;
the Internet of Things; and
the growing importance of gadgets.

WIPO was represented by Mr. Ilya Gribkov, Acting Head, Department for Transition and Developed Countries (TDC). In his speech, Mr. Gribkov drew attention to the fact that WIPO has recorded overall growth in the number of applications for IP protection filed worldwide, indicating the growing importance of IP in the world.

The event also served as an opportunity to analyze the best foreign and national practices related to the application of new technologies in IP. Foreign participants took advantage of this unique opportunity and shared their views on technological changes in the IP system in their respective countries.

Mr. Maoyu Zhang, Deputy Commissioner, State Intellectual Property Office of China highlighted the great interest of the Government of China in becoming a leader in the creation, development and implementation of new technologies.