Regional Workshop of Intellectual Property Office Officials Responsible for the Madrid System for Selected Asia and Pacific Countries
July 20, 2023
On March 16 and 17, 2023, we held a face-to-face regional workshop on the Madrid System for selected members in the Asia and Pacific region. The event – held in Hanoi, Viet Nam – was organized with the assistance of the Intellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (IP Viet Nam), and with support from Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global).
This was the sixth Regional Workshop organized for this region under the FIT/Japan IP Global, and was held in person for the first time since the breakout of COVID-19 in 2020.
The objective of the workshop was to discuss operational issues, and enhanced promotion of the Madrid System, through the exchange of knowledge and best practices. The workshop also provided the opportunity for intellectual property offices to discuss further improvements in administration of the Madrid System.
Some 20 representatives from 13 Madrid System members – namely Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Philippines, Samoa, Thailand and Viet Nam, participated in the Workshop. Two officials from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) participated as speakers.
About the Workshop
The Workshop covered a whole range of topics on the latest developments of the Madrid System, such as the role played by the Office of Origin and the Office of a Designated Contracting Party, classification, data communication (Madrid Office Portal, Madrid e-Filing, IPAS, etc.), and national/regional promotion of the Madrid System.
Participating intellectual property (IP) Offices and the JPO shared best practices, current challenges, and collaboration activities. Discussions focused on major challenges, new cooperation initiatives and the shifting role of IP Offices from just examination and registration to a far broader spectrum including promotion and collaboration with WIPO.