Jørgen Smith Director General Norwegian Industrial Property Office Oslo

Jørgen Smith is the Director General of the Norwegian Industrial Property Office. He is one of the founding fathers and the Chair of the Board of Nordic Patent Institute, which is the first PCT authority based on a joint venture between three national patent offices – Denmark, Iceland and Norway. This was done to keep and finance search and examination competence in national offices for the benefit of national industries even if those countries are members of the European Patent Organisation.

Jørgen Smith participated in the establishment of the TRIPS Agreement, he chaired the Diplomatic Conference which adopted the 1999 Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs and he chaired the PCT Assembly 2001-2002.

Jørgen Smith took his law degree at University of Oslo in 1975.

Abstract:

Major challenge : make the IP systems work and have effect as intended in all member countries considering

• the large economic differences between countries and
• the sharp rise in IP applications worldwide, especially in the patent field, threatening to drown national authorities

International collaboration of prior art – will automatic translation programs and re-use of search reports solve the problem? Use of quality systems in distribution of tasks?

Re-vitalizing PCT – living up to the true standards of the Treaty. Reduced streamlining without substantive harmonization? Integration of PPH into PCT? Dilemma of keeping the PCT system as simple as possible and at the same time offer the clients options that fit their individual needs.

Role of WIPO – how to maintain core business and keep balanced budgets and at the same time meet relevant calls from developing countries?