Outcomes of the Eighth Japan-ASEAN Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting held in Singapore (September 2018)

On September 4, 2018, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and intellectual property (IP) offices from ASEAN countries held the 8th Japan-ASEAN Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting in Singapore. At the meeting, participants formulated FY2018 IP cooperation programs between Japan and ASEAN countries, and agreed on cooperation between Japan and ASEAN countries, in particular, in the development and operation of examination criteria appropriate to new technologies, e.g., IoT and AI.

Moreover, on September 5, Ms. Naoko Munakata, JPO Commissioner held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Daren Tang, Chief Executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), and both sides exchanged views concerning the latest situations of the IP systems in Japan and Singapore.

1. Background

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries have been advancing proactive efforts in the IP field as seen in their formulation of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan 2016-2025 under the framework of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC).

Since 2012, the JPO and IP offices from ASEAN countries have been periodically holding Japan-ASEAN Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meetings and establishing and enriching their relationships and cooperation efforts. Aiming to further advance Japan-ASEAN IP cooperation, the 8th Japan-ASEAN Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting was held in Singapore.

2. Summary of the outcomes

(1) Agreement on the FY2018 Japan-ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan

At the 8th Japan-ASEAN Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting, participants mentioned the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Industrial Property concluded in 2012, and based on the details of the MOC, both sides agreed on the following plans, under which to both continue the existing Japan-ASEAN cooperation and start new cooperation efforts:

• Cooperation in revision and preparation of patent manuals (patent examination guidelines), especially in the fields of advanced technologies;
• Study on projected number of application filings with ASEAN IP offices and study on policy recommendations for these offices, both of which will be conducted by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA);
• Cooperation in accession of ASEAN economies to the international application system (Madrid Protocol/Hague Agreement) and cooperation in the operation thereof;
• Cooperation in human resource development and management of examination practices;
• Cooperation in IP commercialization and raising awareness of IP.

(2) Holding a bilateral meeting with the IPOS Chief Executive

Ms. Naoko Munakata, JPO Commissioner, held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Daren Tang, IPOS Chief Executive, and the two sides exchanged views concerning the latest situations of the IP systems in Japan and Singapore.

3. Future actions

The JPO will advance mutual cooperation with ASEAN IP offices for the appropriate protection of IP.

JPO Commissioner with Heads of the ASEAN IP Offices

[Last updated 16 February 2024]

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