Outcomes of the Twelfth Japan-ASEAN Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Meeting

On August 26, 2022, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the intellectual property offices (IPOs) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States held the 12th Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting in Melaka, Malaysia. At this meeting, the JPO and ASEAN IPOs agreed on the FY2022-2023 Japan-ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan.

Additionally, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)*1 presented an interim report of the study on patent examination practices for AI inventions and the utilization of patent information, which was conducted in cooperation with the individual ASEAN IPOs.

In conjunction with the Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting, JPO also held bilateral meetings with Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, wherein the continuous promotion of bilateral cooperation was confirmed.

1. Background

ASEAN Member States have been advancing efforts to improve the IP environment in the ASEAN region in accordance with the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan 2016-2025, which was formulated under the framework of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC).

JPO has been cooperating in various ways over the years to support such efforts among ASEAN countries. Accordingly, the 12th Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting aimed to further deepen Japan-ASEAN cooperation within the IP field.

2. Summary of outcomes

Outline of the FY2022 Japan-ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan

JPO reported that all contents of the FY2021 ASEAN-Japan IP Action Plan have been implemented, and agreed on the following items for the FY2022 Action Plan, which confirmed ongoing Japan-ASEAN cooperation:

• Providing trainings for the ASEAN IP Academy*2 (newly added);
• Holding the 3rd Japan-ASEAN Patent Experts Meeting to share information on the development of patent examination guidelines in the field of emerging technologies, as well as patent translation issues;
• Continuing the study of patent examination practices for AI inventions, and the utilization of patent information by ERIA;
• Supporting the accession of ASEAN Member States to the international application system (Madrid Protocol/Hague Agreement), as well as its operation;
• Promoting cooperation in human resource development and management of examination practices; and
• Promoting cooperation in IP commercialization and awareness-raising with respect to IP.

Interim report of the ERIA study

An interim report was presented by ERIA on the study of patent examination practices for AI inventions, and the utilization of patent information.

• Study on the patent examination practices of AI inventions
  In this study, ERIA analyzed how the case examples of AI inventions that are published in the JPO Examination Handbook are judged based on the patent examination practices of the individual ASEAN IPOs. ERIA published the final report in 2021 covering the first phase of the study on the three case examples, and is currently conducting the second phase of this study on three new case examples. In the interim report, it was noted that analysis has begun on four countries for the second phase of the study. This interim report will also be the basis of the discussion at the 3rd Japan-ASEAN Patent Experts Meeting.
  Through this study, it is expected that mutual understanding regarding the patent examination practice of AI inventions will be promoted within individual ASEAN IPOs.
• Study on the utilization of patent information
  In this study, ERIA analyzed how private companies, universities, and other organizations in ASEAN countries utilize patent information to create innovations; and also organize workshops and business contests on the topic of how to utilize patent information. The interim report referenced the questionnaire survey on the utilization of patent information, as well as the implementation of workshops and business contests.
  It is expected that this study will deepen understanding of the importance of patent information utilization in ASEAN countries.

Bilateral meeting with Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Viet Nam

• JPO held bilateral meetings with the IP offices of Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, wherein the continuous promotion of bilateral cooperation was confirmed.

3. Future actions

JPO will further enrich mutual cooperation with ASEAN IPOs by holding top-level and expert-level meetings, and will proactively advance efforts for the development of IP systems in ASEAN Member States. Through these actions, the JPO will strive to help encourage and assist Japanese companies in appropriately protecting their IP rights in ASEAN Member States.

The 12th Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting

Bilateral meeting with Director Vichea (Cambodia)

Bilateral meeting with Deputy Director General Makha (Laos)

Bilateral meeting with Director General Barba (the Philippines)

Bilateral meeting with Deputy Director General Hong (Viet Nam)

*1 The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) is an international research institute established in Jakarta in June 2008. ERIA conducts policy research and recommendations for deepening economic integration, improving development gaps, and promoting sustainable economic growth in 16 East Asian countries (ASEAN, Japan, China, Korea, India, Australia, and NZ). It also makes recommendations at the summit level, including the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Summit, and conducts policy research upon request.
ERIA's website (External link)
Research on Patent Examination Practices for Emerging Technologies in ASEAN Member States (Published in September, 2021) (External link)

*2 The ASEAN IP Academy is an ASEAN training institute established in September 2021 to provide training in the field of IP for ASEAN member states.
JPO organized the inaugural “Train the Trainers” program for the ASEAN IP Academy.

[Last updated 22 September 2022]