Outcomes from the Fifteenth Meeting of the Japan-ASEAN Heads of Intellectual Property Offices

On August 19, 2025, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the intellectual property offices (IPOs) of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States held the 15th Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

At this meeting, the JPO and ASEAN IPOs agreed on the FY2025-2026 Japan-ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan.

In addition, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)^*1 presented their reports on research and studies related to branding strategies being implemented in cooperation with ASEAN countries, as well as research and studies related to patent examinations for remarkable technologies in Pharmaceutical and Related fields.

The JPO also held bilaterial meetings with Thailand, Singapore, Laos, and the Philippines, wherein the continuous promotion of bilateral cooperation was confirmed.

1. Background

ASEAN Member States have been advancing efforts to improve the IP environment, based on the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan 2016-2025 formulated by the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC).

To support the efforts of ASEAN countries, the JPO has been cooperating with them in various ways over the years.

Accordingly, the 15th Japan-ASEAN Heads of IP Offices Meeting aimed to further deepen Japan-ASEAN cooperation within the IP field.

2. Summary of outcomes

(1) Agreement on the FY2025 Japan-ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan

The JPO reported that all contents of the FY2024 Japan-ASEAN IP Rights Action Plan have been implemented, and agreed on the following items for the FY2025 Action Plan, which confirmed ongoing Japan-ASEAN cooperation:

• Continuing study by ERIA
• Holding the 6th Japan-ASEAN Patent Experts Meeting which aims to improve the quality management of patent examinations.^*2
• Promotion of accession and operational cooperation in the international application systems (Madrid Protocol/Hague Agreement).
• Promotion of cooperation in human resource development and examination management.
• Promotion of cooperation between Japan, China, South Korea and ASEAN for the Hague Agreement.

(2) Report of the study by ERIA

A report was presented by ERIA on studies on branding strategies and patent examination practices of pharmaceuticals and other remarkable technologies. Some of the contents of the reports will be discussed at the 6th Japan-ASEAN Patent Experts Meeting, and it is expected that the discussions will promote the development of examination system for pharmaceuticals and other remarkable technologies in ASEAN countries.

(3) Bilateral meetings with Thailand, Singapore, Laos, and the Philippines

Bilateral meetings were held between the JPO and the IP Offices of Thailand, Singapore, Laos and the Philippines and it was confirmed that bilateral cooperation will continue to be promoted.

3. Future actions

The JPO will continue to deepen mutual cooperation with ASEAN IPOs by holding high-level and working-level meetings and will actively promote efforts for the development and evolution of IP systems in ASEAN, so that users can obtain appropriate protection of intellectual property rights in ASEAN.

*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)

*2 The JPO has been hosting the Japan-ASEAN Patent Experts Meeting since 2020. In the first to fourth meetings, the JPO has conducted the development of patent examination standards in the field of advanced technology and shared knowledge on the issue of mistranslation of patents.

Patent Experts Discuss Issues Including Emerging Technology Examinations and Mistranslations of Patent Descriptions at the Fifth Japan-ASEAN Patent Experts Meeting.

第5回日ASEAN特許専門家会合で医薬等の審査実務及び特許審査の品質管理について議論を行いました

[Last updated 21 August 2025]

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