Heads of Patent Offices in Japan, Europe, Korea, China, and the U.S.
Discuss the Role of Intellectual Property in Fostering the Growth of SMEs
- Outcome of 17th IP5 Heads of Office Meeting -

June 21,2024

The IP5 Offices, which consist of the Patent Offices in Japan, Europe, Korea, China, and the U.S., held their 17th IP5 Heads of Office Meeting on June 20, 2024, in Seoul, Korea, under the auspices of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) as the host. Mr. HAMANO Koichi, JPO Commissioner, was one of the meeting participants.

At the meeting, the IP5 discussed the role of IP in fostering the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as how IP5 Offices cooperate in this area.

In addition to the comparative table summarizing the laws, examination criteria, and examination cases of the IP5 Offices approved last year, a new comparative table with a more detailed classification of the examination cases was approved as a result of a project led by the JPO.

Furthermore, the IP5 Offices approved the results of an IP5 project review to prioritize IP5 activities, and agreed to develop ‘Guidelines for Building a Sustainable Future’ in recognition of the need for concrete medium to long-term approaches to realizing the new IP5 vision.

A meeting of the IP5 Heads of Office with IP5 Industry was additionally held on June 19, the day before the meeting, in order to exchange views on strengthening cooperation in promoting SME growth through IP.

Group photo of the IP5 Heads of Office Meeting

From left to right: Ms. Nellie Simon, Vice President of EPO; Mr. HAMANO, Commissioner of JPO; Mr. KIM Shi Hyeong, Vice Commissioner of KIPO; Dr. SHEN Changyu, Commissioner of CNIPA; and Dr. Kathi Vidal, Director of USPTO.

Meeting of the IP5 Heads of Office

Signing for the joint statement

[Last updated 21 June 2024]