IP5 Reaffirms Commitment to Sustainable Development 2024-08-09

Seoul - On June 20, 2024, the European Patent Office (EPO), Japan Patent Office (JPO), Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), and United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), collectively known as the IP5 Offices, gathered for the 17th Annual Meeting of the IP5 Heads of Office. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) participated as an observer.
 
Hosted by KIPO in Seoul, a city renowned for its innovation, the meeting revolved around the theme ‘Inclusive Intellectual Property (IP) System for Sustainable Innovation’. The Heads of the IP5 Offices underscored the critical role of technological advancement and IP in addressing global challenges and bolstering economic growth, in alignment with the new IP5 Vision Statement adopted the previous year.
 
The meeting emphasized the necessity of ongoing collaboration among the five Offices to cultivate ecosystems that support the creation, utilization, and protection of IP rights by innovators worldwide, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This collaboration is seen as pivotal in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
The IP5 Offices shared various initiatives and policies designed to foster the growth of SMEs through innovative technologies and IP. They explored potential collaborations with WIPO to further these objectives. A significant outcome of the meeting was the agreement to develop ‘Guidelines for Building Sustainable Future’, outlining medium to long-term strategies to implement the new IP5 Vision.
 
The Heads of IP5 Offices also endorsed the results of the ‘IP5 Project Review’, which aims to focus resources on projects that align with the new Vision Statement, ensuring efficient use of resources and advancing IP5 projects towards a sustainable future. The preparation of ‘Hybrid Meeting Guidelines’ was welcomed, promoting inclusiveness and sustainability within the IP5 Co-operation.
 
Recognizing the necessity of an adaptable IP system to accommodate rapidly evolving technologies, the Heads discussed IP and Artificial Intelligence (AI) during the ‘14th International IP Protection Conference’ on June 18, 2024. Each Office, along with WIPO, presented their AI-related policies to stakeholders, including the IP5 Industry. The meeting reviewed the implementation status of the New Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence (NET/AI) Roadmap and approved outcomes of related projects, such as examination practices for AI-related inventions and the inventorship of AI-generated inventions. On June 19, the Heads of Office and IP5 Industry representatives assessed progress and future steps in key IP5 projects, focusing on supporting innovative SMEs and enhancing technical cooperation to create a user-friendly international IP landscape. Additionally, improvements to the IP5 Website were welcomed, aimed at strengthening communication between IP5 Offices and stakeholders. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable IP system that can adapt to technological advancements, ensuring a robust framework for global innovation.
 
More information about IP5 cooperation: https://www.fiveipoffices.org/about.
 
Find the joint statement at: https://link.epo.org/ip5/jointstatment2024

 
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Lead
partner

Tamara Besednjak Valič

Faculty Of Information Studies In Novo Mesto

e-mail: tamara.valic@fis.unm.si

Communication
leader

Virág Szuák

Pannon Business Network Association

e-mail: virag.szuak@pbn.hu