News from IP offices

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

News from IP offices

An open house session with IP office representatives yesterday provided INTA Annual Meeting registrants with the latest IP developments in their respective countries

This article is brought to you by our Trademark Times 2017 sponsors:





The informal session allowed delegates to tour the room and talk to any of the participating IP offices and ask questions or raise IP concerns. Managing IP first met with USPTO IP attaché for the Middle East and Africa, Aisha Y Salem, now in her fourth year of service, who told us that she has been touring the region lately on capacity-building initiatives, the most recent of which was helping to train the GCC IP Office staff.

IP Australia representatives said that the government is now considering the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Australia’s IP regime (report published in 2016). Among the recommendations is the decluttering of the register by quickly removing unused trademarks. The government’s response is expected this year.

In January this year the DKPTO launched an enforcement unit to provide initial, basic advice to SMEs facing trademark infringement issues. There is a small fee to pay for this service and the DKPTO hopes to receive more enquiries as the service becomes widely known. DKPTO representatives emphasised that the service is not a substitute for professional legal advice and, as an IP office, it will obviously not take on disputes on behalf of users.

JPO representatives informed those present about the first color trade marks that were granted by the office in March. Practitioners see this a “positive sign” for brand owners operating in Japan. OAPI Director General Paulin Edou Edou will complete his second tenure in July this year and will be succeeded by Denis Loukou Bohoussou, who takes up the post on August 1. On the other hand ARIPO’s Director General Fernando dos Santos started his second term in office this year. Representatives from Georgia said draft legislation designed to incorporate the provisions of the EU trade mark directive will soon go before its parliament.

The following offices were present: ARIPO, IP Australia, National IP Center of Georgia, OAPI, The Swedish Patent and Registration Office (SPRO), Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO), UKIPO, USPTO, Japan Patent Office (JPO), IP Office of Paraguay, and the Ugandan IP Office.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Sources explain why return-to-office mandates could hamper efficiency at the USPTO
The Unified Patent Court surpassing 700 cases and a row between Apple and PanOptis were among the top talking points this week
Partners at four firms explain how they help clients join in the hype around the big game without attracting the NFL’s wrath
We discuss how law firms are using AI, whether remote working has resulted in cost-savings, and what corporate counsel want from their advisers when it comes to DEI
Matthew Yeates, managing director at Integrated IP, discusses its acquisition of Clark IP and reveals further expansion plans
Paul Lee discusses moving from venture capital to IP, why lawyers are becoming more receptive to tech, and why he starts his day with a cold plunge
Barbara Lawton, a counsellor and mental health trainer at wellbeing charity Jonathan’s Voice, outlines tips for engaging with vulnerable people
New partner Amir Ghavi, who will help launch the group, says he expects more lateral hires in the coming weeks
Counsel at three firms reveal the tools they’re using to generate patent invalidity claim charts and why they’re making investments in the technology
Eric Lee says the firm’s thought leadership on artificial intelligence convinced him to move
Gift this article