Seminar on Intellectual Property Rights: Trade Marks, Designs and Geographical Indications, 10-11 May 2007, Phnom Penh

Over 150 participants from the private sector, SMEs and IP-related governmental agencies attended a two day seminar on Intellectual Property Rights jointly organised in Phnom Penh on 10-11 May 2007 by the EC-ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Co-operation Programme (ECAP II), the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) of the Ministry of Commerce of Cambodia and the Department of Industrial Property (DIP) of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Technology. The seminar aimed at promoting and raising awareness on IPR in Cambodia with a special emphasise on trade marks, industrial designs and geographical Indications (GIs).

Mr Winston Mc Colgan Chargé d'Affaires, Delegation of the European Commission to Cambodia, stressed the importance of IPR protection in promoting the economy of Cambodia during the seminar jointly opened with H.E. Pan Sorasak, Secretary of State, Ministry of Commerce. 

During the seminar, local and European experts presented an overview of IPR systems in Cambodia and Europe.  Together with experts from Europe (European Community Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market and a European GI expert from Spain) experts from the DIP and IPD, the French Development Agency (AFD), representatives from the local business community (Ly Ly Food Industry Co., Ltd,  Medico trading Co., Ltd, Khum Silk Village Association, Confirel, DFDL), the MAFF, Pannasastra University and the Royal University of Cambodia (RULE) also joined the panel of speakers.  Discussions during this event emphasised the interest from local public and private sectors to work together in promoting IPRs through better education, public knowledge and the use of IP instruments among the business sector as an important tool for business development. 

Presentation materials are available for downloading:

- The role and value of IPRs: Cambodian and International Developments by
   **  Mr Penn Sovicheat, Deputy Director of the Intellectual Property Department (IPD), Ministry of
     Commerce
   **  Mr Yan Chhann, Medico Trading Co.,Ltd
- The role of IP Offices in protecting and promoting IPRs by Mr Var Rothsan, Director, Intellectual 
   Property Department, Ministry of Commerce
-  Trade mark protection in the European Union by Mr. Oreste Montalto, Office for Harmonization in the
   Internal Market (OHIM)
-  Design protection in Cambodia by Mr Chum Soputhy, Chief of Design Office, Ministry of Industry,
    Mines & Energy
-  Design protection in the European Union by Mr Oreste Montalto, Office for Harmonization in the
    Internal Market (OHIM)
-  Protection and promotion of Geographical Indications: the EU experience by Mr Luis Berenguer,
    Lawyer/GI expert
-  Protection and promotion of Geographical Indications: the Asian experience by Mr Stephane 
   Passeri, Administrator, ECAP II
-  Protection and promotion of Geographical Indications: the Cambodian perspective by
   **  Am Phirun, Vice Chief of Crop Zonification Office, Dept of Agronomy and Agricultural Land
         Improvement, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
   **  Samrith Sakura, Deputy Chief of Dissemination Office in charge of GI