EU-ASEAN Symposium on Networking of Training Centres and Courts 22-23 April 2002 Bangkok

ECAP I helped create awareness within ASEAN of the principle of extensive IP protection and the use of industrial property as a source of technological and commercial information. However, the industrial property system in ASEAN remains under-utilized by local firms, R&D institutes in securing the technology base required for industrial development. Improving general awareness of IP through increased networking of training centres in the field of IP in ASEAN would meanwhile contribute to the first line of battle against infringement, piracy and counterfeiting, as such act often stemmed from a lack of knowledge of what IP rights constitute.

In this context, ECAP II organized the Symposium to provide for a high-level exchange between ASEAN and European representatives active and interested in the issue of networking among training centres. ASEAN delegations comprising heads of IPO and judges from Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam took part in this event which also looked into the Networking in Court Systems, Networking in Enforcement of IP Rights. Speaking at the forum, President of ASEAN IP Association Boonma Tejavanija described the current networking between training centres within ASEAN as “fragmented.” He called upon ASEAN to study European experiences of how networking can be improved. "The time is ripe for consolidation, and ECAP is suitably placed to take the lead," said Mr Boonma, a senior partner at Domnern Somgiat&Boonma Law Office Ltd, Bangkok.

Apart from presenting their country report, ASEAN delegates to the Symposium heard European experiences in networking of training centres from:

-Dr Manuel Desantes, Vice President of EPO for Legal/International Affairs,
On training and education at the EPO.
-Mr Dieter Stauder, Director of the Centre for International Industrial Property Studies (CEIPI), on basic and new experiences in training of future European patent attorneys.
-Prof Dr Uwe Dreiss, President of the German Chamber of Patent Attorneys on experience in training and teaching of patent agents.
-Professor Michael Blakeney, Director of the Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute, University of London, on international experience of the Institute in the field of teaching common law; and on the influence of common law as an integrating factor in Asia with emphasis on trade marks and copyright.
-Mr Walter Holzer, President of the European Patent Institute, on the role of technically qualified patent attorneys in patent infringement cases.

For a copy of the proceedings from this symposium, please email ECAP PR Consultant Supapohn Kanwerayotin : skanwerayotin(at)ecap2.net

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