London, 08 Feb 2005
The United States Patent and Trade Mark Office recently invited representatives from the European Commission, the European Patent Office, and a number of national patent offices to discuss how to make progress on patent law harmonisation and issues surrounding intellectual property and developing countries. The meeting agreed the following Statement of Intent.
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with a view to seeking a common basis for further discussions in WIPO.
Participants: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Commission, European Patent Office, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America."
IP Australia will lead a subgroup on substantive patent law harmonisation, and the UK and Netherlands will jointly lead a subgroup on development issues. Meetings of the two subgroups will be held between March and May, with a view to preparing proposals to put to the World Intellectual Property Organisation later in the year. The UK will also be attending WIPO meetings with developing countries to identify issues which will facilitate progress on a mutually beneficial basis.
IP-Watch.org coverage of Jan, before the meeting
Earlier related items:
Leaders of the Worlds' Three Major Patent Offices Sign Memorandum of Understanding - U.S., Europe, and Japan Further Their Coordination, Cooperation and Harmonization Efforts at 22nd Annual Trilateral Conference
22 November 2004
U.S. and Japanese Proposal for a New Work Plan for the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)
3 September 2004
Item source: http:///www.patent.gov.uk/ about/notices/2 005/group.htm