UK Patent Office Announcment Concerning Future Work of USPTO-Convened Group on Patent Law Harmonization and Developing Countries

February 9, 2005

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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  • The Participants ("Participants") of the Exploratory Meeting of Interested Parties Concerning the Future of Substantive Patent Law Harmonisation, held February 3-4, 2005 in Alexandria, Virginia, wishing to promote and facilitate progress on certain key issues under consideration in the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), agree to convene future meetings to consider:

  • substantive patent law harmonisation issues, notably the Trilateral "first package", as developed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the European Patent Office and the Japan Patent Office and set forth in WIPO Document WO/GA/31/10; and

  • issues with regard to intellectual property and development, including proposals for a WIPO Development Agenda and proposals relating to genetic resources,
  • with a view to seeking a common basis for further discussions in WIPO.

  • The Participants agree that the following parties will be invited to participate in the future meetings: all Members of WIPO Group B, Member States of the European Union, the European Commission, Member States of the European Patent Organisation, and the European Patent Office.

  • The Participants further agree to have regular, intersessional meetings of subgroups to address the issues referenced in Paragraph 1.

    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

    http:///www.patent.gov.uk/
    Item source: http:///www.patent.gov.uk/ about/notices/2 005/group.htm

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