According to European Patent Office (EPO), the heads of the world's five largest intellectual property offices (IP5) met virtually today for their 15th annual meeting on June 9th, 2022. The focus of this year's meeting, hosted by the EPO, was to introduce sustainability in the IP5 agendas and enhance the patent system to better support innovators globally.
EPO President Antonio Campinos chaired the meeting, which was attended by JPO Commissioner Mori Kiyoshi, KIPO Commissioner Lee Insil, CNIPA Commissioner Shen Changyu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, and USPTO Director Kathi Vidal, and WIPO Deputy Director General Lisa Jorgenson.
Topics discussed included the results of cooperation during the past year. Among the highlights was the implementation of a global alerting system by the EPO, covering patent prosecution changes in all five offices. The preparations made for implementing the IP5 NET/AI Roadmap were also reviewed. The aim of this Roadmap is to optimize internal processes at the IP5 through the use of new emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, as well as enhance legal certainty and transparency in applicable patent practices. Among other issues discussed, a preliminary evaluation of the pilot project on IP5 PCT Collaborative Search & Examination was presented, along with details of the extension of the evaluation phase. In terms of outcomes, the IP5 offices agreed to revisit the IP5 vision to accommodate sustainability and will consider the establishment of an IP5 sustainability task force, to coordinate actions on this important agenda.
The IP5 meeting was preceded by an IP5 meeting with industry representatives from the respective regions on June, 8th. In 2022, the participants celebrated the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the dialogue at this level and agreed to strengthen the partnership for a sustainable future.
The next IP5 heads of office meeting will be hosted by the USPTO in 2023.
- Commemorative video to mark 10 years of cooperation between the IP5 offices and IP5 Industry
- Joint statement of the IP5 heads of office
