A terrorist state cannot have any privileges from WIPO, - Olena Orliuk during a meeting with WIPO Director General Daren Tang

How Ukraine’s intellectual and innovative infrastructure is developing despite the Russian war of aggression and the genocide it is committing against Ukrainians? How does the Ukrainian IP Office work in conditions of security threats, constant cyber-attacks, and long power outages, even generators fail to withstand? In addition, what can the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) conduct to support the innovative and creative potential of Ukrainians, the national IP system, and Ukraine as a whole?

These issues were discussed during the bilateral meeting between Olena Orliuk, Director of the Ukrainian IP Office and WIPO Director General Daren Tang. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the WIPO General Assembly, which is currently taking place in Geneva (Switzerland).

WIPO was represented by:

Daren Tang, Director General, WIPO;
Hassan Kleib, Deputy Director General, WIPO
Virag Halgand, Head, Section for Central European and Baltic States Countries and Mediterranean Countries, TDC, WIPO;
Mihaela Zerbari Simmons, Program Officer, Section for Central European and Baltic States Countries and Mediterranean Countries, TDC, WIPO.

The Ukrainian delegation at the bilateral meeting was represented by:

Olena Orliuk, Director of the Ukrainian IP Office;
Bogdan Paduchak, First Deputy Director of the IP Office;
Vladyslav Bilotskyi, Deputy Director of the IP Office;
Inna Dmytrenko, Head, Unit for Cooperation with National and International IP Institutions, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine.

First of all, Olena Orliuk expressed her deep gratitude to the WIPO Director General for the preparation of this session of the WIPO Assemblies, the updated Report on Assistance and Support to Ukraine, as well as for the support and expertise shared by the WIPO team in the course of the National IP Strategy development.

Daren Tang expressed his absolute support to the Ukrainian people and the National IP Office in these difficult circumstances and assured that WIPO will continue to contribute to this effort within its competence and capabilities.

The parties also agreed on further steps of cooperation to improve Ukraine's national IP legislation and practices, implement development projects, and fulfill the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the Ministry of Economy and WIPO.

Discussing the impact of the war on all activity spheres, Olena Orliuk drew the attention of the meeting participants to one of the recent publications in the Russian media, which justified the bombing of a children's hospital and stated that further bombing of civilians and infrastructure was reasonable: "because there are no civilians in Ukraine, only enemies live in Ukraine."

"This is pure genocide against the Ukrainian people. The people who live in the largest European country by territory. A nation with high intellectual and innovative results. The people who gave the world high technologies and created helicopters, aeroplanes, space rockets and artificial satellites," said the representative of the Ukrainian delegation.

Olena Orliuk emphasized the leading role of WIPO in supporting IP development projects implemented in Ukraine. According to her, WIPO and other member states’ experience in the field of innovations is a solid foundation for Ukraine's progress. Using this experience, Ukraine focuses its efforts on improving national position in the Global Innovation Index (GII).

"However, I am sure that our experience is unique - when, in the context of an ongoing full-scale war, a country under daily attack still shows great success in recovering innovation activity, in creative development, and in building the IP sphere. We have active inventors and creators. We have a very wide range of activities of our office - and all this is presented in our Annual Report," Olena Orliuk remarked.

Discussing main achievements of the national agency, she noted that the National IP & Innovations Hub is working on the implementation of Intellectual Property Policies for universities developed according to the WIPO methodology, and has established close partnerships with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and more than 50 leading universities of Ukraine, the vast majority of which are members of the TISC network.

In addition, the National IP & Innovations Hub is constantly expanding the activities of regional innovation hubs and has launched projects for small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, women and veterans.

Ukrainian IP Academy has trained national trainers with the support of WIPO, and last year it held almost 90 educational events for experts, students, and children on IP issues. In particular, for children who were receiving treatment at the Ohmatdyt hospital, which closely cooperates with the IP Academy. With the support of WIPO, trainings for teachers were held and candidates for patent attorneys were prepared for certification.

" And all of this - in the face of rocket attacks. In the face of electricity problems. When the office is working on a generator for 10 (ten) to 16 (sixteen) hours a day. When the equipment is not able to resist high temperatures. Under constant cyber-attacks. But we are working. That is why it is very important for us that WIPO continues to support us," assured Olena Orliuk.

She also noted that Russia continues to disregard all international norms and principles in the field of Intellectual Property.

In particular, recently, Rospatent registered the Geographical Indication (GI) "Melitopol Cherry" as a regional brand, which is original product from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Although the Melitopol Cherry GI was registered in Ukraine in 2020. At the same time, the Rospatent states that they are ready to continue registering brands of producers of goods and services from so-called "new regions" - the territories occupied during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"We deeply appreciate your help but to continue our activity and to keep our business continues to work in extremely difficult realities, we need even more of your support" - said Olena Orliuk.

She called upon:

Keeping the issue of Ukraine on the agenda of the WIPO General Assembly;
Continuing monitoring and documenting the negative consequences of the war;
Providing expert support and assistance in the development of technologies;
Assisting in finding partners and funds for financial assistance and development of technological resources and infrastructure.

Finally, the Director of the Ukrainian IP Office suggested working together on the issue of the WIPO external office in Moscow:

"Our strong position is that a terrorist state cannot have such a privilege from WIPO," summarized Olena Orliuk.

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16 July 2024