On October 14-18, the session of the WIPO Committee on the Law of Patents was held at the WIPO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

 

By abusing all available WIPO resources, Russia is not only stealing Ukrainian property in the temporarily occupied territories, but is also trying to pass it off as “legal” actions. This was emphasized on behalf of Ukraine by Andrii Sukhovii, Head of the Inventions, Utility Models and Semiconductor Product Layouts Applications Examination Division, Department for industrial property rights applications examination of the IP Office, in his speech at the 36th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents:

 

“Russia continue to misuse WIPO resources to legitimize its military occupation, including providing false information about the addresses of applicants from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine through global IP services such as PCT systems and Patentscope database. In this context, we are sincerely grateful to all like-minded countries that supported Ukraine during this year’s General Assembly”, – emphasized the Ukrainian representative.

 

 

Also, Andrii Sukhovii, who was acting as the coordinator of the CEBS regional group at the session, drew the participants’ attention to the following:

 

– deepening the negative consequences of the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine;

 

– the aggressor’s continued misuse of the WIPO platform to justify its illegal actions;

 

– called for measures to recognize Ukraine’s borders in all intellectual property-related contexts.

 

“We call upon the International Bureau, together with the distinguished Member States, to immediately consider the possible technical and organisational measures to ensure that the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine are fully recognised in all IP-related contexts, WIPO Registries and global services”, – emphasized the representative of the IP office.

 

Ukraine’s statement was supported:

 

• Moldova (on behalf of the CEBS group),
• Netherlands (on behalf of Group B),
• Hungary (on behalf of the EU).

 

Statement by Moldova (on behalf of the CEBS Group):

 

“In 2023, the PCT filings by Ukrainian applicants remained almost unchanged from 2022, with a decrease of 32 per cent as compared to the pre-war 2021. This reflects not only the unprecedented damage to the infrastructure serving scientific, educational, research and cultural institutions, but most importantly, the loss of potential and capacity among the stakeholders of Ukraine’s IP ecosystem. The figures don’t lie: the war has deprived Ukrainian scientists, creators and innovators of any chances for normal operations and development”

 

 

For more information:

 

The 36th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) took place from October 14 to 18, 2024 at WIPO Headquarters in a hybrid format (online and offline).

 

The Ukrainian IP office was represented offline in Geneva:

 

• Andrii Sukhovii, Head of the Division for Examination of Applications for Inventions, Utility Models and Semiconductor Product Layouts of the Department for Examination of Applications for Industrial Property Rights

 

• Kateryna Kotyk, Head of the Chemical Technologies Unit, Division for Examination of Applications for Inventions, Utility Models and Semiconductor Product Layouts, Department for Examination of Applications for Industrial Property Rights.

 

The agenda of the Standing Committee envisages consideration and discussion of a number patent law issues, namely:

 

• report on the International Patent System: Certain Aspects of National/Regional Patent Laws (SCP/36/2);

 

• quality of patents, including opposition systems; exceptions and limitations to patent rights;

 

• patents and health;

 

• sharing information on technology transfer;

 

• confidentiality of communications between clients and their patent advisors;

 

• issues related to the use of AI technologies in the operational activities of IP offices;

 

• background Document on Patents and Emerging Technologies (SCP/36/5);

 

• study on Unity of Invention (SCP/36/4);

 

• study on Patent Inventorship and Ownership Issues Arising from Collaborative Research and Cross-Border Collaboration (SCP/36/9); R&D at the Universities, universities inventions.

 

Read also:

 

WIPO Working Group on Legal Development of Madrid System: the Ukrainian Delegation Objects to Include russian Language to Madrid System

 

Ukrainian delegation joined the meetings of the WIPO Working Group on the Legal Development of the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks