Korean Intellectual Property Office Enhances Cooperation with WIPO for Digital Transformation and Sustainable Development

On July 9th (local time) Commissioner Kim Wan-ki of the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) attended the 65th General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at its headquarters in Geneva Switzerland serving as Korea’s chief delegate. In his keynote speech Commissioner Kim highlighted the achievements in intellectual property administration in response to digital transformation and contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The address began by commending WIPOs efforts towards achieving the SDGs and continued with the introduction of KIPO’s recent initiatives such as the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) into intellectual property administration and the establishment of a dedicated examination division for secondary battery patents.

Commissioner Kim emphasized Korea’s ongoing support for developing countries innovation and intellectual property capabilities through trust funds donated to WIPO since 2004. He noted that initiatives supporting women youth and SMEs in intellectual property align with the mid-term strategic goals of WIPO.

On July 8th Commissioner Kim held a bilateral meeting with WIPO Director General Daren Tang to discuss trends and prospects in the global intellectual property system and cooperation between the two organizations. During the meeting Commissioner Kim inquired about the reasons behind the recent decline in international applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Director General Tang attributed the decrease to factors such as global high-interest rates leading to reduced investments a preference for trade secrets among software companies and a negative perception of intellectual property among the younger generation in developed countries. Commissioner Kim reiterated the importance of intellectual property as a powerful tool for commercializing ideas a sentiment with which Director General Tang agreed.

Director General Tang praised the role of Northeast Asia including Korea in advancing the global intellectual property system and acknowledged the rapid growth of Korea’s content economy. Commissioner Kim attributed this creativity to the experiences of Koreans transitioning from a least-developed country to a developed nation.

Director General Tang expressed gratitude for Korea’s contributions through the WIPO Korea Funds-in-Trust which have helped enhance intellectual property capabilities in developing countries and highlighted Korea as a model for economic development through intellectual property.

Commissioner Kim and Director General Tang also discussed an exchange program wherein a WIPO employee will be dispatched to Korea in the latter half of the year enhancing user convenience for the international application system.

Commissioner Kim invited Director General Tang to the 60th anniversary celebration of Koreas Invention Day on May 19th next year to which Director General Tang responded positively.

In a separate meeting Commissioner Kim spoke with Edward Kwakwa Assistant Director General of WIPO (Global Challenges Sector) discussing enhanced cooperation between WIPO GREEN (a project matching carbon-neutral technology demand and supply) and KIPOs international intellectual property sharing initiatives to achieve the SDGs.

Commissioner Kim Wan-ki concluded “Through this General Assembly we confirmed Korea’s standing in the field of intellectual property. Many countries view Korea as a model for economic development through intellectual property and are eager to learn from our policies and expertise. KIPO will continue to strengthen efforts to achieve the SDGs and reduce the intellectual property gap in developing countries in collaboration with WIPO.”

For more information you can visit the KIPO website or contact the relevant departments involved in these bilateral agreements.

Website: : http://www.wip-news.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=24223