Transcript REPRESENTATION OF DESIGNS FOR WHICH THE LIMITED …

Latvian intellectual property strategy
Reinis Bērziņš,
Director, Patent Office of the
Republic of Latvia
Effective Latvian intellectual
property strategy
Main document - Intellectual
protection guidelines 2008 – 2012
property
Several strategic focuses :
o Promote educational and inventive activities
o Foster public awareness of IP
o Improve institutional cooperation
o Prevent abuses of IP
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Upcoming Latvian intellectual
property strategy
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Currently work on new guidelines for year 2013-2017
Had to be accepted by Cabinet of Ministers
Written by Ministry of Justice
Working group: LPO, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of
Culture, patent attorneys, police and customs office,
NGO’s, universities etc.
Positive features: well structured; concrete tasks and
timing
Negative features: goals should be reached without
additional financial resources; guidelines is not integrated
with the state’s economical vision + political unstability
Latvian intellectual property strategy
Major challenges: Changing legal
status of LPO
Problem: LPO as a main state institution
responsible for IP receives state annual
assignments significantly less than it contributes
to the state budget.
Key initiatives taken:
New IPL: LPO should become a self-financing
state agency which finances itself from services
LPO provides.
New guidelines: LPO = IPO?
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Major challenges: Changing legal
status of BOA
Problem: Most of members of Board of Appeals
(BOA) work also in LPO & opposition cases are
settled in administrative court
Key initiative taken:
The new IPL: Members will work only in BOA &
opposition cases are settled in civil court.
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Major challenges: Increasing
quality of e-services
Problem: Growing demand on new e-services (such as
online filing) vs backward in IT infrastructure
Key initiatives:
oInvesting financial resources (in amount of 10% of LPO’s
budget) in IT development in 2012
oFurther cooperation with international partners (e.g.
OHIM’s Cooperation fund)
oNew LPO’s web page to be launched at the 2nd half of
2012 (with special section for IP)
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Major challenges: Raising
awareness of IP protection
Problem: Lack of knowledge about IP issues in society
Key initiatives taken:
oTransformation of Patent technical library (PTL)
oParticipation in specific events (e.g. “Praise good service!”)
oRegular seminars in different cities in Latvia & special
occasions (conference on 8.-9. May)
Upcoming initiatives in new guidelines:
oMandatory IP course for several programs of higher
education
oCollection of case law on IP
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Thank you for attention!
Latvian intellectual property strategy