Focus on user needs is IP5 Heads' main priority

The Heads of the world's five largest intellectual property offices (IP5) met yesterday in Europe to take stock of the progress achieved since the launch of the IP5 cooperation in 2007 and explore ways of further optimising their joint efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of the examination process for patents worldwide. These Offices handle, together, nearly 90% of the world's patent applications.

The IP5 Heads of Office also met with industry representatives from their respective regions. Responding to the views put forward by industry, the five Heads expressed their common conviction that the focus of future IP5 initiatives should be even more user-directed. They also reflected on the realignment of the 10 IP5 Foundation Projects to address more effectively the challenges of a rapidly evolving IP landscape. A further key issue was the definition and implementation of a joint strategy to improve work-sharing. The Heads reaffirmed, moreover, their commitment to improving the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) as the primary work-sharing framework.

For further information on the meeting, please click here.

For more information on the IP5, please click here.

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