ARISE+ IPR supports ASEAN trademark examiners with attachment training on Madrid Protocol
The ARISE+ IPR team supported the participation of trademark examiners from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR in an attachment training on Madrid operations and trademark examination. The attachment training was hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), from 5-9 August, at the IPOPHL office, Manila, the Philippines.
In the opening remarks, EU Delegation to the Philippines Programme Officer Gabriel Dayre acknowledged the importance of the training in further strengthening the Madrid implementation of those ASEAN IP Offices who have just recently acceded to the Madrid Protocol; as well as in facilitating the interaction and best practice sharing among ASEAN IP Offices to achieve a more consistent approach in handling Madrid international registrations and applications.
During the one-week training, participants experienced the various aspects of the Madrid workflow, including the receipt of new International Registrations (IRs) from the International Bureau (IB) of WIPO, processing of these new IRs, search and examination of the IRs, drafting of various Madrid documents (provisional refusal of protection, grant of protection, among others) under the supervision of a tutor from the IPOPHL Office, transmission of documents to the IB, use of the IT system of the IPOPHL office in the examination of Madrid files, receipt and transmission of electronic documents using the IPOPHL office IT system, as well as the use of the Madrid Office Portal.
Sharing after the training, the participants found the attachment training useful and highly practical, where they had chance to handle the actual files directly from reception to granting protection. They felt more confident in handling the cases now and in sharing the knowledge and experience back with colleagues in their respective offices.
The Activity is within the ARISE+ IPR second Annual Work Plan, aiming to strengthen the Madrid implementation of those ASEAN Member States who have recently acceded to the Madrid Protocol.