Workshop for New and Mid-Level Examiners on the Examination of Trade Marks in the Digital Age

SCOPE IPR will be organising a regional workshop in Malaysia in August 2025 for new and mid-level trade mark examiners from ASEAN IP Offices. The workshop will focus on strengthening examiners’ capabilities in assessing both traditional and non-traditional marks, covering absolute and relative grounds for refusal. With rapid advancements in digital technology and artificial intelligence, participants will also explore how these tools can improve the timeliness and quality of trade mark examination. Practical exercises and mock examinations using real applications will provide hands-on learning experiences.

The workshop supports Strategic Goal 1 of the ASEAN IPR Action Plan 2016-2025 by promoting improved trade mark services and greater alignment of examination practices across the region. Participants will draw on the ASEAN Common Guidelines on Substantive Trademark Examination and learn from EU and international best practices. By enhancing skills and sharing knowledge, this initiative contributes to more consistent and reliable IP systems that benefit businesses and rights holders throughout ASEAN.