The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) Supports Review of ASEAN Trade Mark Examination Guidelines

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), through the SCOPE IPR project, supported a regional meeting on the convergence of trade mark examination practices held in Cebu, the Philippines, from 18 to 20 August 2026.

The meeting brought together trade mark officials from ASEAN Member States’ IP offices to review the ASEAN Common Guidelines for the Substantive Examination of Trade Marks. The review formed part of ongoing regional efforts to ensure that the Guidelines remain aligned with legal developments, evolving examination practices and international standards.

Discussions focused on strengthening consistency and transparency in trade mark examination across ASEAN. Participants exchanged views on recent developments in trade mark law and practice and considered updates to the Guidelines based on national experiences and relevant international developments, including benchmarking against EUIPO examination practices.

The meeting also explored opportunities to improve the accessibility and practical use of the Guidelines, including the potential development of a digital and searchable resource for examiners and stakeholders.

Through SCOPE IPR, the EUIPO continues to work with ASEAN Member States’ IP offices to support regional cooperation and contribute to user-friendly intellectual property systems across Southeast Asia.