The 62nd Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) was held via Video Conference on 25 – 26 November 2020. This Meeting was chaired by Mr. Tran Le Hong, Deputy Director General, Intellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (IP Viet Nam), Ministry of Science and Technology. 

The Meeting discussed the progress of the implementation of the deliverables under the ASEAN IPR Action Plan 2016-2025 (AIPRAP) and approved the key priority deliverables for 2021. The Mid Term Review of the AEC Blueprint and the AIPRAP were also deliberated and dealt with.

The ASEAN – Korea Heads of IP Offices Meeting was held at the sidelines of the 62nd AWGIPC Meeting. The Korean delegation was led by the newly appointed Commissioner Kim Yong Rae and discussed possible future collaborations between the ASEAN Member States and Korea in the area of Intellectual Property.

There were also Consultation Meetings with the following Dialogue Partners - ASEAN Regional Integration Support from the European Union for Intellectual Property Rights (ARISE+ IPR); World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), European Patent Office (EPO); United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); and International Trademark Association (INTA).

The Meeting was updated by WIPO on the progress of the validation and finalization of the Regional Technical Cooperation Implementation Plan (RTCIP) for the provision of technical assistance to ASEAN. The Meeting also noted the progress of the IP activities to be implemented under ARISE+IPR Annual Work Plan 2 and 3.

Philippines confirmed they will take over the AWGIPC Chairmanship from Viet Nam, when Viet Nam’s term ends at the conclusion of the 63rd AWGIPC Meeting.  The 63rd AWGIPC Meeting was proposed to be held in March 2021 and will be by Video Conference, if travel restrictions still apply then.