ASEAN works to set up common patent office

ASEAN works to set up common patent office

MANILA (AFP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations hopes to have a common patent office in place by 2000, the chairman of an ASEAN working group on intellectual property said here yesterday.

But Weerawit Weeraworawit admitted that members still had not agreed on the precise timetable and method for setting up a common ASEAN patent or trademark office and work remained to be done.

Speaking at an ASEAN symposium on intellectual property being held in consultation with the European Union, Weerawit said ASEAN countries hoped to forge a general "Program of Action" relating to intellectual property.

This would be a prelude to setting up a common ASEAN patent or trademark office, which he admitted would be a challenge.

"We might do it before the year 2000," said Weerawit, who is also a director of Thailand's Department of Intellectual Property.

Under the plan, a patent or trademark registered under that office could be considered as registered in all ASEAN countries -- Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Weerawit said that in June an ASEAN meeting reached a general consensus on a draft framework for cooperation on intellectual property, although he stressed this was not a final document.

"Some of our colleagues wanted to modify some wording," he said, without indicating who precisely wanted alterations.

Ignacio Saplalo, director-general of the Philippines' bureau of patents and trademarks, said Indonesia had disagreed with some items.

Such an office would provide intellectual property rights protection in line with the World Trade Organization standards, Weerawit said, but added that it would also provide special privileges to the ASEAN nations.

Such an ASEAN-wide office could have linkages with the EU or Japan. The office as envisaged would be modeled on the European Union's patent office, he said, noting that the EU was providing inputs to the ASEAN program.

Various officials at the symposium admitted that while ASEAN had tightened its laws to protect intellectual property, enforcement was still irregular.

"There is still a lot more to be done. You can call it the weak link of ASEAN countries," Christiaan Tack, project manager of the EU-ASEAN Patents and Trademarks Program said.

Johan Amand, head of the cooperation section of the European Patent Office, said Europeans were concerned over the patents on pharmaceutical products, the length and costs of legal procedures in ASEAN and the lack of specialized courts and judges to handle the problem.

Officials from ASEAN countries admitted this was because copyright and patent violations were not generally seen as harmful in ASEAN countries.

But they also admitted that ASEAN countries would have to increase their levels of protection in order to keep attracting investors and to make their products welcome in other countries.

ASEAN countries have often been accused, particularly by the United States, of not actively combating intellectual piracy and counterfeiting of products.