Latvian intellectual property strategy Reinis Brzi Director Patent

Latvian intellectual property strategy Reinis Bērziņš, Director, Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia

Effective Latvian intellectual property strategy Main document - Intellectual property protection guidelines 2008 – 2012 Several strategic focuses : o Promote educational and inventive activities o Foster public awareness of IP o Improve institutional cooperation o Prevent abuses of IP 2 Latvian intellectual property strategy

Upcoming Latvian intellectual property strategy o o o Currently work on new guidelines for year 2013 -2017 Had to be accepted by Cabinet of Ministers Written by Ministry of Justice Working group: LPO, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Culture, patent attorneys, police and customs office, NGO’s, universities etc. Positive features: well structured; concrete tasks and timing Negative features: goals should be reached without additional financial resources; guidelines is not integrated with the state’s economical vision + political unstability Latvian intellectual property strategy

Major challenges: Changing legal status of LPO Problem: LPO as a main state institution responsible for IP receives state annual assignments significantly less than it contributes to the state budget. Key initiatives taken: New IPL: LPO should become a self-financing state agency which finances itself from services LPO provides. New guidelines: LPO = IPO? 4 Latvian intellectual property strategy

Major challenges: Changing legal status of BOA Problem: Problem Most of members of Board of Appeals (BOA) work also in LPO & opposition cases are settled in administrative court Key initiative taken: The new IPL: Members will work only in BOA & opposition cases are settled in civil court. 5 Latvian intellectual property strategy

Major challenges: Increasing quality of e-services Problem: Growing demand on new e-services (such as online filing) vs backward in IT infrastructure Key initiatives: o. Investing financial resources (in amount of 10% of LPO’s budget) in IT development in 2012 o. Further cooperation with international partners (e. g. OHIM’s Cooperation fund) o. New LPO’s web page to be launched at the 2 nd half of 2012 (with special section for IP) 6 Latvian intellectual property strategy

Major challenges: Raising awareness of IP protection Problem: Lack of knowledge about IP issues in society Key initiatives taken: o. Transformation of Patent technical library (PTL) o. Participation in specific events (e. g. “Praise good service!”) o. Regular seminars in different cities in Latvia & special occasions (conference on 8. -9. May) Upcoming initiatives in new guidelines: o. Mandatory IP course for several programs of higher education o. Collection of case law on IP 7 Latvian intellectual property strategy

Thank you for attention! Latvian intellectual property strategy