EU, SE Asia work for effective IP judicial enforcement

The implementation of international intellectual property (IP) standards tends to vary across Southeast Asia, leading to uncertainties for many local and foreign businesses operating in the region, according to European Union and Southeast Asia judges.

A three-day roundtable on IP enforcement measures for key members of the judiciary from Southeast Asia started Wednesday at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

They said that criminal prosecutions and civil actions can also be long and costly. Regulatory certainty over the protection of IP assets is an important consideration for businesses wishing to invest.

The IP Key SEA roundtable for the judiciary ultimately aims to instill business confidence in judicial processes in relation to IP cases in Southeast Asia, largely through greater understanding and adoption of international best practices.

Counting on the presence of expert judges in charge of IP cases before national courts, the roundtable brought together an impressive roster of jurists who are envisioned to work toward significantly improving the effectiveness of IP enforcement in their respective countries.

Andrea Di Carlo, Deputy Director of the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, opened the proceedings. Prof. Dr. Alexander von Mühlendahl and European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights expert Erling Vestergaard would share their expertise over the duration of the roundtable.

The topics and practices include the international IP framework, special rules of procedure for IP cases, legal remedies, provisional and precautionary measures, and jurisdictional issues.