Asia IP

26/07/2024

Effective July 1, 2024, the government of increased the fees for expert services in relation to the registration of trademarks, service marks, geographical indications and appellations of origin of goods.

However, said fees have already been increased significantly July of last year - is it really necessary to increase them again?

https://asiaiplaw.com/section/news-analysis/fees-for-services-in-kazakhstan-increase-for-registration-of-marks-gis-etc

With the fee increase in July 2023, lawyer questions the necessity of increasing them again.

26/07/2024

To improve collaboration in the area of intellectual property, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property ( ) and the Directorate General of Intellectual Property ( ) have inked a memorandum of understanding ( ).

The principal objective of this MOU, according to IP director-general Min Usihen, who also signed it, was to create a framework for equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides in the domain.

The MOU covers topics on strategy, information technology advancement and the sharing of experiences and consultations for cutting-edge technologies, including AI for IP.

26/07/2024

Recently, an online protest erupted against ByteDance’s web novel platform, Fanqie Novel, due to the addition of an “AI Training Supplement Agreement” to its signing agreements.

This new clause requires authors to agree to allow their works to be used by the platform’s AI for content development.

https://asiaiplaw.com/section/news-analysis/bytedance-web-novel-platforms-ai-clause-sparks-author-outrage

26/07/2024

A Memorandum of Understanding ( ) was signed by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of and the Intellectual Property Office, aiming to strengthen the current systems through additional bilateral collaboration.

Both parties agree that intellectual property plays a vital role in fostering social and as well as increasing the of businesses and nations.

26/07/2024

A photograph of former president , with his hand held high and a bloodied ear has gone on the internet, spreading across media outlets, memes, and t-unauthorized merchandise.

While the photographer (Evan Vucci / AP) typically holds the right to these photographs, as an employee of the Associated Press, the agency likely retains the for the photo.

The viral photograph of Donald Trump has sparked a debate over copyright infringement.

22/07/2024

In a (ITC) Section 337 case announced on July 8, 2024, Chinese lithium battery company achieved another victory against its U.S. rival .

This marks Carku’s third consecutive win in Section 337 investigations, the first Chinese company in the industry to achieve this.

This marks the company’s third consecutive win in U.S. International Trade Commission Section 337 investigations, the first Chinese company in the industry to achieve this.

22/07/2024

The has urged other members of the (WIPO) to strive toward a consensus on international instruments.

In his speech at the General Assemblies in , , Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) Director-General Rowel S. Barba highlighted the importance of taking action on four crucial IP treaties.

These include the Treaties for the Protection of Traditional Knowledge (TK) and of Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs), the Design Law Treaty (DLT), and the Treaty for the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations.

22/07/2024

Significantly outpacing global rivals, China filed 38,210 related to generative artificial intelligence ( ) from 2014 to 2023, according to recent data from the ( ).

With tools now part of human creation, a new consideration for IP protection has emerged amidst the rapid increase of AI-related and .

With AI tools now part of human creation, a new consideration for IP protection has emerged.

22/07/2024

In an order dated July 1, 2024, ’s has published the draft Trade Marks (Holding Inquiry and Appeal) Rules, 2024.

Aside from stating that all communications will be made only via electronic means, it also establishes precise timelines for inquiries and appeals, while granting flexibility to the timeline on flexible grounds.

Progressive, but rules contain ambiguities and drawbacks, say IP lawyers.

22/07/2024

and member states co-organized an exhibition to coincide with the 65th World Intellectual Property Organization ( ) General Assembly in , .

Meant to promote and in ASEAN countries, this exhibition is titled 'Creative and Sustainable ASEAN'.

The exhibition, themed “Creative and Sustainable ASEAN,” took place from July 9 to July 17, 2024, and is meant to promote intellectual property and creative industries from ASEAN member nations.

22/07/2024

On June 20, 2024, the chief justice of the HC issued a notification announcing it had formed a sub-committee tasked to draft the rules for establishing the .

With this development, the Karnataka HC is set to follow in the footsteps of the and HCs which established their dedicated IP units following the abolition of the (IPAB) in April 2021.

Establishment of the IPD may take time, but it will certainly aid in the disposal of cases.

11/07/2024

Trademark filings for green-related products and services are on the rise in .

This positive news is not only reflective of the growing about sustainability among business enterprises. It also indicates a in consumer preferences: More people are now buying -friendly products and services.

Increase shows growing consciousness on sustainability, shifting preferences, but lawyer warns against “greenwashing.”

11/07/2024

According to a United Nations report, inventors in are leading the world in filing patents for generative artificial intelligence, significantly outpacing filings from the .S., , , , the and .

The World Intellectual Property Organization ( ) reported that China filed 38,210 patents from 2014 to 2023. This amount is six times more than the U.S., the second highest, with 6,276 filings.

China outpaces filings from the U.S., South Korea, Japan, India, the UK and Germany.

11/07/2024

On June 28, 2024, ’s Ministry of Finance (M*F) released Circular No. #43/2024/TT-BTC (Circular 43), which extends the period during which the 50 percent reduction on certain industrial property fees will be applied until December 2024.

The purpose of the extension is to continue assisting business entities in overcoming global and national economic challenges and support their production activities.

Circular 43 and its benefit to those filing applications in large numbers, etc.

10/07/2024

filings for green-related products and services are on the rise in .

This positive news is not only reflective of the growing consciousness about among business enterprises. It also indicates a shift in consumer preferences: More people are now buying -friendly products and services.

Increase shows growing consciousness on sustainability, shifting preferences, but lawyer warns against “greenwashing.”

09/07/2024

On June 25, 2024, the Qatari Intellectual Property Department issued an official circular outlining significant updates to the requirements for Powers of Attorney (POAs) needed for trademark prosecution, such as accompaniment of official Arabic translations and local attainments for POAs drafted / legalized overseas.

One major change is that Powers of Attorney legalized abroad by the Qatari embassy now require local attestation by the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

09/07/2024

As disputes in are increasing and becoming more complex, Vietnam is well on its way to having its own specialized courts, including a dedicated court.

The amendments to the law pave the way for the creation of specialized courts of first instance for hearing IP-centric and other specific cases.

Ho Chi Minh lawyer explains why Vietnam needs one with specialized IP judges to boot.

09/07/2024

The recent court ruling in the case of India v. Equipment in has significant implications for the practice of property law in the country, particularly in the realm of industrial design and copyright protection.

The limitations of copyright in protecting industrial design and other key takeaways from the case

09/07/2024

The National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) of have initiated a Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot project.

This initiative aims to simplify the patent application process for innovators.

This aims to simplify the patent application process for innovators.

02/07/2024

Following the release of 5,000 physical copies and assurance of its accessibility for readers online, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines ( ), in collaboration with the National Book Development Board (NBDB), is expanding the public’s access to Manix Abrera’s comic book .

The book was published as part of the shared objective of the interagency National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) to protect intellectual property rights.

Pirated Inferno was published as part of the shared objective of the interagency National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) to protect intellectual property rights.

02/07/2024

In preparation for the 2024 AIPPI World Congress, a roadshow took place in Shenzhen on June 21, 2024, facilitated by Johnson Intellectual Property Agency (Shenzhen) and Guangdong Fair Law Firm.

The event aimed to connect ’s IP professionals and leading businesses, promoting discussions on IP protection ahead of the upcoming congress.

The event aimed to connect China’s IP professionals and leading businesses, promoting discussions on IP protection ahead of the upcoming congress.

02/07/2024

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was recently signed between the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and information agency Philippine Information Agency ( ) to ignite interest at the grassroots level and foster a better knowledge of .

Under the , will educate and enable partners to implement best practices that protect their .

Under the MOU, IPOPHL will educate and enable partners to implement best practices that protect their IP rights.

02/07/2024

IP is forming an Knowledge (IK) pilot to assist the office in its mission to protect the IK of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the country and allow them to benefit from it.

Creation of a panel in compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Creation of a panel in compliance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

02/07/2024

In March 2024, the government emailed local writers to ask for permission to use their works as training material for a Large Language Model ( ) as part of the National Multimodal LLM Programme. The answer was a firm ‘No.’

The email sent to the writers described the project but failed to address matters.

An email sent to the writers described the project but failed to address copyright matters.

02/07/2024

As reported by the country’s top IP regulator, China ended 2023 with 860,000 intellectual property professionals.

A representative of the China National Intellectual Property Administration stated that more than 2,200 skilled workers worked in the designated IP protection centres, greatly enhancing IP protection capabilities. https://asiaiplaw.com/section/news-analysis/china-steps-up-efforts-to-expand-ip-talent-pool

02/07/2024

Professor Iso Kern is suing Ni Liangkang, a philosophy professor at Zhejiang University, and the Commercial Press, a publisher renowned for translating literature in the humanities and social sciences.

The case alleges . The -based Dongcheng District Court officially accepted the lawsuit in March.

Professor Iso Kern is suing Ni Liangkang, a philosophy professor at Zhejiang University, and the Commercial Press, a publisher renowned for translating literature in the humanities and social sciences.

02/07/2024

The retrospectively took effect on May 31, 2024, pursuant to the State Administration Council’s Notification No. 106/2024, dated June 1, 2024. Subsequently, the Ministry of Commerce issued the Patent Rules under Notification No. 43/2024, dated June 4, 2024, establishing the procedures for patent-related matters.

Under the newly enacted Patent Law, and will become eligible for registration with the Intellectual Property Department (IPD).

Under the newly enacted Patent Law, inventions and utility models will become eligible for registration with the Intellectual Property Department (IPD).

02/07/2024

’s amended Trade Marks Act and Regulations and Patents Regulations came into effect on May 17, 2024.

Get an overview of the amendments, which include an updated classification of goods and services.

An overview of the amendments, which include an updated trademark classification of goods and services.

02/07/2024

The Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department (HK IPD) will begin issuing electronic Certificates of Registration, replacing paper certificates on June 28, 2024, for , and applications by registered e-filers.

This is a good step toward going digital, but the IP office can do more, says Janette Li, an associate at Davies Collison Cave in .

A good step toward going digital, but the IP office can do more, says laywer.

02/07/2024

Subject to certain restrictions, the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation ( ), on behalf of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living ( ), is providing a fee waiver for the Preliminary Opinion and Search Service ( ) for trademarks within a month, until May 23, 2025.

The move was intended to promote more registrations and provide more business owners with the chance to safeguard their rights.

The move was intended to promote more trademark registrations and provide more business owners with the chance to safeguard their intellectual property rights.