The 32nd session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on the Law of Patents was held in a hybrid format from December 7 to December 10, 2020.

The session was opened by Mr. Daren Tang, WIPO Director General, who welcomed the participants and noted that patent law issues discussed by the Committee play a key role in technology development, the worldwide spread of innovative solutions, and access to medicines and healthcare technologies, which is crucial in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Russian Federation presented the most recent legislative changes aimed at improving the quality of patents, in particular amendments to the Civil Code, which will enable applicants to incorporate electronic 3D models in applications for inventions and utility models. This development will help to demonstrate the main features of the claimed object in more detail. Moreover, a new optional procedure for the preliminary information search and preliminary patent examination of inventions and useful models by accredited scientific and educational organizations will enter in force in August 2021. Such outsourcing of preliminary information search and examination will be carried out at an applicant’s request before the beginning of the substantial examination conducted by the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent). The Russian delegation also shared information on the new Rospatent Rules for Administrative Review and Disputes Resolution.

Ms. Evgeniia Korobenkova, International Cooperation Department, Rospatent

During the discussion on patents and health Agenda item, the Russian delegation specified that intellectual property stimulates the search for innovative solutions aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic, and encouraged delegations to consider speeding up examination of the patent applications in the field of virus and related disease control technologies. Mr. Grigory Ivliev, Rospatent Head, had launched this initiative earlier at the WIPO Assemblies meeting. This proposal is in line with the UNESCO Open Science initiative, which aims to support the collective solidarity efforts of the world scientific community to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, a sharing session was held with respect to the patentability issues relating to artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of this technology for the examination of patent applications. The Russian delegation shared current developments of a regulatory environment for the safe development and introduction of AI technology, based on the balance of interests of individuals, society, the State, AI developers, and consumers of their goods and services.