On May 27, 2020 representatives of the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) and Department for Transition and Developed Countries (TDC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation.

EAPO President Saule Tlevlessova and heads of the Office departments took part in the videoconference meeting. The WIPO delegation was headed by Michal Svantner, Director of the TDC.

President Tlevlessova briefed on the progress in establishing the Eurasian system of legal protection of industrial designs and the first ratifications of the Protocol on the Protection of Industrial Designs (Protocol) by the States Party to the Eurasian Patent Convention (EAPC).

The participants discussed the ways of depositing the instruments of ratification with the Director General of WIPO under the existing quarantine restrictions. They also discussed the upcoming launch of EAPO operations in the field of industrial designs, and noted the necessity to arrange study visits on industrial design for EAPO staff, including the use of WIPO software products and electronic services.

Special attention was paid to the EAPO appointment as an International Searching Authority (ISA) and International Preliminary Examining Authority (IPEA) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

EAPO President informed about the consideration of the EAPO application for appointment as an ISA/IPEA within the framework of the thirty-first session of the PCT Committee for Technical Cooperation taking place remotely, and outlined the goals of the Office to initiate its activities in this area. The parties agreed on further interaction and discussed forthcoming EAPO visits to WIPO to get technical and expert assistance in this matter.