On August 26, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) held the “Intellectual Property Leaders Forum” via videoconference during IP Week @ SG 2020. Leaders of intellectual property offices from China, Japan, the UK, the US and other countries, as well as the president of the International Trademark Association (INTA) discussed global IP innovation, as well as recovery and growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. CNIPA Commissioner Shen Changyu delivered a keynote speech.

Dr. Shen Changyu introduced the measures CNIPA has taken during the epidemic to guarantee applicants’ rights and interests, support scientific breakthroughs in epidemic prevention and control, help main market players resume work and enhance international cooperation. He noted how the Chinese government has prioritized putting the health and wellbeing of the public first, with nothing short of the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures to stem the spread of the epidemic. Moreover, the government has proactively carried out international cooperation on COVID-19 and coordinated efforts to help stem the epidemic’s spread. China’s intellectual property cause has seen generally stable development during the epidemic. In the first half of this year, applications for both invention patents and trademarks sustained a positive growth, indicating a bolstered confidence among innovators and market players despite the epidemic. CNIPA will continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with intellectual property agencies of various countries to jointly cope with the challenges brought by the global public crisis and maintain its focus on innovation, recovery and growth. 

According to Mrs. Rena Lee, Chief Executive of IPOS, intellectual property is playing an important role in promoting innovation in an era of globalization. She said various countries must pull together to jointly cope with the pandemic and strengthen the cause of intellectual property protection.

During the forum, Mr. Kasutani Toshihide, Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), Mr. Tim Moss, CEO of the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO), Mr. Andrei Iancu, Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and Mr. Etienne Acedo, President of INTA, also spoke at the forum. (Translated from CNIPA Website Chinese Version)