In the period 7-11 July 2014, in Munich, Germany is under way the “Intellectual Property Week for Managers of Intellectual Property Offices” organized by the European Patent Office (EPO) in cooperation with the Office Harmonization of the Internal Market (OHIM).

Designed as a platform for discussion on the role of intellectual property offices in the continuous development of intellectual property system, the event convened senior officials from intellectual property (IP) offices of the Member States of the European Patent Organization, the developing countries and countries with transition economy.

In line with the week’s program, discussions are focused on addressing five stringent objectives for the IP offices: development of communication policies and strategies in this area; functional and technical business-oriented aspects of the IP office; increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of IP offices activity; provision and promotion of quality services; support of national development objectives in order to achieve the full potential of intellectual property, thus contributing to the economic, cultural and social development of countries.

The event is jointly organized by OHIM - Community body specialized in promoting EU policy in the field of protection of intellectual property, including trademarks and community design. The participants in the event have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with various aspects on the application of European standards in terms of trademark and design, as well as with the role of Intellectual Property Observatory of the EU in ensuring and respecting IP rights, administered by OHIM, new tools to counter piracy and counterfeiting.

Moldova is represented in the event by Lilia Bolocan, Director General of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) and Simion Levitchi, Director of Trademarks and Industrial Designs Department, AGEPI.

In the context of the visit to Munich, on July 10, 2014, was held a bilateral meeting at the EPO and AGEPI Administration level. In the meeting was discussed the current stage of cooperation between the two institutions, including in the context of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the European Patent Organization on Validation of European Patents (Validation Agreement), signed in Munich, on 16 October 2013.

In the meeting took place the signing of a Joint Action Program AGEPI-EPO for the biennium 2014-2015, document that comes to complement and contribute to the implementation of the Validation Agreement. The program was signed by Raimund Lutz, Vice-President, Directorate-General Legal /International Affairs of EPO and Lilia Bolocan, Director General of AGEPI.

The meeting ended with the parties’ commitment to further strengthen relations between AGEPI and OEB with a view to adjust the national system of protection of inventions to European standards.