AIPPI 2012 Seoul by John Bochnovic, President of AIPPI
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International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property
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?AIPPI 2012 Seoul
John Bochnovic, President of AIPPI

The 43rd World Intellectual Property Congress of AIPPI took place in Seoul from October 20-23, 2012. Under the guidance of AIPPI President Yoon Bae (YB) Kim and Seong-Ki Kim, Chair of the Organizing Committee, close to 2000 participants came together to meet friends and clients from around the world, as well as to form new contacts within the dynamic and rapidly expanding economies of Asia.

On behalf of all attendees and the AIPPI family at large, I would like to express to YB Kim and Seong-Ki Kim, as well as all members of the Organizing Committee and the Korean Group, our heartfelt thank you for so graciously hosting such an outstanding and memorable Congress.

The dynamic city of Seoul, centre of one of the world's most vibrant economies, provided a back drop of 21st century modernity to introduce participants to Korean culture, cuisine, fashion and history. Participants return with vivid impressions of the contrast of centuries-old palaces and monuments set amongst distinctive contemporary architecture.

Many will also remember an opening ceremony which provided just the right balance of formal speeches, featuring a welcome on behalf of the Korean Government by the Prime Minister, Kim Hwang-Sik, and traditional entertainment, punctuated by a memorable “horse dance” from President YB Kim! Inspired perhaps by the location of the COEX Congress facility, in the Seoul district of “Gangnam”, YB Kim provided attendees with a most entertaining rendition of the dance routine recently popularized globally by the Korean entertainer PSY.

The gigantic COEX, together with adjoining hotels, provided excellent facilities for the comprehensive four day programme and for the extensive networking which was evident in the informal meeting areas set up in the COEX. This AIPPI Congress provided one of the best settings for networking opportunities throughout the day, and it was evident that many attendees took advantage of this.

Highlights of an exceptional program included:

a mock patent trial with a panel of renowned international judges providing a comparative analysis of a patent under FRAND obligations;

an expert panel chaired by James Pooley of WIPO with a stimulating discussion about the future of patent systems in the Big Five offices and elsewhere;

an intensive expert panel debate about the state of the current proposals for a Unified Patent Court in Europe;

AIPPI's traditional workshops, touching on a number of contemporary IP issues relating to cloud computing, FRAND, plain packaging and the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Act (ACTA);

AIPPI's usual “pharma” workshop day devoted to current controversies relating to pharmaceutical patents; and

Working Committees and debates of four questions as follows:

The use of prosecution history in post-grant patent proceedings (Q229);

Infringements of trade-marks by goods in transit (Q230);

The interplay between design and copyright protection for industrial products (Q231); and

The relevance of traditional knowledge to intellectual property law (Q232).

Resolutions were settled and passed in respect of all four questions. In addition, following intensive debate and discussion, a resolution on the Unified Patent Court for Europe put forward by AIPPI Special Committee Q165 was approved.

The AIPPI family welcomed at the Seoul Congress a new National Group from Sri Lanka, as well as announcing new Members of Honour - Ella Cheong (Hong Kong), Yoshio Kumakura (Japan), and Andrzej Ponikiewski (Poland) - and new Award of Merit holders - Donald MacOdrum (Canada) and Pravin Anand (India). Congratulations!

The AIPPI Strategy Report prepared by Robin Rolfe Resources, Inc. was the subject of considerable attention and commentary. Robin Rolfe presented the Report's Recommendations to the Executive Committee and based on the enthusiastic and positive feedback in Seoul much activity is expected to ensue during the next twelve months (and beyond) as aspects of the Report's Recommendations are implemented.

The Gala Dinner provided a splendid evening of entertainment with martial arts, the latest Korean dancing and a fashion show of Korean traditional dress (hanbok). The kind closing remarks from YB Kim served to reinforce with participants the wonderful and gracious hospitality which they had enjoyed at the Congress and in Seoul.

In accordance with AIPPI custom, when midnight arrived I assumed the office of President and welcomed two newcomers to the AIPPI Bureau: Vice President Felipe Claro from Chile and Congress Representative Bruce Morgan from Canada.

For many, memories of the AIPPI 2012 Seoul Congress will endure for a very long time.