Düsseldorf, June 21, 2019 - The five largest patent offices (IP5) in the world have underlined their commitment to new technologies and the use of artificial intelligence. On June 13, at their annual meeting in Incheon, Korea, they agreed to set up a task force to launch and develop joint initiatives in these areas.
The IP5 are composed of the European Patent Office (EPO), the Japanese Patent Office (JPO), the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the State Intellectual Property Office of the Peoples Republic of China (SIPO), and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Around 85 percent of the world's patent applications are filed at the IP5.
The IP5 representatives agreed to further improve the structural conditions for their cooperation. Accordingly, measures are to be continued in order to advance the harmonization of patent practice, to relieve the burden on applicants, and to increase the efficiency of the offices. Industry representatives agreed to support the IP5 objectives during the meeting in Korea.
The measures initiated by the IP5 are also an important step for Cohausz & Florack (C&F): "We welcome the initiative of the five largest patent offices," says Gottfried Schüll, patent attorney and partner at C&F. "An efficient global IP system is a prerequisite for driving innovation forward and meeting the challenges of rapid technological developments."
