On 5 - 6 December, in Riga, the Latvian Patent Office (LPO) is hosting an annual meeting of intellectual property (IP) offices of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Its goal is to discuss each country's activities and joint initiatives aimed at strengthening the system of intellectual property protection.
The meeting of the Baltic States' IP offices is attended by Margus Viher, Director General of the Estonian Patent Office, who has been selected as Chairman of the Management Board of the European Union Intellectual Property Office at the end of November this year. Mr. Viher is accompanied by his colleagues from the Estonian Patent Office. Director of the Lithuanian State Patent Bureau Vita Kaščėnė is attending the meeting with her delegation.
“The annual joint meetings of the leadership and experts of the IP offices of the three Baltic States are significant for promoting innovation and business growth in our region. These meetings provide an opportunity to exchange experiences, discuss the progress made by each country, plan joint initiatives, and address future challenges in the field of IP, which is a prerequisite for enhancing competitiveness,” stresses LPO Director Agris Batalauskis.
The range of topics to discuss is extensive, including legislation, process optimization, joint initiatives, strategic goals, and international cooperation, as well as issues related to communication and education. The offices will also address recent developments at local and international levels, including the sanctions imposed on Russia, which also affect IP registration issues. Regarding the new system of geographical indications in the craft sector, the participants plan to discuss how each country will be implementing the system and the challenges involved.