INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TRAINING, NEEDS AND BEST

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000267

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EB/IPC AREIAS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD ECON LO
SUBJECT: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TRAINING, NEEDS AND BEST
PRACTICES

REF: STATE 04276

THE FOLLOWING IS POST'S RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS RAISED IN
REFTEL.

A.1. NEITHER THE EMBASSY NOR THE USAID MISSION HAS
CONDUCTED IPR-RELATED TRAINING IN SLOVAKIA. (NOTE: USAID
DEPARTED SLOVAKIA IN DECEMBER 2002). IN OCTOBER 2003, TWO
SLOVAK OFFICIALS, ONE FROM THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OFFICE
(IPO) AND ONE FROM THE HEALTHCARE MINISTRY, ATTENDED A
CONFERENCE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, PHARMACEUTICAL
INNOVATION, AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZED BY THE
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A.2. POST IS NOT AWARE OF ANY GROUPS THAT HAVE CONDUCTED
IPR TRAINING IN SLOVAKIA. HOWEVER, SLOVAK AUTHORITIES FROM
THE IPO ATTENDED SEVERAL WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ABROAD,
MAINLY ORGANIZED BY THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE OR THE WORLD
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE. THE EVENTS COVERED THE
FOLLOWING TOPICS: PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY; IT
TECHNOLOGIES; PROCEDURES IN CASES INVOLVING TRADEMARKS AND
PATENTS; THE NICE AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE INTERNATIONAL
CLASSIFICATION OF GOODS AND SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE
REGISTRATION OF MARKS; THE MADRID AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE
INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION OF MARKS; PROTECTION OF
INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION; PROTECTION OF
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATORS AND DESIGNATIONS OF ORIGIN, ETC.

B.1. N/A

B.2. N/A

B.3. POST HAS LOBBIED THE MINISTRIES OF ECONOMY AND HEALTH
TO INCREASE THEIR EFFORTS TOWARD IPR PROTECTION.

C.1. POST WOULD WELCOME ADDITIONAL IPR TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR OFFICERS AND SLOVAK OFFICIALS.

C.2. POST IS CONSIDERING AN IPR-RELATED INTERNATIONAL
VISITOR PROGRAM.

TO DATE, POST HAS NO EXPERIENCE WITH THE USG TRAINING
DATABASE MENTIONED IN REFTEL, BUT WILL MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO
BECOME FAMILIAR WITH IT.

WEISER

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