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 NNNN