Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on August 23, 2023, signed a Memorandum of Understanding and launched an initiative called Intellectual Property (IP) Register. The signing was held amidst the 55th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM).
The MoU is intended to extend cooperation between ASEAN and WIPO on specific matters, focusing to the future, and is organized within the framework of ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan (AIPRAP) 2025. The specific matters are aimed to fulfill new necessities that arise from stakeholders that are underserved by creative and business communities, i.e. small and medium enterprise, startups, creators and others related to intellectual property.
The MoU is signed by ASEAN General Secretary Kao Kim Hourn, who acted on behalf of the 10 ASEAN members, and the Director General of WIPO Daren Tang. Also present in the signing were the Director General of Intellectual Property (DGIP) Min Usihen, Director of Cooperation and IP Empowerment of the DGIP Sri Lastami, Director of Information Technology of the DGIP Dede Mia Yusanti, and the Director of Investigation and Dispute Settlement of the DGIP Anom Wibowo.
The General Secretary of ASEAN expected that the launch of IP Register would drive continued commitment from ASEAN Member States to always renew and maintain their IP register, so it may remain accountable. The General Secretary also appreciated delegates from ASEAN Member States for their hard work in materializing the initiatives.
Chair of the event, Zulkifli Hasan, who is also the Minister, claimed IP Register as a single-door technology to accommodate development of intellectual property among ASEAN countries, to ease data exchange on patent, trademark, industrial design and other registered items.