IP Experts See Harmonisation Of Patent Laws Among TPPA Member Countries

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- Intellectual property (IP) experts, Adipven (M) Sdn Bhd and the United Kingdom's Mathys and Squire LLP, expect patent laws in the 12-member Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) countries to be harmonised. In a statement Monday, Adipven also said the TPPA's implementation, as well as Brexit, would cause significant changes to the current patent systems and ways of doing business in Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Europe and Japan. Adipven Managing Director Ramakrishna Damodharan said companies are encouraged to apply for patents in these countries to prevent third parties from competing with them within it. "Local companies should take note that the IP is an important tool to protect their businesses," he added. Adipven jointly organised a roundtable discussion with Technology Park Malaysia (TPM) Corporation Sdn Bhd on the patent system in the respective countries. The discussion, which focused on the effects on patent laws following the possible TPPA implementation and Brexit, was attended by some 30 people from various industries, including incubatee tenants of TPM, universities and research institutions from all over Malaysia. Meanwhile, TPM Incubation and Technopreneur Development General Manager Azrai Shuib said the roundtable discussion was the first of more than 100 technopreneur and innovation programmes lined up for 2017 for Small and Medium Enterprises. For this year, the TPM Incubation and Technopreneur Development will focus on promoting their virtual incubator programme. -- BERNAMA