2.0 Context and Approach
The ASEAN region is highly diverse and its transformation as a single bloc with a
harmonized set of laws and procedures in IP has been a challenge. ASEAN continues to
acknowledge the important role played by IP in social, technological, and economic
progress. At the same time, recognizing that for ASEAN to fully utilize the benefits of IP as a
tool that would help the region achieve economic integration by 2015, the AWGIPC has
designed a unique way of contributing to this goal. Instead of trying to formulate a single set
of laws and designing a harmonized regional system in IP, the AWGIPC has crafted its own
means of integrating through a higher level of cooperation by undertaking programmes and
activities together, with AMSs strengthening linkages with each other to improve their
capacity, and participating in global IP structures, subject to the capacity and readiness of
each AMS.
ASEAN will move towards the agreed goals as a region even while preserving its
diversity, without compromising the varying levels of development of Member States, but
charting for the region a unique brand of an ASEAN IP System. To achieve the 2015 goal of
economic integration, the AWGIPC will build on past accomplishments, intensify the level of
cooperation among AMSs by building on each other’s strengths, and continue partnering
with organizations and institutions in order to move forward collectively towards a single
direction, albeit at varying paces.
This Action Plan recognizes the challenges that continue to face IP Offices in the
region, such as modernizing their office infrastructures and constantly improving their
operations, the struggle with backlogs in both patents and trademarks, the growing need for
work sharing in order to ease workloads. Over the past years, ASEAN has experienced
difficulties in utilizing IP as a tool to develop the innovative capacity of the region, raise
awareness among its nationals so that they could protect their inventions and creations, and
make use of IP to jumpstart innovation and encourage technological advances in the region.
ASEAN IPR Action Plan, 2011-2015
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Developing the IP system in the region necessitates improving the capacity of AMSs
and the national IP Offices to enable them to build a higher level of confidence in the
integrity and transparency of their processes. Each national office in ASEAN will provide
higher quality, efficient, and cost-effective systems to protect IPRs. Each IP Office in the
ASEAN will be stakeholder-centric, continuously improving the quality and timeliness of the
services that they provide.
The AWGIPC will continue to improve relationships with dialogue partners, internal
and external stakeholders, and other institutions and agencies. The IP chapters of
agreements entered into by ASEAN and other partnership agreements will continue to be
implemented, with the end in view of transforming activities under these agreements to
improve capacity and development in the region.
This Action Plan identifies five strategic goals that will contribute to the collective
transformation of ASEAN into a competitive region with the use of IP. With this new Plan,
ASEAN will work towards economic integration through intensified cooperation, with AMSs
acting as leads for initiatives that will be more focused and with specific deliverables that will
move the region closer to its goal. The AWGIPC will ensure ownership and accountability
by AMSs of the projects to be undertaken and heightened collaboration in the
implementation of regional activities and projects.
3.0 Strategic Goals and Areas of Focus
The AWGIPC has formulated the following five strategic goals that will serve as
framework for its work in the next five years. The implementation of the activities and the
achievement of deliverables identified under each of the five strategic goals will be
monitored and regularly evaluated according to measurable performance indicators that will
be agreed among AMSs.
Strategic Goal 1:
A balanced IP system that takes into account the varying levels of development of
Member States and differences in institutional capacity of national IP Offices to
enable them to deliver timely, quality, and accessible IP services to promote the
region as being conducive to the needs of users and generators of IP.
Strategic Goal 2:
Developed national or regional legal and policy infrastructures that address evolving
demands of the IP landscape and AMSs participate in global IP systems at the
appropriate time.
Strategic Goal 3:
The interests of the region are advanced through systematic promotion for IP
creation, awareness, and utilization to ensure that IP becomes a tool for innovation
and development; support for the transfer of technology to promote access to
knowledge; and with considerations for the preservation and protection of indigenous
products and services and the works of their creative peoples in the region.
Strategic Goal 4:
Active regional participation in the international IP community and with closer
relationships with dialogue partners and institutions to develop the capacity of
Member States and to address the needs of stakeholders in the region.
ASEAN IPR Action Plan, 2011-2015
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Strategic Goal 5:
Intensified cooperation among AMSs and increased level of collaboration among
them to enhance human and institutional capacity of IP Offices in the region.