The Renewed Memorandum of Understanding between Sakpatenti and EUIPO will be Signed by the End of the Year

The introductory remote meeting took place between Mr. Mindia Davitadze, Sakpatenti Chairman, and Mr. Christian Archambeau, Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). The EUIPO Executive Director congratulated Mr. Mindia Davitadze on his appointment to the position of the Chairman.  The parties discussed the cooperation of Sakpatenti and its strategic partner EUIPO and the progress of the joint projects.

Mr. Mindia Davitadze expressed gratitude to the EUIPO Executive Director for fruitful cooperation, within which a number of significant projects were implemented. Among these is the integration of Sakpatenti databases into various tools of EUIPO, which rendered the process of proceedings at Sakpatenti more flexible and effective both for examiners and users. In particular, foreign users were given an opportunity to search information on marks registered in Georgia on the EUIPO website, whereas it became possible for Georgian applicants to carry out search in EUIPO databases using the Georgian interface.

In his turn, Mr. Christian Archambeau noted that Sakpatenti is the leading office in the region from the viewpoint of successful cooperation with EUIPO. He stressed the uninterrupted work of Sakpatenti during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which is confirmed by the fact that in this period Sakpatenti successfully completed adaptation/introduction of trademarks and designs practice documents developed by the EUIPN members and became the first non-EU Intellectual Property Office to extend fully the practice of EU countries regarding trademarks and designs examination. 

The parties also considered the progress of the new project EUGIPP in cooperation with the EUIPO. The EU-Georgia Intellectual Property Project (EUGIPP) is a project funded by the European Union, implemented through cooperation of Sakpatenti and EUIPO, and its budget equals 1,2 million Euros. The project is aimed to fulfill the commitments under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement (DCFTA), in order to create a more efficient IPR system in Georgia, it is focused on strengthening current institutions, approximation and harmonization of legislation and practice. Within the project, introduction of the search tool of goods and services - Harmonized Database (HDB) is carried out, and implementation of joint educational programs is also planned. 

Mr. Mindia Davitadze expressed a desire to conclude signature of new memorandum of understanding between the Offices, and invited Mr. Christian Archambeau to pay a working visit to Georgia after the end of the pandemic and restoration of free movement between countries. The invitation of Mr. Mindia Davitadze to visit Georgia was accepted by Executive Director.. He gave his consent to the renewal of the memorandum, and noted that the organization will start the preparatory procedures in timely manner, in order to make it possible to sign the document by the end of the year.

EUIPO  is the Agency responsible for managing EU trademarks and designs and registering trademarks and designs  on the territory of the European Union by means of a single application. The organization also shares experience and assists IP offices of the EU member states and international partners in harmonizing practices.