SAKPATENTI - National Intellectual Property Center

Georgian, U.S. and European Judges are Discussing Judicial Practice on Disputes Related to Intellectual Property Subject-Matters in Batumi

July 29, 2023

On July 29-30, the Workshop on Adjudication of Civil Intellectual Property Infringement Cases was opened in Batumi, organized by the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia – “Sakpatenti” and the Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The joint event of CLDP and Sakpatenti was opened by Mr. Skip Mark, Senior Counsel of CLDP. Mr. Soso Giorgadze, Chairman of Sakpatenti, and Mr. Vasil Mshvenieradze, Chairman of the Independent board of the High School of Justice, Chairman of Tbilisi City Court, delivered opening remarks to the participants of the workshop.

The event is attended by 25 judges from the Supreme Court of Georgia, Tbilisi Court of Appeals and City Court, Mtskheta District Court, Batumi City and District Court, Khelvachauri District Court, 2 judges from the USA and 1 judge from the European Union.

During the workshop, Georgian judges will get acquainted with U.S. judicial practice on disputes related to intellectual property subject-matters. On the example of specific cases, Georgian and foreign counterparts will discuss the taken court decisions. Accordingly, at the workshop Georgian judges will have an opportunity to share the long-term experience of U.S. and European judges in adjudication of cases, which will assist Georgian judges to bring the court decisions taken by them closer to modern international standards.

For the development of the field of intellectual property in Georgia, it is highly important to ensure proper protection of rights, as well as effective use of enforcement mechanisms. Thus, the court plays a decisive role in strengthening of this system, the more so as the legislation of Georgia is improving in the direction of intellectual property. In particular, on the basis of a comparative analysis of the legislation of Georgia and the European Union, taking into account the international best practices and with the active involvement of international partners, amendments to the Law of Georgia on Copyright and Related Rights were prepared and adopted, as well as draft amendments to the Patent Law was prepared and adopted. Currently, the adoption of the new Law of Georgia “On Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications of Goods” is under consideration, which is also based on the recommendations of international partners.