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Introduction to the IPR Service Center |
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| The IPR Service Centers were established by and are located in the member countries of APEC to enhance the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), especially the control of counterfeit and pirated products. The IPR Service Centers are engaged in the protection of various kinds of IP rights including patent rights, design rights, trademark rights, breeder's rights, and copyrights and provide information for corporations and private citizens. |
 IPR Service Centers in APEC Member Economies |
The History of the Establishment of the IPR Service Centers |
The twenty-first century is recognized to be the era of the knowledge-based economy, and the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be its driving force. It is essential to improve and enforce the intellectual property system and to support creative technology development in order for the member economies in the region may promote innovation and achieve economic development. However, damages arising from counterfeits and pirated products have been increasing in the Asia Pacific region and especially in recent years, the infringement situation has been worsening with an increased percentage of patent right infringement in addition to trademark right, design right and copyright infringement.
The flourishing trade in counterfeit and pirated products harms the development of trade/investment, and it causes not only economic loss to corporations and nations but also serious damage such as health hazards and consumer-related accidents.
Considering these problems, it was recognized that the protection of intellectual property rights is a pressing issue for the development of the Asia-Pacific region, and it was agreed to establish "APEC IPR Center(s)" in member economies at the meeting of the Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) held in June 2003. APEC member economies will work together to take measures against counterfeits and pirated products manufactured in many parts of the world and distributed by organized networks. |
Necessity of International Collaboration |
| The improvement of the IPR system that is to be the infrastructure of the knowledge-based economy varies from country to country. The protection of IPR is insufficient, and the flood of counterfeit and pirated products is now an international issue. The issue of IPR protection is not limited to one country, and APEC member economies should work together to improve, despite the differences in systems. Therefore, in pursuit of the common goal of protection and the enforcement of the control of IPR, a system that enables the members to coordinate their activities is needed. |
| History of the Establishment of IPR Service Centers |
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2002
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- Japan proposes the establishment of the "APEC IPR Service Center Network" at the first APEC Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM1 in Mexico City). It was agreed to back a proposal that a study should be started to protect and enforce control of intellectual property rights.
- The Intellectual Property Rights Experts Group (IPEG) started detailed discussions. Various opinions were offered by member countries regarding the functions, method of operation, and cost of establishment of the centers at the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI), the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), etc.
- At the 14th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (in Los Cabos), it was declared that "officials were to continue their discussion in order to further develop the initiative, including the financial aspect, by the next Ministerial Meeting."
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2003
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- It was agreed to establish the "APEC IPR Service Center" by APEC member countries at the Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) and Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok.
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