Judiciaries across the Globe Convene for the 2024 WIPO Intellectual Property Judges Forum
28 октября 2024 г.
The 2024 WIPO Intellectual Property (IP) Judges Forum reaffirmed the importance of dialogue in empowering judiciaries to shape a balanced and effective global IP ecosystem amid a rapidly evolving innovation landscape.
On October 9 and 10, 2024, the seventh edition of the WIPO IP Judges Forum brought together over 435 judges from 107 national and regional jurisdictions to discuss pressing IP issues and share expertise on the judiciary's evolving role in IP law. In Geneva, 127 judges gathered at WIPO’s headquarters in person, with a further 312 participating virtually.
In his opening remarks, WIPO Assistant Director General Marco Alemán emphasized the Forum as a unique opportunity for judges worldwide to build their network of peers and enrich their knowledge and understanding of the various judicial approaches to adjudicating IP disputes.
WIPO Director General Daren Tang addressed the participants during the reception and celebrated the event's continued success and growth among the community of IP judges. Mr. Tang highlighted the increasing importance of IP in shaping global innovation, with courts serving as key players in resolving intricate IP disputes.
Program
The eight sessions of the 2024 Forum showcased the dynamic and evolving nature of IP adjudication.
Participants explored substantive IP law through case studies and judicial experiences from around the world. Discussions focused on how emerging technologies – such as AI technologies and AI-assisted creations – are reshaping the landscape of patents, trademarks, and copyright. A session on Standard Essential Patents provided insights into patent validity, essentiality determinations, and the complexities of negotiating FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) licensing terms. Panels also delved into the challenges of enforcing trademarks with weak distinctive elements, managing trade secrets in the digital age, and navigating copyright exceptions in the online environment.
Procedural issues received significant attention, with sessions exploring evolving approaches to permanent injunctions and the challenges of cross-border IP disputes. A session on judicial reform examined growing trends to meet the challenges of contemporary IP litigation by introducing specific procedural rules for IP disputes or specialized IP courts or judges.
A special session dedicated to the Unified Patent Court (UPC) explored its creation, unique features, and early accomplishments. The session discussed how the UPC aims to harmonize patent litigation across Europe while respecting the legal traditions of individual member states – offering valuable lessons for similar initiatives worldwide.
Strengthening Judicial Cooperation
Beyond the formal sessions, the Forum enabled WIPO to strengthen bilateral judicial cooperation frameworks.
On October 8, Mr. Alemán signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Supreme People's Court of Viet Nam to develop cooperation and joint activities to strengthen Viet Nam’s judicial system and services for IP protection.
Throughout the week, WIPO officials held bilateral discussions with several judicial delegations, including from India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and the United Republic of Tanzania.
Looking Ahead
The eighth edition of the WIPO Intellectual Property Judges Forum is scheduled for October 14 and 15, 2025.
The Report of the 2024 edition of the Forum will be published in December 2024.