AIPPI is holding its 43rd World Intellectual Property Congress from Oct. 20 to 23 at COEX in Seoul. AIPPI strives for the establishment of consensus positions on current and important IP issues and advocating those positions to international and regional governmental organizations and to governments.

This biennial congress’ grand return to Asia after the Tokyo congress in 1992 is particularly imperative, as Northeast Asia is the epicenter of global and major IP advancements, while also having robust economic growth in the midst of the economic woes across the world. Having almost half of the world’s total trade in goods and services and two-thirds of the world’s IP patent applications, the congress will be an effective outlet where countries in Asia and beyond focus efforts on shaping current and future IP-related legislative and judicial initiatives in major jurisdictions throughout the world.

The AIPPI 2012 Congress offers assorted forums in the field of IP, including the most recent developments relating to patent law harmonization, international trademark issues and copyright, as well as the enforcement of IP rights. Attendees will also have various opportunities for networking with more than 2,000 first-class affiliated parties and associates. Motivating and resourceful sessions including AIPPI bureau meetings, the council of presidents, working committee meetings, ExCo meetings, a mock patent trial, a NGO association meeting, plenary sessions, workshops and general assembly with vibrant cultural programs are to be organized during the congress.

In particular, the mock patent trial on Sunday brought the court closer to you. The court panels are comprised of incumbent court judges including Kim Ki-young of Seoul District Court, Chief Judge Randall R. Rader of the U.S.’ Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Peter Meier-Beck of German Federal Court of Justice, Makiko Takabe of Japan’s IP High Court, and Xia Luo of China’s Supreme People’s Court.

By Kim Seong-ki, Chairperson of Organizing Committee for 2012 AIPPI Seoul