IP examiners discussed this topic at the international scientific and practical forum in St. Petersburg.

Days of Intellectual Property were held there. This annual forum has been organized for the past 15 years. The program includes seminars, meetings, round tables and CPN (consulting platform & network). Examiners from the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) made presentations at the forum.

The forum covered important topics for modern business, including business and IP design, blocking of products on marketplaces and infringement of exclusive rights, protection of corporate identity in Eurasian countries. EAPO examiner Assemgul Abenova explained which design solutions can be protected by Eurasian industrial design patent. They include a wide range of products ranging from household appliances and toys to vehicles and medical devices: the original appearance of packaging, labels, and the product itself. It is even possible to patent the website design or the app interface. The examiner also described the procedure for obtaining a Eurasian industrial design patent. It can be included in the same portfolio of IP objects as other objects, for example, trademarks and geographical indications, and contribute to the comprehensive strategy for the protection of intellectual rights.

Another topic of the forum is IP intelligence and patent reconnaissance. Patent research, search and landscapes have become important sources of information for management decision-making, especially when entering the foreign market for military products. EAPO examiner Valeriu Malai noted that the Eurasian patent system is an important source of scientific and technical information. He explained how patent information can help in making managerial decisions, assessing the latest achievements in a particular field of technology, identifying trends in technology or product development, avoiding duplication of research and work, and monitoring the activities of potential partners and competitors both within the country and abroad.