The 21st (6th extraordinary) meeting of the EAPO Administrative Council (AC) was held on March 30th and 31st, 2009, in Moscow, the Russian Federation.

The meeting was attended by representatives of all the Contracting States of the Eurasian Patent Convention – plenipotentiary representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, Head of the Patent Department of the Ministry of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan and members of the delegations. Representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) attended the meeting as observers.

D. Chirosca, Chairman of the EAPO Administrative Council, plenipotentiary representative of the Republic of Moldova, chaired the meeting.

The Chairman of the EAPO Administrative Council introduced newly appointed representatives:

ABDRAKHIM Nurlan, Plenipotentiary representative, Chairman of the Committee of Intellectual Property Rights of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

SAKHIPOVA Nurgaisha, Deputy Plenipotentiary representative, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Intellectual Property Rights of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

ANANNIYAZOV Ata, Head of the Patent Department of the Ministry of Economy and Development of Turkmenistan.

EAPO AC heard the report of Boris Simonov, Plenipotentiary representative of the Russian Federation on the Decision of the Government of the Russian Federation from March 6, 2009 on introduction of A.Grigoriev as a nominee candidate to the post of President of the Eurasian Patent Office for the second six-year term.

Pursuant to the article 3(3) (iii) of the Eurasian Patent Convention and the Decision of the 20th (15th regular) meeting of the EAPO AC, members of the EAPO AC unanimously voted for appointment of A.Grigoriev for the second six-year term, decided to conclude a contract with him starting from February 10, 2010 and authorized the EAPO AC Chairman Dorian Chirosca to sign a contract with EAPO President.

EAPO AC considered the proposal made by the Plenipotentiary representative of the Russian Federation on introduction of amendments to the Rule 54 (1) of the Patent Regulations under the Eurasian Patent Convention and after detailed discussion on the basis of consensus has adopted the new wording of the Rule to enter into force on March 31, 2009.

Participants of the meeting considered and approved the new procedure of transfer of shares of maintenance fees for the Eurasian patents on the territories of EAPC Contracting Parties as well as content of data to be submitted to the member-states. The procedure presupposes that transfer of corresponding fees previously transited quaterly shall take place every month starting from July 1, 2009.

Participants of the meeting discussed the draft amendments and alterations to the Administrative Regulations under the Eurasian Patent Convention and to the EAPO AC Rules of Procedure. The proposal is aimed to improve procedure of nomination of candidates and appointment to the posts of President and Vice-President of the Eurasian Patent Office. As a result EAPO AC entrusted EAPO President to update the document and prepare it for the next EAPO AC meeting.

In consideration of the fact that the EAPO Development Program for 2004-2009 finishes this year the EAPO AC entrusted EAPO President A.Grigoriev to prepare and to present for the next EAPO AC meeting report on realization of the Program and a document covering main guidelines of EAPO development for 2010-2014.

EAPO AC awarded a V.I. Blinnikov Gold Medal “For the Contribution to Innovation and Patent Promotion” to Ernst AKRAMOV, Doctor of Medicine, Professor, Honoured Doctor of the Kyrgyz Republic, Director of the Scientific Center of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The next regular meeting of the EAPO Administrative Council is scheduled for November 2009.