HER Royal Highness Princess Hajah Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah graced a workshop on Intellectual Property (IP) Issues and Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) held at the Law and Courts Building, Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).

It was facilitated by an invited speaker from Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Krista Cox, who discussed issues pertaining to intellectual property in the context of Free Trade Agreements.

Yesterday’s workshop was a comprehensive coverage of all issues related to intellectual property and is aimed at stimulating awareness on intellectual property.

Topics covered at the workshop included the recent issues related to protection of intellectual property particularly copyright, patents as well as on technological protection measures and liability of internet service providers (ISPs) as well as enforcement of IP and Civil and Criminal remedies.

Workshop participants also gained knowledge on international agreements related to Intellectual Property and developments under international law.

In the morning session, participants were presented topics on the rationale of IP system, importance of balanced copyright and patent protection as well as enforcement, trends in IP protection, flexibilities in international treaties and importance of these flexibilities and International Agenda and Global Norms.

Later in the afternoon, the facilitator presented an overview on promoting innovation and progress, importance of TRIPS flexibilities as well as on scope of patentability among others.

Also attending the workshop were officers from the AGC and other government officials from ministries and departments and as the workshop also discussed issues related to ISP, companies from the telecommunication industry as well as officers from the AITI also attended.

The two-day workshop, which serves as part of the AGC activities to commemorate World IP Day, which falls on every April 26, was also made possible with the support of DST. - Borneo Bulletin (25 April 2013)