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JPO Hosts the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation in the Metaverse
December 18, 2023
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) hosted the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation on December 15, 2023, within the Metaverse space, bringing together officials who lead the IP Offices of G7 member states. During the Conversation, participants discussed issues such as the importance of protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in new digital contexts, including the metaverse. In addition, the G7 IP Offices successfully adopted a Joint Statement after confirming their shared understanding regarding the issues therein.
1. Overview
With Japan presently holding the G7 presidency, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) hosted the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation on December 15, 2023, within the Metaverse space. In addition to the G7 Heads of IP Offices, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General Mr. Daren Tang also participated in the Conversation as an observer. Participants discussed several IP issues during the Conversation, such as IP awareness-raising initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion, as well as IP-related matters within digital contexts. The G7 IP Offices were then able to successfully adopt a Joint Statement following these discussions.
The hosting of this Conversation within the metaverse space provided a realistic feel to the meeting, as participants were able to speak through their own original avatars. At the end of the Conversation, participants were invited to and took group photos in the metaverse space reproducing Itsukushima Shrine, which is in Hiroshima Prefecture and the site of this year’s G7 Summit.
2. Results of the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation
(1) Adoption of the Joint Statement
The G7 Heads of IP Offices recognized that an effective international IP ecosystem is necessary to incentivize innovation and creativity, which drive social and economic development worldwide. Specifically, they noted their shared understandings with regard to the following matters: 1) in order to accelerate innovation and creativity, a strong and active engagement is required not only from existing stakeholders within the IP ecosystem, but also from a wide range of additional actors who can benefit from IP; and 2) it is important to continuously improve the IP system so that it can respond to the latest challenges, such as IP issues in the new digital contexts, including the metaverse.
(2) Remarks from the Japan Patent Office
JPO Commissioner Mr. HAMANO Koichi participated in the Conversation, wherein he shared recent initiatives with the G7 IP Offices and WIPO, including various JPO measures to promote diversity and inclusion within the IP field, as well as revision of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, which was promulgated in Japan in June 2023 to prevent counterfeiting within the digital space.
The G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation (meeting space)
Group photo (Itsukushima Shrine space)
Meeting participants*
Japan Patent Office (JPO): Mr. HAMANO Koichi, Commissioner, and other officials
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO): Mr. Konstantinos Georgaras, Chief Executive Officer, and other officials
National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI): Mr. Pascal Faure, Director General, and other officials
Federal Ministry of Justice (BMJ): Dr. Johannes Christian Wichard, Deputy Director General, and other officials
German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA): Ms. Eva Schewior, President, and other officials
Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM): Ms. Simona Marzetti (on behalf of Mr. Amedeo Teti, Director General), and other officials
Intellectual Property Office of the United Kingdom (UKIPO): Mr. Adam Williams, Chief Executive and Comptroller General, and other officials
United States Copyright Office (USCO): Ms. Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and Director, U.S. Copyright Office, and other officials
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO): Ms. Kathi Vidal, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, and other officials
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): Mr. Daren Tang, Director General, and other officials