Ukraine uses Spain as an example in intellectual property

A group of 10 Ukrainian experts on intellectual property are in Spain this week to learn first-hand how the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office (SPTO)in Madrid, and the European Community agency for protecting trademarks and designs, the Office of Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM)in Alicante, operate. The visit is within the framework of a project financed by the European Union and managed by the FIIAPP, and its objective is to strengthen the intellectual property system in Ukraine.

This project addresses Ukraine’s need to strengthen its intellectual property model, given that the level of piracy and other crimes related to infringement of intellectual property rights is an area of concern for the country. Through this project, Spain, the country chosen by the European Union to lead the project, and Denmark, its partner, are sharing their experience to help Ukraine strengthen its system. “It’s a question of reducing the level of piracy and sale of counterfeit products in Ukraine, of bringing the competences of the SIPSU, the intellectual piracy office in Ukraine, up to the standards of the European Union and building its capacities”, explains Cristina Fernández, Director of the SPTO’s Judicial Coordination and International Relations Department.

This visit is one of a series of activities planned in both Spain and Ukraine within the framework of this twinning project, which has a duration of two years and a budget of more than €1,400,000. “This study visit is one of the best ways of sharing experiences, on the one hand, and learning best practices for resolving problems, on the other, indicates Oksana Shpytal, the Ukrainian coordinator of the project. Activities for assessing the Ukrainian intellectual property system and training patent examiners have already been held. In the future, training on industrial property will be given to judges and prosecutors and customs officials.

The Ukrainian delegation concludes its visit this Friday in Alicante. When they return to Ukraine, delegation members will have learned things like how a trademark is registered with the SPTO, how to manage patents and how the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights operates. “Improvement of the intellectual property model means economic growth and improvement of the socio-economic level of citizens. It’s also a step forward for innovation, industry and creativity”, concludes the leader of the Ukrainian delegation.