APAA’s 70th Council Meeting in Taipei Attracts 1700 IP Professionals from 71 Countries
亞洲專利代理人協會（Asian Patent Attorneys Association, APAA）2019年年會暨第70屆國際理事會，已於11月9日~12日在台灣盛大舉辦，於台北君悅酒店 (Grand Hyatt Taipei) 隆重登場，總計有來自全球 71 個國家超過 1,700 名代理人參加，就熱門智財議題、最新趨勢與各國實務交換意見。今年適逢 APAA 成立50周年，主辦方亦安排慶祝活動，讓與會者共同見證這半個世紀的重要里程碑。
The 70th Council Meeting of the Asian Patent Attorney Association (APAA) was held in Taipei from 9th to 12th November. More than 1700 Patent Attorneys and IP professionals from 71 countries gathered to network with members, explore a wide range of IP hot topics presented in committee meetings and workshops, and celebrate APAA’s 50th anniversary together.
本所洪澄文所長擔任這次年會的籌備委員，協助規劃 50 週年慶晚宴、城市導覽等活動。除了年會期間各類會議與活動外，APAA期間，冠群也參與專利師公會活動，舉辦國際研討會，接待各國公會嘉賓。另外，也宴請合作多年的美國、日本、英國、德國、新加坡、韓國、越南、印度多國來賓與冠群同仁共享難得的午餐輕鬆時光，也分享冠群的過去與未來。
Top Team, led by our president Henry Hong, has assisted in APAA’s 50th Anniversary Gala, cultural tour, and other event programs. Our patent attorneys took the occasion to welcome and meet peers from other countries, share the latest practices and exchange ideas. Our office also organized a lunch banquet on November 13 for our long-time associates from the US, Japan, the UK, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, Span, and Italy. The guests spent some relaxed time with their peers while sharing TopTeam’s development.
APAA 成立於1969年，為WIPO（世界智慧財產權組織）認可的觀察組織 (Accredited Observers)，可參加 WIPO 的正式會員國會議，投入各項議題的磋商與辯論。長達半個世紀推動專利師跨國交流與合作，APAA 致力提升亞洲智權發展水平，其影響力與重要性不言可喻。例行活動包括一年一次的 APAA 國際理事會 (Annual Council Meeting)、及兩年一次的 APAA 總會會員大會 (General Assembly) ，可說是全球智財產業界年度盛事之一，總能吸引關注亞洲智權發展的各國業者前往交流。APAA成立以來，台灣總會主辦年會包括1972年、1983年、1996年與 2006年。
Established in December 1969, APAA has been dedicated to promoting and enhancing intellectual property protection in the Asian region, Australia, and New Zealand. Since then, the association has thus earned its iconic status in the region and around the world. As an accredited observer of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), APAA is included and involved in consultation processes and debates about current issues. APAA holds a Council Meeting every year and a General Assembly every other year. Both attract many attorneys from across the world. APAA Taiwan has hosted the Council Meeting or/and the General Assembly in 1972, 1983, 1996, 2006 and this year.
APAA 目前總會位於日本大阪，且於澳洲、孟加拉、柬埔寨、香港、印度、印尼、日本、韓國、寮國、澳門、馬來西亞、緬甸、尼泊爾、紐西蘭、巴基斯坦、菲律賓、新加坡、錫里蘭卡、台灣、泰國、越南等21個國家／地區擁有認可組織 (Recognized Group)，負責相關會務的聯繫與推動。APAA 個人會員方面，則有來自24個國家／地區總人數超過2500名。台灣 1971年便成立台灣總會（APAA Taiwan Group）為創始成員之一，目前擁有208名專利師會員，有助於我國專利服務產業擴大國際交流，並實際參與 WIPO 相關政策的制定。
APAA now has over 2,500 individual members from 24 countries and areas and Recognized groups in 21 countries and areas . Each group represents at least 7 individual members from at least four different organization members. APAA Taiwan group was established in 1971 and one of the key founding members. It currently has 208 individual members. The Taiwan group plays an influential role in promoting IPR protection in the region as well as Taiwan’s international prominence in the field.