Region-focused IP developments curated by the IIPLA newsroom, including policy shifts, litigation, brand disputes, patent activity, and enforcement updates.
As Southeast Asia emerges as a pivotal hub for production and consumption, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines are intensifying efforts to attract high-value foreign direct investment by enhancing their intellectual property (IP) court systems. Legal expert Kin Wah Chow of Rouse firm Suryomurcito & Co hi…
Between January 2025 and July 2026, Nanning Customs published detailed penalty decisions exposing the scale and patterns of counterfeit goods moving from China into Vietnam. The data highlights five main land crossings, with Youyi Guan and Aidian in Lang Son province dominating seizures. Footwear, apparel, electronics…
On January 21, 2026, Indonesia’s Minister of Creative Economy, Teuku Riefky Harsya, alongside Deputy Minister Irene Umar, visited the Pipilaka Calling exhibition in Jakarta. The exhibition showcases local intellectual property by integrating technology, interactive audiovisuals, and environmental storytelling, targeti…
Indonesia is advancing a draft copyright bill that would uniquely recognize artificial intelligence in its legal framework. The bill proposes banning AI from mimicking creators’ distinctive styles, requiring disclosure of AI-generated content, and mandating compensation from tech platforms for using copyrighted works…
Recce, an Australian biotechnology company, has successfully obtained a patent in Vietnam. This development marks a strategic expansion of Recce's intellectual property rights within the Southeast Asian market, reinforcing its innovation protection and commercial positioning in the region.
The Ministry of Commerce officially launched the Thailand Character & Content Expo 2026 (TCEX 2026) to promote intellectual property as a key driver of Thailand’s creative economy. The event, held at Siam Paragon, showcased over 250 creators and generated substantial business matching deals, underscoring the growing v…
STL has won a decisive patent dispute against Fujikura Ltd. after the European Patent Office’s Technical Board of Appeal revoked Fujikura’s European Patent EP 3796060 in full. The ruling, issued on June 24, 2026, settles the UK patent conflict in STL’s favor and strengthens its intellectual property position across Eu…
IIPLA reviews the policy implications of Policy, Govt, The Commerce Ministry, with practical notes for USA IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
On 7 July 2026, University of Asia Pacific (UAP) and the Department of Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) under Bangladesh’s Ministry of Industries signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen intellectual property (IP) protection, promote innovation, and facilitate patent registration. The collab…
The Philippines has been identified among the world’s fastest-growing economies in intangible investments, with a 3.9% compound annual growth rate from 2012 to 2022. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s latest report, the country’s spending on research and development, software, brands, and inte…
As the World Cup captivates audiences worldwide, Southeast Asia emerges as a critical hotspot for illegal live-streaming of matches. Nick Redfearn, global head of enforcement at Rouse, sheds light on the scale and complexity of piracy operations in the region, underscoring the ongoing enforcement challenges faced by r…
IIPLA reviews the trademarks implications of Trademarks, IPOPHL, The Intellectual Property Office, with practical notes for Europe IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
IIPLA reviews the trademarks implications of Trademarks, Indonesia Destroys Fake Lacoste, Goods Worth Almost, with practical notes for USA IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
IIPLA reviews the patents implications of Patents, DPDT, NewsPMPresidentTop NewsNationalArts, with practical notes for Southeast Asia IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
Vietnamese customs officials are strengthening enforcement against counterfeit and intellectual property-infringing goods at border checkpoints. With the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce facilitating smaller, harder-to-detect shipments, authorities are adopting advanced technologies, refining legal procedures,…
Vietnam and Japan have intensified their partnership to strengthen intellectual property (IP) protection and combat counterfeit goods. Recent meetings reviewed progress under several memoranda of understanding, emphasizing coordinated enforcement actions, especially in e-commerce, to address complex IP infringements.…
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and social networks in Vietnam has intensified copyright infringement issues for press agencies. Legal professionals emphasize the necessity for press organizations to adopt comprehensive copyright management strategies, enforce legal actions against violators, and uphold…
IIPLA reviews the patents implications of Patents, Koster, Bali Tourism Geographical Indication, with practical notes for China IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
IIPLA reviews the patents implications of Patents, When AI Is, Inventor, with practical notes for USA IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) jointly hosted a three-day Asian Regional Conference on Artists’ Resale Right (ARR) in Bagac, Bataan. The event brought together policymakers, artists, copyright experts, and international representativ…
The ongoing Middle East conflict has significantly affected Asia-Pacific energy markets, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply and pricing. Key LNG exporters like Qatar have suffered production disruptions, while major importers across the region face heightened costs and supply uncertainties. Countries incl…
IIPLA reviews the policy implications of Policy, Over, Vietnam Investment Review, with practical notes for Europe IP teams monitoring risk, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio strategy.
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) reports that its E-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), established in 2021 to combat online counterfeiting, has significantly improved enforcement efficiency and coordination among stakeholders. The initiative has led to faster removal of counterfeit…
From 2014 to 2024, China filed nearly 20,000 rare-earth patent families, outpacing Japan and South Korea by wide margins. This patent supremacy aligns with China’s control of 94% of the global rare-earth permanent magnet market, underscoring its strategic manufacturing and export leverage. While Japan maintains critic…
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