From16 to 18 November 2015, in Geneva, in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), were held the sessions of the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT).

In the said session took part over 170 representatives from 78 member states, 4 intergovernmental international organizations and 12 nongovernmental international organizations.

Moldova was represented by Mr. Simion Levitchi, Head of Trademarks and Industrial Designs Directorate, State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) and Igor Moldovan, First Secretary of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Moldova to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva.

At the opening of the event, Ms. Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of WIPO, asked the SCT to act in accordance with WIPO General Assembly Decision of 2015.

Ms. Wang Binying said that WIPO provided the payment by applicants from underdeveloped countries of only 10% of fees under the Hague Agreement. This is part of technical assistance to Member States.

WIPO also develops the Global Design Database. This allows, without paying taxes, documentary research for protected industrial designs under the Hague Agreement and national procedures in different states.

At the same time, the discussions on the draft Industrial Design Treaty focused on two topics, namely industrial design disclosure requirements and technical assistance in order to complete the drafting of documents that would allow planning of the Diplomatic Conference in the first half of 2017.

At the same time, we should note that SCT adopted the Revised Draft Reference Document on the Protection of Country Names Against Registration and Use as Trademarks. In that document is also reflected the experience of the Republic of Moldova.

The topic of geographical indications has been discussed considering the WIPO General Assembly Decision of 2015 requesting the SCT to examine different systems of protection of geographical indications in accordance with the mandate that it holds, and to consider all aspects. There were also examined a number of proposals formulated by the US, France and a group of countries including the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Republic of Moldova, Portugal, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.