The Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI), participated in the 138th Annual Meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA) held from 21 to 25 May in Orlando, Florida.

Prior to the formal opening of the event, ASIPI offered a cocktail where more than 800 attendees, including members and non-members of the Association, enjoyed a pleasant afternoon in the main garden of the Hotel Hilton Orlando. The activity was characterized by an atmosphere of relaxation that allowed attendees to do business and socialize in a multicultural environment.

Similarly, ASIPI was present in the commercial exhibition event. During the conference, ASIPI’s Booth received about 500 visitors who showed great interest in the work of the Administrative Council, which will be held from 4 to 7 December in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Following the active participation of ASIPI within the INTA Annual Meeting, the Association participated in the meeting of Non-Governmental Associations (NGO’s), organized by the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI). At this meeting, Maria del Pilar Troncoso, President of ASIPI, emphasized the progress made so far, with the support and signing of the Joint Statement on Plain Packaging, and the need to forge strategies to initiate conversations with governments.

During this meeting there was an exchange of views on the current situation of the IP community, and was attended by representatives of the Internet Corporation for the Association Names and Numbers (ICANN), the European Union of Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA), the European Association of Trade Mark Owners (MARQUES), the International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI), the European Patent Lawyers Association (EPLAW), among other institutions.

Continuing their hard work, members of the Executive Committee of ASIPI, with Etienne Sanz de Acedo on behalf of INTA, held a meeting with the presidents and representatives of Latin American Associations. At that meeting were presented the current scenarios in each country of the Americas in relation to Intellectual Property and the progress and challenges that have been experienced in recent months. The opportunity was taken by other associations to formalized their support by signing the Joint Statement on Plain Packaging.

This meeting was attended by representatives of the Bolivian Association of Intellectual Property (ABPI – Bolivia), the Brazilian Association of Intellectual Property (ABPI – Brazil), the Association of Intellectual Property Professionals of Costa Rica (APPICR), the Mexican Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AMPPI), the Colombian Association of Intellectual Property (ACPI), Paraguayan Association of Agents of Intellectual property (APAPI), the Sao Paulo Association of Intellectual Property (ASPI), the Dominican Association of Intellectual property (ADOPI), the Guatemalan Association of Intellectual Property (PUFAs) and the Venezuelan Association of Intellectual Property Agents (COVAPI).

On the last day of the Annual Meeting, representatives of ASIPI had the opportunity to meet with Marcus Höpperger, Director of the Division of Law and Legislative Council and Mr. Grégoire Bisson, Head of the International Registration Systems Legal Service, from the World Intellectual Property organization (WIPO). This meeting focused on strengthening the relationship between the two institutions, and forge meetings to continue to develop joint projects.

ASIPI is still present, creating spaces for exchange and opinion, promoting major projects, and working hard for Intellectual Property.