IPR AT THE CROSSROADS
- Evaluation, Regulation and Enforcement in the European Union
6 – 8 September 2006
Hilton Helsinki Strand
SUMMARY
Seeking solutions to the European innovation crisis
IPR AT THE CROSSROADS
Innovation policy, one of the priorities set by the Finnish EU Presidency, has been widely discussed during the autumn 2006. In the IPR at the Crossroads Conference in September 6-8 Charlie McCreevy, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, informed his determination to restart the introduction of the Community Patent. In parallel, he wanted to involve the Community in the negotiations on the European Patent Litigation Agreement (EPLA).
The themes of this Finland’s EU Presidency Conference focused on the challenges that intellectual property issues pose to the competitiveness of Europe. The objective of IPR at the Crossroads was to identify a new approach: European innovation policy ought to be adapted to the many ways in which intellectual property rights are currently managed, legislatively as well as within enterprises and universities. Distinguished speakers representing enterprises, academia, international organisations and public bodies presented their views on how the European innovation crisis should be solved.
The theme of the first session was economic value of IPR for business. The concept “Intellectual Capitalism", launched by Professor Granstrand, was greatly appreciated by the audience. The speakers of the European Commission Mr Erik Nooteboom and Mr Chris Allen presented the viewpoints of EU legislation and competitiveness. The vice president of Metso Paper, Inc. Timo Vuorimies completed the session with practical comments from the world of industry.
One of the most crucial issues was the future of the patent system. The director general of the European Patent Office, Alain Pompidou, outlined its challenges rising from various opposite interests: commercialisation versus public interest, developed v. developing countries, SMEs v. multinational corporations, increasing v. decreasing the scope of IPR protection.
The Director of the Danish Patent and Trademark Office Jesper Kongstad, on the other hand, emphasized the role of national patent offices. The audience was particularly pleased to hear the thoughts of the American Professor Jerome H. Reichman, who is firmly against the harmonisation of IPR legislation on the global level.
The session on innovation policy was opened with an excellent overview of the issue by the Deputy Director General of WIPO, Francis Gurry. Mr Heinz Zourek presented the comments of the Commission and after that Mr Mikko Armila presented a success story of innovation: the virtual world of Habbo Hotel produced by his company Sulake Oy. On the co-operation of universities and enterprises two opposite views were presented: Professor Niklas Bruun from IPR University Center wanted to have clear rules on co-operation agreements whereas Urho Ilmonen from Nokia thought that academic research should kept separate from business R&D.
Also other challenges were presented: the difficult line between trade names and trade marks by Professor Annette Kur from Max Planck Institute, sports and IPR by Mr Andrew Moger from MMC Media-Mojos Consultancy Ltd, new business models of IPR connected with the digital environment by Mr Jarmo Eskelinen from Forum Virium. The final panel discussion, chaired by Mr Martti Enäjärvi, the president of the Finnish patent office, raised interesting comments from the listeners.
Charlie McCreevy considered the present system of the European patent incomplete, as it does not include a possibility of jurisdiction. His determination to continue the Community Patent was based on the results of a questionnaire to industries and its implications, which Mirjam Söderholm from the European Commission had presented earlier in the afternoon.
In his speech closing the Conference the Finnish Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Mauri Pekkarinen, pointed out the demands of the industry to solve the problems of the patent system in Europe. Regarding the Community patent, this would involve the language question: the most cost-effective solution would be to have one language only. However, the best solution is not always politically feasible, he remarked.
IPR at the Crossroads was organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Finland, the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, the Technology Industries of Finland Centennial Foundation and IPR University Center in co-operation with the European Commission. The Conference was chaired by Ms Satu Ikäheimo, Communications Officer from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Finland.
During the Reception and the Conference dinner the participants had an opportunity to exchange views in pleasant surroundings of Finnish design and the moonlit sea.
