On 11 July this year, the delegation of the Republic of Moldova, led by the Director General of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), Eugeniu Rusu, had a bilateral meeting with the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Daren Tang. The meeting took place within the framework of the 65th series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, held from 9 to 17 July 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed about the cooperation between AGEPI and WIPO and exchanged views on recent developments in the field of intellectual property at the international level. The challenges that the Republic of Moldova is currently facing in this area were also addressed.

One of the priorities discussed was the alignment of the legislation of the Republic of Moldova with international standards and regulations on intellectual property. In this regard, the importance of adopting and implementing a coherent and efficient legal framework, which would ensure adequate protection of intellectual property rights in accordance with international requirements, was emphasized.

The Director General of AGEPI, Eugeniu Rusu, expressed gratitude to WIPO for the support provided in the evaluation of draft laws and the legal expertise provided. He also emphasized the need for support and experience from WIPO experts in further improving the legal framework in the field of copyright and related rights, inventions and others.

Another aspect discussed during the meeting was the importance for the Republic of Moldova of the geographical indications system and implicitly of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications (Geneva Act). In this regard, Eugeniu Rusu and Vladimir Cuc, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Swiss Confederation, submitted the instrument of ratification of the Geneva Act for deposit with the Director General of WIPO.

In this context, we note that the Geneva Act broadens the scope of the Lisbon Agreement in force by creating an attractive mechanism for the protection of geographical indications (GIs), similar to that for the protection of appellations of origin (AOs), as well as facilitating the procedures for registering these intellectual property objects, including the payment of considerably lower fees than in the case of registering an AO or GI separately in each country.

At the end of the meeting, the Director General of WIPO, Daren Tang, conveyed his appreciation for the commitment and efforts made by the Republic of Moldova in promoting and protecting intellectual property. He stressed the importance of close cooperation between WIPO and AGEPI to strengthen and develop the intellectual property system in the country.

The official stated that WIPO will continue to support AGEPI in the process of aligning with international standards in the field of intellectual property. He also expressed the organization’s readiness to provide expertise and technical assistance for the effective implementation of legislation and strategic directions in this area.

Thus, the bilateral meeting between WIPO Director General Daren Tang and the delegation of the Republic of Moldova represented an important step in strengthening cooperation and promoting a common agenda on intellectual property.