In the period 24-26 November 2014 at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (Switzerland, Geneva) were held the sessions of the Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs, Geographical Indications (SCT 32) (http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=32090).

Said session was attended by over 150 representatives from 71 WIPO member states, including the European Community; 4 international intergovernmental organizations (BOIP, WTO, the African Union, South Centre) and seven international non-governmental organizations (INTA, JPAA, JTA, CEEP, CTA, KEI, MARQUES).

In his address to the participants in the work of SCT Committee, Mr. Francis Gurry, WIPO Director General, said that in recent years (2004-2013) is seen growing interest globally in the protection of industrial designs, and in this context the development of an international treaty that would simplify/unify the procedure for protection of industrial designs is strictly necessary. Mr. Francis Gurry encouraged WIPO Member States participating in the work of the SCT, to step up their activity to complete the process of drafting a new Treaty in the field of industrial designs.

Another important topic discussed in the Committee refers to the development of the “WIPO Recommendations on the Protection of Country Names” that would serve as reference for Member States in the procedure for registration of intellectual property objects that include names of states. At the moment, trademark registration legislation contains the clearest provisions addressing the protection of country names compared with the procedures of registration/use of country names in the trade names, domain names. As a result of discussions and considering the importance of the given subject, the SCT Committee decided to organize a special event in the next session of the SCT to examine the multilateral experience of WIPO Member States on the protection of country names and country brand.

According to the agenda of the 32nd session of the SCT, the subject on the protection of geographical indications has been discussed on the basis of two documents:

• Proposal by the United States of America to develop a study that would reflect the practice of WIPO Member States on the protection of geographical indications;
• Joint Proposal by the Delegations of the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Republic of Moldova and Switzerland on “Protection of Geographical Indications and Country Names in the Domain Name System”.

In the next session, the SCT will examine the possible directions of activity of the Committee on the said subject.

Republic of Moldova was represented by Mr. Simion Levitchi, Director of Trademarks, Industrial Designs Department, State Agency on Intellectual Property of the Republic of Moldova (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.