The world's five largest IP offices (IP5) have published the IP5 Statistics Report 2021 on the IP5 website. According to the report, in 2021, the IP5 granted 1.5 million patents, an increase of 10% on the previous year, and received 2.9 million patent applications (+3.7%).

The report is an annual compilation of patent statistics published by the European Patent Office (EPO) the Japan Patent Office (JPO), the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The publication includes developments at all five offices, detailed coverage of similarities and differences in their patent grant procedures, as well as comprehensive worldwide data from WIPO and patent offices around the globe.

The IP5 offices have been co-operating since 2007 to improve the efficiency and quality of the global patent system by delivering joint products and services.

More details on: https://www.fiveipoffices.org/node/9151

The 93rd meeting of the Council of the European Patent Institute (epi) was held on 21 and 22 October 2022. Thecouncil meeting was held as a physical meeting in Fuengirola nearby Malaga (Spain). The meeting was attended by 132 delegates out of a total of 14,000 European patent attorneys from 38 countries, including Vancho Damjanski, Executive Director at BERIN doo and Bogoljub Ilievski, Head of the Patent Office at BERIN doo.

The day before the Council meeting, Bogoljub Ilievski, in his capacity as Vice President of the European Patent Institute (epi), attended a working meeting and an informal dinner of the Presidium with Mr. Max Brunner from General Secretariat - European and International Affairs Ministry of Justice as well as an official meeting of the Presidium members held the next day.

The work of the Council was preceded by a seminar "Latest developments in the Unitary Patent System and the European Patent Court". The delegates of the council adopted the reports of the president and vice-presidents of EPI, the general secretary and the treasurer. Also, the members of the election commission for the 2023 Council Elections were elected. The epi council did not approve the board's request to independently initiate disciplinary proceedings before the EPO without consulting the disciplinary committee. Vancho Damjanski, an active member of the disciplinary commission, actively participated in this, at times, heated discussion. 

The main event in afternoon session of the work of the council was the presentation of the vice-president of the European Patent Organization, Mr. Stephen Rowan, regarding the strategic development plan EPO 2023. Rowan additionally answered the questions of the members of the council who were most interested in the status of introduced measures to improve the quality of EPO products and services.

The evening part of the meeting was dedicated to the report of the committees. Bogoljub Ilievski took an active part in the debate about the work of the European Patent Practice Committee, who emphasized the role of European patent attorneys in communication with the EPO and asked for the active participation of the joint newly formed epi-EPO bodies responsible for improving  the quality of services.

The debates continued at the joint dinner of the council delegates, followed by delicious Andalusian specialties as well as a local Flamenco show. Representatives from Berin did not miss the opportunity to strengthen old friendships and business ties and open new ones.

Montenegro became the 39^th state to join the European Patent Organisation. This follows the country's deposition of its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) on 15 July 2022. As of 1 October 2022, European patent applications will include the designation of the new contracting state Montenegro. The European Patent Office (EPO) will also take over the functions of a PCT receiving office and act as a PCT International Search and Examination Authority on behalf of Montenegro.

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The regular autumn meeting of ANIPA (Association of National Institute of Patent Attorneys) was held in Istanbul on September 17th. Although the Macedonian Association of Patent Attorneys is not a member of ANIPA, this meeting did not pass without a representative from our country. Bogoljub Ilievski from Berin, in the capacity of Vice-President together with President Francis Leider and General Secretary Olga Sirakova constituted the delegation of the European Patent Institute (epi). At the meeting, which was the first physical meeting after the pandemic, reports were first given on the activities of the representatives of the association in the bodies of the European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Union Trademark Office (EUIPO). Delegates from certain countries informed about the latest developments and the expcted changes in Industrial Property laws. Within the framework of the meeting, epi representatives held a series of presentations on the latest developments in EPO. Bogoljub Ilievski, presented and informed about the latest development of events regarding changes to Article 126(2) EPC, quality of products and services provided by the EPO, as well as the newly established Ombuds office service within the EPO. In addition, epi President Francis Leider presented on the latest developments and regarding the Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unitary Patent Court (UPC) which is due to come into force and operate with work in spring 2023. In addition to hard work, ANIPA meetings are also quite social and offer an opportunity for meetings and good company. Accordingly, thanks to colleagues from Turkey (in the role of hosts), this meeting ended with a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait and a wonderful dinner in a fish restaurant. The next meeting of ANIPA is scheduled for the end of April in Bordeaux and will be hosted by the French Association of Patent Attorneys.

Under the slogan "Designing the future" in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 15-th to 18-th of June, 40th annual conference of ECTA was held which and the representative of Berin Vanco Damjanski was one of the attendiies.
After one skipped as well one held under hybrid regime, in the land of advanced Nordic design, over 670 professionals in the field of trademarks, industrial designs and designation of origin, attended this important jubilee conference.
In addition to the regularcommittees meetings and the procedural report on the past working year of the organisation , the conference began with an address by the Director of the Danish Patent and Trademark Office Sune Sorensen and an introduction to current developments in WIPO and EUIPO. Educational sessions followed in which participants had the opportunity to learn about current issues in terms of data protection and usage, alternative approaches to resolving disputes and tips and tricks in protection in the fashion industry.

Additional topics that were covered and discussed at panels and educational sessions included: food and restourant bussines IP protection, as well as, the challenges and  IP considerations in drafting of cooperation contracts and of  the intellectual property rights of startups and spin-off companies in cooperation with academic institutions.
Apart from the educational part, the networking between the colleagues took place at the social events organized in several venues.
Also for the first time special event was introduced for the participants who are attending the conference for the first time in order to get acquainted with the possibility of participation in the work of the organization.
The conference ended with passing of the Presidential Medal, by the current President Mrs. Annette Rasmussen to the new President, o[Mladen Vukmir, which took place in the first European circus building Axeltorv.