It is no secret that the European Patent Office (EPO) is trying
to partner with intellectual properties worldwide to establish
partnership programs with new and emerging national markets. The
main objective of this initiative by the EPO is to integrate and
improve the global patent system through more efficient use of
partner offices, increased capacity, productivity and performance
through EPO work materials, software and practices.
With this objective, a memorandum of understanding on an
enhanced partnership between the EPO and the Intellectual Property
Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) was signed earlier this month. This
is Southeast Asia's first intellectual property office to sign
this advanced form of bilateral cooperation agreement with the EPO
and the world's fourth office. This arrangement means that for
five years, the EPO and MyIPO will work together to make their
patent systems as efficient, user-friendly and predictable as
possible for European and
