European Union Integration and IP: Lessons for the AEC

As AEC integration moves closer, the EU and ASEAN are becoming increasingly similar. What follows are some of the key points regarding integration and IP as experienced in the EU, and the lessons they provide for governments and IP owners in ASEAN.

The European Community Trademark and the system under the European Patent Convention allow for Europe-wide protection for these types of IP. What key lessons could the AEC take from the EU's past experiences?

Importantly, the European systems in place are designed to make it easier to obtain IP protection across the whole of Europe. This was needed because goods (and people, capital, and services) can move freely around Europe and so IP protection in all European countries became essential. While ASEAN is not going to go quite as far as totally free movement of goods, rights holders need to be aware that due to the increase in the movement of all types of goods around ASEAN and also coming in to ASEAN countries,