The Seminar is sponsored by the Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), the Patent and Trademark Office of Latvia and the Patent Bureau of Lithuania.  CIPR is a private-public partnership dedicated solely to advancing intellectual property rights protection and reform in the Baltic States, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries

WHO: Top international and regional government, judicial and business leaders dedicated to protecting intellectual property rights and fighting counterfeits in the Baltic Countries.  Confirmed participants include senior decision-makers from the Baltic patent and trademark offices, USPTO, World Intellectual Property Organization, World Customs Organization, International Trademark Association, and other leading business and professional organizations.

WHAT: An exclusive, invitation-only Seminar encouraging honest and open exchange of information, ideas and insights to advance intellectual property rights reform in the region.  Timely and informative panels featuring leading business, legal and government experts on the protection and enforcement of trademarks, patents and other industrial property.  Featured topics range from the economic impact of intellectual property  in terms of investment, growth and integration to famous marks, the Internet and domain names, geographic indications, EU accession, the role of customs in anti-counterfeiting, the role of the courts in enforcing IPR, and technical assistance and training.  Opening and closing receptions will provide informal opportunities for relationship building and information sharing. 

WHERE: The Latvian Society House, RIGA, LATVIA

WHY: Government leaders, legislators, regulators, enforcement authorities and judicial officials throughout the Baltic States are working to improve their nations’ intellectual property protection systems to make them compliant with international standards and obligations—and to protect domestic and international IP owners. At the same time, the United States Trade Representative recently placed the Baltic countries on its "Watch" lists for failing to adequately protect and enforce intellectual property rights.  And, the European Union continues to cite intellectual property infringements as a significant concern in many countries of the region.

IPR violations cost government and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars each year.  For the region's governments, IPR violations result in millions of dollars of uncollected revenues from counterfeit products evading taxes and duties.  They also serve as barriers to new investments and efforts to join and/or comply with the World Trade Organization.

The Baltic Region Seminar will foster dialogue, build alliances and promote common understanding among the most respected international and regional government and business leaders with the goal of advancing practical changes and improvements in IPR protection and enforcement in the Baltic States.

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