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ECCK Successfully Concludes IPR Conference on AI and IP Protection
The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK), together with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), successfully hosted the 13th Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Conference under the theme “IP Strategies in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” on 9 September. Organised under the EU–RoK IP Action — funded by the European Union and implemented by the EUIPO — the conference brought together over 120 participants from the business, legal, and policy sectors, including members of the Korean Intellectual Property Association (KINPA) and the Korean Patent Attorneys Association (KPAA), and featured distinguished speakers from EUIPO, KIPO, Kim & Chang, CJ CheilJedang, KAI IP Law, Alibaba, and FAIKERZ.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks by Mr Walter van Hattum, Minister Counsellor and Head of Trade Section at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the rapid commercialisation of AI continues to respect ethical values, stressing that technological progress must not lead to social exclusion. Referring to the EU-Korea Digital Partnership Agreement (DPA) and cooperation under Horizon Europe, he highlighted the importance of bilateral efforts to ensure that technological advancements and societal values move forward in harmony.
In his congratulatory address, Dr. Wan-Ki Kim, Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, noted that the adoption of AI has significantly improved operational efficiency within KIPO and is being extended to the broader field of intellectual property protection. He emphasised that KIPO is taking proactive measures against IP crimes in the digital environment, while also cooperating internationally to address new issues such as examination standards for AI-generated inventions.
The main sessions of the conference focused on the use of AI in the public sector, the impact of new technologies on IP protection and enforcement, and the ways in which digitalisation may reshape the fundamentals of IP protection and infringement. Speakers shared insights on AI-related policies and enforcement experiences from both the EU and Korea, the role of AI in brand protection and anti-counterfeiting, and the increasing risks posed by online counterfeits. Mr Chang-Kyo Lee, Deputy Director of the IP Information System Division at KIPO, also delivered a thematic presentation.
A high-level panel discussion, moderated by Mr Rahul Bhartiya, AI Coordinator at EUIPO, further deepened the debate with contributions from Ms Hélène Juramy, Counsellor at the Trade and Economic Section of the EU Delegation; Mr Tae-Hwan Won, Deputy Director of the IP Protection Policy Division at KIPO; Ms Maria Hajiyerou, Foreign Attorney at Kim & Chang; Mr Hojoong Kim, Head of the Trademark Division at CJ CheilJedang; Mr Byung-Joon Bok, Patent & Trademark Attorney at KAI IP Law; Ms Miji Park, Head of Global IP Enforcement at Alibaba; and Mr Jaekyu Lee, CSO of FAIKERZ. Participants reached a consensus on the importance of strengthening international cooperation and adopting innovative approaches to address the emerging challenges at the intersection of AI and intellectual property.
The ECCK extends its sincere gratitude to our partners, EUIPO and KIPO, for their collaboration in making this event possible, and warmly thanks our sponsors, Dentons Lee and FAIKERZ, for their generous support.
Looking ahead, the ECCK IPR Committee will further advance its efforts to safeguard intellectual property rights through the upcoming PR Capacity Building Seminar, which will take place in Seoul and Busan on 10 and 11 September. We invite you to stay engaged with the Committee’s activities.
ECCK Successfully Concludes IPR Conference on AI and IP Protection
The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK), together with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), successfully hosted the 13th Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Conference under the theme “IP Strategies in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” on 9 September. Organised under the EU–RoK IP Action — funded by the European Union and implemented by the EUIPO — the conference brought together over 120 participants from the business, legal, and policy sectors, including members of the Korean Intellectual Property Association (KINPA) and the Korean Patent Attorneys Association (KPAA), and featured distinguished speakers from EUIPO, KIPO, Kim & Chang, CJ CheilJedang, KAI IP Law, Alibaba, and FAIKERZ.
The conference opened with welcoming remarks by Mr Walter van Hattum, Minister Counsellor and Head of Trade Section at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Korea. He underscored the importance of ensuring that the rapid commercialisation of AI continues to respect ethical values, stressing that technological progress must not lead to social exclusion. Referring to the EU-Korea Digital Partnership Agreement (DPA) and cooperation under Horizon Europe, he highlighted the importance of bilateral efforts to ensure that technological advancements and societal values move forward in harmony.
In his congratulatory address, Dr. Wan-Ki Kim, Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office, noted that the adoption of AI has significantly improved operational efficiency within KIPO and is being extended to the broader field of intellectual property protection. He emphasised that KIPO is taking proactive measures against IP crimes in the digital environment, while also cooperating internationally to address new issues such as examination standards for AI-generated inventions.
The main sessions of the conference focused on the use of AI in the public sector, the impact of new technologies on IP protection and enforcement, and the ways in which digitalisation may reshape the fundamentals of IP protection and infringement. Speakers shared insights on AI-related policies and enforcement experiences from both the EU and Korea, the role of AI in brand protection and anti-counterfeiting, and the increasing risks posed by online counterfeits. Mr Chang-Kyo Lee, Deputy Director of the IP Information System Division at KIPO, also delivered a thematic presentation.
A high-level panel discussion, moderated by Mr Rahul Bhartiya, AI Coordinator at EUIPO, further deepened the debate with contributions from Ms Hélène Juramy, Counsellor at the Trade and Economic Section of the EU Delegation; Mr Tae-Hwan Won, Deputy Director of the IP Protection Policy Division at KIPO; Ms Maria Hajiyerou, Foreign Attorney at Kim & Chang; Mr Hojoong Kim, Head of the Trademark Division at CJ CheilJedang; Mr Byung-Joon Bok, Patent & Trademark Attorney at KAI IP Law; Ms Miji Park, Head of Global IP Enforcement at Alibaba; and Mr Jaekyu Lee, CSO of FAIKERZ. Participants reached a consensus on the importance of strengthening international cooperation and adopting innovative approaches to address the emerging challenges at the intersection of AI and intellectual property.
The ECCK extends its sincere gratitude to our partners, EUIPO and KIPO, for their collaboration in making this event possible, and warmly thanks our sponsors, Dentons Lee and FAIKERZ, for their generous support.
Looking ahead, the ECCK IPR Committee will further advance its efforts to safeguard intellectual property rights through the upcoming PR Capacity Building Seminar, which will take place in Seoul and Busan on 10 and 11 September. We invite you to stay engaged with the Committee’s activities.