A meeting of patent office chiefs from 12 Asian countries started today in Tokyo, the Patent Office said Monday.
Participants will discuss global issues such as a revision of the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the possible launch of a Web site to allow the exchange of information on patent applications and their screenings, Patent Office officials said. The meeting is sponsored by the World Intellectual Property Organization
Nine countries of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- as well as China, Japan and South Korea are taking part in the event.
The participants will also discuss cooperation in cracking down on illegally copied products.
The initial meeting will be followed Wednesday and Thursday by an expanded one that will include patent office chiefs from 12 other Asia-Pacific nations.
Toshiba Corp. President Tadashi Okamura and Yasutaka Murata, president of Murata Mfg. Co., as well as representatives from Australia and India will take part in the expanded round of the meeting as guest speakers.