A recent article from Asia IP featured insights from two of Tilleke & Gibbins’ IP partners about how IP rights management activities have fared during the COVID-19 crisis. The magazine interviewed IP practitioners from across the Asia Pacific region to get a sense of how companies, legal practitioners, and government IP agencies have been carrying on in the more restrictive atmosphere of lockdowns and precautionary measures.
Alan Adcock, partner and deputy director of the firm’s intellectual property group, talked about how working from home has gone for the firm’s IP specialists. He noted that technology has played an important role in facilitating their continued IP protection efforts despite the interruptions to mail services and document submission: “As more and more IP offices here in Southeast Asia have implemented e-filing of applications and supporting documentation,” he explained, “this has been very helpful to alleviate most of these concerns.”
Darani Vachanavuttivong, co-managing partner of Tilleke & Gibbins and managing director of intellectual property, discussed the recession-proof nature of IP work. “During strong economic cycles, IP is well-funded both on the creation side (in the labs) and the registration side (at the IP offices),” she said. “During downturns, more illegitimate manufacturing happens, particularly here in Asia when factories stand idle and owners face mounting financial pressure from employees, suppliers and lenders. This amounts to greater IP owner emphasis on enforcement and litigation against infringers. It is also a time when IP licensors tend to review relationships with non-performing licensees.”
Alan agreed, emphasizing that the firm’s IP practice has continued smoothly during the crisis. “No matter how long it runs, IP will continue to be an active area, and we are similarly well equipped to continue unhindered by the crisis, no matter how long it continues,” he said.
To read the full article, please visit the Asia IP website.