BiotechCorp Annual Report 2007 - Malaysian Biotechnology ...

The Legal And Regulatory Framework
BiotechCorp continued to enhance the
legal and regulatory framework for
the industry. The various initiatives undertaken
by BiotechCorp focused on
IP and Intellectual Asset Management.
These included benchmarking studies,
law reviews, advocacy, issues identification
and solutions.
The programmes launched included:
• Certified Programme for
Intellectual Property Manager
Launched in partnership with the
Malaysian Institute of Management
on 21 November 2007, the Certified
Programme for Intellectual Property
Manager (CPIPM) provided profes-
sional certification for IP practitioners.
The programme offered an entre-
preneurial approach for the commer-
cialisation of IP. Topics covered
include a background of the
different IP rights and laws, IP
Portfolio Management and Commer-
cialisation of IP.
Fifteen participants from public
universities as well as BioNexus
companies were certified in 2007.
• International Benchmarking Study
on IP
Using international best practices,
the International Benchmarking Study
reviewed practices to improve the
Malaysian IP framework.
Findings from the benchmarking study
will be presented to the MyIPO.
• Patent Examiner Outsourcing
Programme
A joint MyIPO-BiotechCorp project,
the programme aimed to address the
current patent examination backlog
and reduced the period taken by
MyIPO to grant biotechnology related
patents.
A total of four biotechnology patent
examiners were deployed to the
Australian Patent Office where
they were trained by experienced
Australian patent examiners.
• International Exchange Programme
for Patent Examiners
Another joint MyIPO-BiotechCorp
initiative, this programme aimed to
enhance the proficiency of Malaysian
biotechnology patent examiners and
to foster closer ties with leading
international Intellectual Property
Offices.
MyIPO-BiotechCorp secured agree-
ments in 2007 with the European
and Korean Patent Offices where
each patent office will host four
Malaysian patent examiners for
training.
• Establishment of an International
Depository Authority for patent
procedure
Yet another joint MyIPO-
BiotechCorp collaboration, the
establishment of an IDA will boost
the development of Malaysia’s
biotechnology industry. The IDA will
also meet Malaysia’s obligations
under the Budapest Treaty on the
International Recognition of the
Deposit of Micro-organisms for the
Purposes of Patent Procedure.
As of 2005, the Treaty comprised
signatories from 65 countries. Under
the treaty, a person who wished to
patent an invention internationally
is allowed to deposit the micro-
organism at one recognised institution
instead of in each country who is
party to the Treaty. Thus, the Treaty
shortened the time and reduced the
expenses for filing patents which will
benefit the Malaysian biotechnology
sector.
33