IP to be major business consideration and vital to Asean

SINGAPORE: With the Asean Economic Community (AEC) likely to result in an increase in intra-Asean trade due to the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, intellectual property (IP) will be a very important consideration for both member countries and businesses operating in the region.

In stating this, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) senior programme officer Peter Willimott said: “It is logical to assume that businesses will look to obtain protection for IP such as trademarks, before commencing exports to a new country within Asean.