On 15 March this year, 45 candidates for the position of judges and prosecutors from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) were in a visit to the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI).

The purpose of the visit was to familiarize with the national system of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Republic of Moldova, especially with the examination of appeals in the field of intellectual property with the Appeals Board of AGEPI.

In the opening, AGEPI Director General, Octavian Apostol stressed the importance of collaboration between public institutions for the protection of intellectual property system of the Republic of Moldova. Training of persons from the judiciary system in the field of intellectual property will lead to more accurate examination of disputes regarding this area, added Octavian Apostol.

Next, the 45 candidates for the position of judges and prosecutors participated in the working meeting of the Appeals Board of AGEPI, where there were examined appeals concerning several industrial property objects.

Later, Andrei Moisei, coordinator specialist, Training Division of AGEPI, presented to participants a lecture on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Also, the candidates for the position of judge and prosecutor were familiarized with many counterfeit products offered by the Customs Service.

Finally, the participants were present at the pronouncement of decisions on appeals examined in the hearing by the Appeals Board.

In April 2013, AGEPI and NIJ signed a memorandum of cooperation by which have pledged to promote information about the national intellectual property protection system among employees in the justice sector of the Republic of Moldova by organizing information and training events for judges, including inviting experts and specialists from abroad.