The 47th session of the Standing Committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT/47 Committee) was held on March 18-20, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland. The meetings took place in a hybrid mode (with presence in the hall and online participation).

More than 300 representatives from WIPO Member States, international governmental and non-governmental organizations participated in the work of the SCT/47 Committee.

The Republic of Moldova was represented by Cristina Avornic, Deputy Permanent Representative within the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Moldova at the UN Office, WTO and Other International Organizations, and Simion Levitchi, Head of Trademarks and Industrial Design Department, AGEPI.

The meeting of the SCT/47 Committee was opened by Wang Binying, Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization, who emphasized the importance of the current meeting of the Committee to discuss the topics related to trademarks, industrial design and geographical indications.

During the meeting, topics were discussed relating to the development of recommendations concerning industrial design protection for designs for graphical user interfaces (GUI).

According to the agenda, topics related to the nation-country brand protection in Member States were also addressed and several communications were presented during the Information Session on nation-country brands. The communications presented during the information session can be accessed at the address SCT/IS/NB/GE/24.

The subject of geographical indications was addressed during the Information Session with the theme “Trademarks and Geographical Indications: Prior Rights Grounds for Refusal”.

The full agenda of the SCT/47 Committee can be accessed at https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/sct/en/sct_is_geo_ge_24/sct_is_geo_ge_24_1.pdf.