The EUIPO Observatory has made available the second edition of the “Tech Watch Discussion Paper 2023”, prepared with the support of the Expert Group on the Impact of Technology.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office’s (EUIPO) Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights has made available the second edition of the “Tech Watch Discussion Paper 2023”, prepared with the support of the Expert Group on the Impact of Technology.
This report is based on the examination of nine emerging technologies (Robotics, 3D Printing, Nanotechnology, Space Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Quantum Computing, 5G/6G Mobile Networks, Blockchain and Distributed Accounting Technology – DLT).
As a consequence of the increasing focus on environmental protection, sustainable development and the need to address the challenges of climate change, this discussion paper added a number of considerations on the impact that technologies have on these issues and proceeded to an analysis on how IP infringement can pose a threat to the green transition and how IP protection and enforcement can positively contribute to the green agenda.
Following discussions at the four Tech Watch workshops and other interactions with the expert group since 2019, it was concluded as a general observation that all technologies have proven to be relevant emerging and disruptive technologies that impact business, the economy, the environment, government administration, and the daily lives of many people, and represent potential challenges and/or opportunities for IP.
The first edition of this document was published in September 2020 and reflected the discussions of the first Tech Watch workshop, which brought together experts around the impact of technology to, among other objectives, identify new technologies with outcomes on IP protection, infringement and enforcement. This new version reflects the conclusions of the next and last three workshops of this group.
EUIPO, through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, develops tools and promotes best practices to develop the protection of intellectual property (IP) as an essential asset for businesses and individuals.
