A welcome by Javier Rujas, Deputy Director, General Affairs and External Relations Department (OHIM)

Towards the end of the implementation of the first EC financed programme on Intellectual Property Rights in the region of Southeast Asia (ECAP), the Office for Harmonization in the Internal market [OHIM] (trade marks and designs) came into full operation.

Since 1996, we have been administering the Community trade mark system and since 1 January this year the Registered Community design. As an agency of the European Community entrusted with the competence for registering exclusive unitary regional IP rights in Europe, we are proud to be actively involved in ECAP II and in the exchange of dialogue and co-operation with our partners in Southeast Asia, who share the goal of providing optimal IP protection for entrepreneurs and investors in the global market.

ECAP II is a dynamic programme covering all areas of IPRs and whose objectives meet the mutual interest of further strengthening relations between IP Offices and related circles in the Member States of ASEAN and the EU, particularly with the aim of increasing the facilitation and favourable conditions for trade and investment.

We hope this web-site will provide interesting and valuable information to those involved in or keen to know more about intellectual property rights as well as the joint collaboration and initiatives being undertaken between the EU and ASEAN in this ever-evolving domain.

Javier RUJAS Deputy Director General Affairs and External Relations Department