On 04-07 November 2017, Head of LSM Intellectual Property (“IP”) Group, Mr. Aga Nugraha, attended the 67th Asian Patent Attorney Association (“APAA”) Council Meeting in Auckland, New Zealand. Around 1400 participants were present in the four-day conference, which consists of a series of meetings, workshop sessions, networking and hospitality events, as well as a variety of excursion activities ranging from APAA Golf Tournament, Ruakuri Cave, Hobbiton site to Auckland Harbour Cruise, to name but a few.

The conference was a great opportunity for IP lawyers from Asian region (including Australia and New Zealand) to connect and exchange information on latest developments and updates in the IP landscape and regulatory framework and the resulting opportunities and challenges in their respective jurisdictions.

Some of the emerging issues discussed in the conference exemplify how certain IP-related matters in certain jurisdictions, including Indonesia, require further discourse. Case in point: issues related to the application of antitrust rules in IP. The position of Indonesian regulatory framework and judicial pronouncements (or lack thereof) in this particular area is not as clear as, for instance, the divergence between the EU and US over the application of antitrust rules to IP rights as highlighted in various high-profile cases involving, in particular, the IT industry and IP rights.

In closing, it was a real pleasure meeting familiar and new faces alike as well as connecting with APAA members and observers from around the world.

Kudos to APAA and this year’s organising committee for successfully organising the 67th Council Meeting in Auckland, and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year in New Delhi, India. Kia ora!

If you have any questions, please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it