SMEs Told To Protect Property Rights
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - The small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) from this region are overlooking the protection of the intellectual property rights as they give more emphasis on securing physical and tangible assets.

Speaking at the launch of a two-day World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) national seminar on intellectual property for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs yesterday, Solicitor General of the Attorney General's Chambers Datin Magdelene Chong said, "Most SMEs do not take measures necessary for the protection, management and enforcement of their intellectual property rights, for the purpose of obtaining the best possible results through their ownership of such rights.

"Towards achieving a level of awareness on the importance of protecting intellectual property rights, the Registry of Trade Marks and Patents have organised and will continue to hold road shows for the business community and at schools," she added.

Datin Magdalene said the primary aim of the seminar is to raise awareness on the relevance of intellectual property of SMEs. This fact is usually lost in the hustle and bustle of business survival.

"When an intellectual property right is created, used and enforced in the right way by an enterprise, it becomes a valuable asset to that enterprise. That asset can potentially provide the enterprise with a steady stream of income through licensing and franchising arrangements.

"Of course, before an intellectual property, which may come in various forms such as trademarks, patents, industrial designs and copyright and other related rights, can become a valuable asset or source of income, a great deal of effort, money and know-how has to go into its creation, protection, branding and marketing," she added.

As part of the continuous efforts of the Government of His Majesty in delivering better services to the people of Brunei, she said the Registry of Trade Marks will be launching an electronic registry system for Trade Marks.

The system is expected to be ready for use in September this year. When launched, the system will allow for a quicker and more accurate search of registered trade marks maintained by the Registry.

It will also enable trade mark owners and applicants to make applications for registration of trade marks and applications to update their particulars online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Registry of Trade Marks and Patents will also relocate to its new premises at the Law and Courts building in the first week of May. The new premises will offer better amenities and a more comfortable environment for its users, Datin Magdalene said.

The holding of this seminar in Brunei is timely and complements the efforts of the Government of His Majesty through the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and the Brunei Economic Development Board to develop the role of SMEs in the economy of Brunei, strengthen their capabilities in an ever increasing competitive environment and to sustain their development in an era of globalisation.

Meanwhile, Chairman of BEDB, Timothy Ong, said the seminar is timely especially in the lead-up to the establishment of Brunei's first SME Innovation Centre.

Topics presented yesterday were centred on two themes, `Promoting the Use of Intellectual Property Instruments by SMEs' and 'IP Assets and SMEs'. Providing the business perspectives were BEDB's potential technology collaborators, Sun Microsystems, represented by Alvin Chia, who presented `Building IP with Sun on Java technologies', and Tengku Farith Rithauddeen who presented `What You Need Before IP and How It Pushes Your Business' on behalf of SKALI.

The seminar is organised by WIPO in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, the AG's Chambers and Brunei Economic Development Board. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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