In September 2020, European Union Intellectual Property Office published that “Tech Watch” encompasses looking to the future but with a firm understanding of the past and present and awareness of the impact of technology in society, on businesses and in our lives. This discussion paper and possible future editions aim to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of emerging and disruptive technologies and provoke consideration of the impact of these technologies in the future on infringement of intellectual property as well as the protection and enforcement of IP.
The Tech Watch Discussion Paper target to assist the public to comprehensively understand the emerging and disruptive technologies including 3D printing, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, blockchain, and robotics. Furthermore, the impact of these emerging technologies on intellectual property infringement, protection, and law enforcement is the highlight of the Tech Watch.
The Paper pointed out that it is significant to know the technology itself and the market situation, social significance, and related legal issues to understand the influence of emerging technology. Moreover, it is necessary to consider that all of the emerging and disruptive technology could be utilized in the way that benefits intellectual property protection, but could also be used as the tool of intellectual property infringement.
The Paper made discussions around the following issues:
1) Critical Features of the technology
2) Determine essential information resources
3) Impact of technology on society, economy and world trade
4) Cases of intellectual property protection
5) Threats and challenges confronted by intellectual property rights
Opportunities for investigation and law enforcement
