APEC Intellectual Property Rights
Experts’ Group
Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China,
11 March 2026
As governments across the Asia-Pacific
tighten oversight of artificial intelligence, confront
rising digital piracy and look for new ways to finance
innovation, intellectual property (IP) policymakers have
moved to place patent, trademark and copyright systems at
the center of economic strategy.
At their 62nd plenary
meeting held last month in Guangzhou, experts from APEC
member economies examined how IP frameworks can help
economies respond to rapid technological change, deepen
regional trade links and broaden access to finance for
innovative firms.
“In a global economy where ideas
and data move faster than goods, intellectual property
policy cannot remain static,” María Gloria Riethmüller,
Chair of the APEC Intellectual Property Rights Experts’
Group said.
“Our task is to ensure that intellectual
property systems are practical tools for trade, investment
and innovation, while remaining inclusive and responsive to
new technologies,” she added.
A central theme was
how IP provisions are evolving in trade agreements at a time
when supply chains are being reshaped and digital trade is
expanding. Officials exchanged experiences on how patent and
copyright rules are incorporated into bilateral and regional
agreements, and how such provisions can better support
smaller firms seeking to enter foreign markets.
Access
to finance featured prominently in the discussions. With
many smaller enterprises lacking traditional collateral,
several economies outlined policies that allow companies to
use patents and trademarks as security for loans. Others
shared approaches to valuing intellectual property and
building financial services tailored to innovative
firms.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging
technologies were also high on the agenda. Economies
presented how patent and copyright offices are using digital
tools to speed up examination and improve accuracy, while
also addressing new questions raised by AI-generated content
and the use of data for training systems. The exchanges
reflected growing recognition that IP rules must adapt as
technology outpaces traditional regulatory
models.
Enforcement remained another focus,
particularly considering the expansion of online
marketplaces and cross-border e-commerce. Officials reviewed
measures to combat counterfeit goods, digital piracy and
trade secret theft, and discussed closer cooperation among
administrative, judicial and customs authorities. Stronger
enforcement, participants noted, underpins consumer trust
and fair competition.
“Every topic in the agenda has
a role to play in economic growth and prosperity in our
region,” Riethmüller said, highlighting the group’s
efforts to advance initiatives that expand opportunities for
creators and innovators, “especially small businesses,
women, youth and vulnerable groups”
As intangible
assets account for an increasing share of business value in
the region, the discussions signalled that IP policy is no
longer a technical legal matter alone, but a key lever for
trade, innovation and inclusive growth across the
Asia-Pacific.
