The 14th International Anti-Counterfeiting Forum in Astana, attended by a delegation from the Eurasian Economic Commission, led by Bakhyt Sultanov, the EEC Minister in charge of Economy and Financial Policy, came to a close.

The Forum's topic, "Digital Economy Without Counterfeiting: Trust and Transparency", was not chosen by chance. According to the participants, this topic directly correlates with the provisions of the Declaration on Further Development of Economic Processes within the EAEU until 2030 and for the period up to 2045, adopted by the heads of state, where the main vectors include digitalization and creation of a seamless legal environment for the protection of rights holders.

 

Discussions unfolded across ten thematic platforms, where representatives from government agencies, businesses, and academia from across the globe discussed pressing issues related to combating counterfeiting and piracy in the economy. Delegates from the World Intellectual Property Organization and a number of other international institutions took part in the Forum. Topics for discussion included digitalization, the implementation of artificial intelligence and neural network technologies in the processes of creating and registering intellectual property, as well as mechanisms for identifying and preventing illegal trade in goods.

"The opportunity to participate in a wide range of international events certainly fuels interest in the Forum," Bakhyt Sultanov, the EEC Minister in charge of Economy and Financial Policy, emphasized. "At the same time, we see a large number of not only in-person participants, but also online listeners. This confirms that the joint fight against counterfeiting is moving into a practical digital realm. We notice positive effects from the implementation of AI tools in intellectual property registration processes and see the need to align approaches to the legal protection of objects created by artificial intelligence."

Forum participants noted the positive effects of "whitening" of the EAEU countries' markets, achieved through the use of blockchain technologies in both intellectual property registration systems and logistics, the use of tools to block digital pirated content, the digitalization of cross-border interactions, and the implementation of digital labeling and product traceability systems.

In addition, the preparation of two key international agreements developed by the Commission jointly with the Union states was discussed: the Agreement to Combat Violations of Intellectual Property Rights on the Internet and the Agreement on a Search Service for Information on Industrial Property Protected in the EAEU Member States.

The implementation of the mechanisms provided for by these agreements will contribute to the activation of intellectual entrepreneurship, creative industries, and the protection of rights of copyright holders within the Union. Our immediate plans include developing approaches to the legal protection of intellectual property created by or using AI, as well as preparing recommendations for the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.