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IP should be part of Blockchain Education Program in Kazakhstan, says Almaty lawyer
01 February 2023
Saule Akhmetova, partner and branch director at GRATA Law Firm in Almaty, said that intellectual property should be part of the recently launched Blockchain Education Program in Kazakhstan.
The program is poised to deliver blockchain and cryptocurrency education to 40,000 people in the country by 2026.
In December 2022, representatives from leading blockchain platform Binance, the Research Lab ‘Blockchain Center’ developed by the Center for the Development of Payment and Financial Technologies of the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Astana Hub, the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry and the Ministry of Education of Kazakhstan, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to officially launch the Blockchain Education Program for universities in Kazakhstan.
“Registering a patent based on blockchain is widespread in financial and other industries. Large global companies register dozens or hundreds of patents based on blockchain technology. Students should understand how to protect the invention they create, to eliminate the risks of infringement of their rights,” explained Akhmetova.
“In the field of IP, blockchain will play a significant role in digitalization and minimizing the risks of IP infringement,” she added.
Citing a blockchain registry of IP objects as an example, Akhmetova said the registry will store an immutable record of events related to a registered IP right, such as the first trademark application, registration, first use in a commercial activity, patent registration, assignment and others. These will be useful when conducting audit of IP rights and due diligence. It will also simplify the process of compiling, storing and presenting relevant evidence.
Blockchain technology can also provide information on the actual use and frequency of trademark use; proof of creation of copyright objects as well as their use and status, and review and use of posted material; storage, distribution and transfer of information on IP rights and licensees.
And, it helps combat counterfeit products.
“Blockchain registries containing information about IP rights make it possible to verify the origin of a product because they can record objectively verifiable information about the place and time of production of the product, data about the production process and the sources of raw materials. Placing scannable blockchain tags on products would allow customs authorities to verify the authenticity of goods on the spot,” Akhmetova revealed.
- Espie Angelica A. de Leon
