Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Signed with the Polish Patent Office

The Icelandic Intellectual Property Office (ISIPO) and the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) have formalized plans to strengthen their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Warsaw last week by Borghildur Erlingsdóttir, Director General of ISIPO, and Edyta Demby-Siwek, President of the UPRP.

Under the MOU, the two offices aim to share information and expertise related to service offerings and their development, the evolution of intellectual property rights in their respective countries, and international cooperation. During the meeting in Warsaw, ISIPO’s representatives showcased several initiatives, including the agency’s digital transformation journey, which has attracted significant attention of other IP offices, as well as its promotional and marketing efforts and statistics on applications and granted rights. Both offices also presented overviews of their operations, identifying commonalities and differences in how intellectual property rights are protected in Iceland and Poland.
Edyta Demby-Siwek, President of the Polish Patent Office and soon-to-be Deputy Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), highlighted her enthusiasm for enhanced cooperation with Iceland. She noted that the interest is partly due to the fact that Poles constitute the largest immigrant group in Iceland. She expressed confidence that the deepened collaboration would yield mutual benefits for both institutions.

Borghildur Erlingsdóttir, Director General of the ISIPO, also expressed her satisfaction with the planned partnership. She emphasized that approximately 8% of Iceland’s population has Polish roots and highlighted the recent establishment of an Icelandic Embassy in Warsaw. "Although our offices differ in size, we address many similar challenges. We receive a significant number of trademark applications from Polish applicants, and many Icelandic companies seek patents for their inventions in Poland. For instance, Polish entities currently hold over 300 registered trademarks in Iceland. Clearly, there is much that our offices can learn from each other, and I am very pleased with the signing of this MOU."