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Artificial intelligence, examiner exchange and IT cooperation

DPMA leadership meets partner offices at international level at the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva - DPMA President: IP system well prepared for new technologies

Press release of 14 July 2025

Geneva/Munich. According to DPMA President Eva Schewior, the German IP system is well prepared for rapid technological progress. "Due to the development of artificial intelligence and other innovations, we are currently experiencing a technological leap in many areas worldwide. With our highly qualified patent examiners, we are well positioned in Germany for the new technologies, especially in connection with artificial intelligence applications, and have a well-established examination practice," said the DPMA President. “Such inventions are of course also eligible for protection if they have sufficient technical relevance.”

Dealing with artificial intelligence and other key technologies was one of the main topics in talks with the heads of other national offices that the DPMA President and Vice-President Dr. Maria Skottke-Klein held in Geneva - for example, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the Japan Patent Office, the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office and the Israel Patent Office. In addition to these discussions, the offices are also exchanging information internationally in order to achieve the greatest possible convergence of framework conditions and examination practices, said Schewior. She emphasized the great importance of the property rights system for the development of new technologies: "Patents are also a highly effective means of protecting digital technologies against imitation and leveraging the economic potential of innovations. They strengthen competitiveness and safeguard investments in research and development."

Another topic of the talks in Geneva was the expansion of the bilateral professional exchange of patent examiners. Such exchanges have already been taking place with some offices, such as the Japanese office, for many years. The DPMA management agreed on closer cooperation with the Ukrainian Intellectual Property Office. Among other things, the DPMA will invite and train Ukrainian examiners at the DPMA. With the Saudi Arabian partner office (SAIP), both sides agreed on closer cooperation and an intensive exchange on IT developments.

DPMA President Eva Schewior also met the German representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Nikola Gillhoff, and WIPO Director General Daren Tang in Geneva. The meeting with the Director General focused on the cooperation between WIPO and the DPMA in various projects - including a joint study on the expectations of small and medium-sized enterprises with regard to the IP system.

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office

Inventiveness and creativity need effective protection. The DPMA is the German centre of expertise for all intellectual property rights - for patents, utility models, trade marks and registered designs. As the largest national patent office in Europe and the sixth largest national patent office in the world, it is committed to Germany’s future as a country of inventors in a globalised economy. Its almost 2,800 staff based at three locations - Munich, Jena and Berlin - are service providers for inventors and companies. They implement the innovation strategies of the Federal administration and develop national, European and international IP systems further.

Pictures: DPMA; WIPO, Emmanuel Berrod

Last updated: 14 July 2025