Bolivia and Peru Partner to Combat Piracy and Protect Traditional Knowledge

By PPO Abogados

The Intellectual Property Offices of Bolivia and Peru have recently entered into an agreement aimed at enhancing collaborative efforts in the field of intellectual property.

This agreement encompasses three key objectives:

-Facilitating a comprehensive mechanism for the exchange of information and experiences in combating piracy at the border. This includes provisions for training, technical assistance, and joint organization of events on various relevant topics.

-Strengthening the exchange of information concerning geographical indications, appellations of origin, and the safeguarding of traditional knowledge belonging to indigenous communities. Efforts will be made to promote activities that protect and preserve their cultural heritage.
-Providing training to officials from both Offices on various aspects of intellectual property, including copyright laws, regulations pertaining to collective management societies, certification marks, distinctive signs, patents, utility models, industrial designs, and layout-designs of integrated circuits.

Furthermore, the agreement seeks to advance automation and modernization projects within Customs departments. This entails the development of new systems for handling registration procedures, document classification and tracking, and process administration. Technical assistance will be provided for implementing database systems, technological platforms, and security measures to ensure effective information control and management."

There are 11 border customs between Bolivia and Peru. The most popular border crossing between both countries is Desaguadero, which is located on the shores of Lake Titicaca. This border crossing is the busiest in South America, with over 50,000 people crossing it every day. The other border crossings between Bolivia and Peru are less busy, but they are still popular with tourists and travelers.

Piracy of products in Bolivia is a widespread problem. It is estimated that the rate of piracy in Bolivia is as high as 98% for some products. Therefore, addressing the problem of piracy in Bolivia will require a concerted effort from the government, businesses, and consumers, and also other governments.