On May 17-18, 2019, Regional Educational, Scientific and Practical Law Centre of Polotsk State University held an International Scientific and Practical Conference “Legal Protection of Intellectual Property: Theoretical and Practical Problems”, organized by the Department of Civil Law.
It was the first time the conference was held in the BARCAMP format. This format differs greatly from the well-known forms of holding the scientific events. BARCAMP is an innovative informal educational conference that is open for everyone and comprises reports, lectures, trainings, presentations, discussions, master classes, pitches and role-plays.
There were several platforms for discussion:
I platform: «IP-Battle» on the topic of legal protection of intellectual property in the Republic of Belarus. The students of the Faculty of Law and experts from the National Center of Intellectual Property and the National Centre of Legislation and Legal Research of the Republic of Belarus participated in the platform. Among the experts were Sergey Losev, PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Lead Researcher at the National Centre of Legislation and Legal Research of the Republic of Belarus and Yekaterina Yantikova, Lead Specialist of Rights Management and International Agreements at the National Center of Intellectual Property. The participants discussed the issues of whether hashtags and funfics are subject matters of the intellectual property.
II platform: presentation “Naming and Redesign of FMCG products of Unitary Enterprise ‘Polotsk Diary Plant’”. The participants observed the topic of intellectual property in relation to trademarks and geographical indications. Natalia Zelenskaya, a lawyer and a graduate of the Faculty of Law at PSU, announced the topic. In addition, there was a possibility to taste diverse products provided by Polotsk Diary Plant during the work of the platform.
III platform: Kambariddina Mekhmonova, PhD in Law, a representative of the Department of Civil Law at Tashkent State University of Law, Sergey Losev, PhD in Law, Associate Professor, Lead Researcher at the National Centre of Legislation and Legal Research of the Republic of Belarus and Oleg Latyshevich, a judge of the panel on the Issues of Intellectual Property at Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus, provided public lectures on various topics related to the intellectual property.
IV platform: researchers and legal practitioners provided presentations on the topical issues of legal protection of intellectual property. It should be noted that the following students of the Faculty of Law at PSU delivered their presentations: Anastasia Senkevich (a 3rd-year student), Daria Bobkova (a 3rd-year student), Aleksandra Pazik (a 3rd-year student) and Tatiana Kolodelchik (a 3rd-year student).
The conference united the researchers from Belarus, Russia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Switzerland and France. Of particular note is the support of the National Center of Intellectual Property and WIPO. In addition, we would like to thank the professors from Sorbonne for participation. Moreover, the collection of conference proceedings has been published. We hope that this innovative form of holding the conferences will become more established at Polotsk State University.
Сборник материалов конференции
Vladimir Bogonenko, Head at the Department of Civil Law