Asian Patent Attorneys Association

Dear APAA Family and Friends:

At the opening ceremonies of our Council Meeting in Adelaide last November 2007, I termed the event the APAA Family Grand Reunion. It seems only yesterday when we were together, and here we are again preparing for the next Grand Reunion.

Well, the next Council Meeting will be in Singapore, this time on October 18 to 21, 2008. The venue of our meetings will be the Suntec Singapore International Convention Centre and our official hotels are some of the most renowned names in the hotel industry.

Both a city and a country, Singapore is situated at the lower tip of the Malay Peninsula. It has been aptly described as the “Beating Heart of Asia”. This readily suggests that it is the hub of commercial activity and the center of an excellent business infrastructure --- what with its world-class airport, its blend of modern and historical buildings fleshed by multi-national enterprises and supported by English speaking and disciplined people. The variety of excellent food and the unique character of its tourist attractions are magnets by themselves that draw visitors to Singapore. It is, indeed Asia’s Convention City.

It is therefore my pleasure to extend a cordial invitation to all members and observers of APAA to come to Singapore this coming October to savor, once again, the warm friendships we have nurtured through the years, to enjoy the fun and fellowship among friends, and avail of excellent opportunities for networking. Not to be overshadowed will be the educational workshops and updates in IP developments in Asia, as well as the social programs, that we in Headquarters and our hardworking Singapore host group are preparing specially for you. Needless to say, we will be pleased to welcome as well your accompanying family persons and accompanying office personnel. Further, your attendance at our APAA Grand Reunion may very well be an opportunity to visit one or two other Asian countries for a truly memorable vacation trip.

I urge you, therefore, to allow once again the virus of the APAA “FLU” – Friendship, Love and Understanding --- to infect you and drive you into registering for the APAA 2008 Singapore Council Meeting. See you there!

Manila, February 5, 2008

APAA holds a Council Meeting every year and a General Assembly once every three years at various locations within the Asian Region. The meetings and assemblies are generally very well attended by members and observers.

Attendance at APAA meetings is strictly regulated by its Statutes and Regulations.

A General Assembly may be attended by

(1) an individual member;
(2) not more than 3 representatives of an organisation member;
(3) an official guest invited by the President;
(4) an observer, subject to the following:

(a)

(b)

(c)

if the observer is from outside the Asian Region, he or she must hold professional qualifications which would entitle him or her to membership in the Association had the observer been resident in the region;
if the observer resides or works within the Asian Region and holds professional qualifications which would entitle him or her to membership in the Association, he or she can only attend one meeting as an observer; and if the observer resides within an area represented by a Recognised Group, his or her sponsorship must be approved by that Recognised Group.
the observer must be sponsored in writing in the prescribed form by an individual member and is subject to approval by the Secretary General.

A Council Meeting may be attended by

(1) a Council member;
(2) an official guest invited by the President;
(3) an observer who shall be

(a)
(b)

an individual member who is not a Council member;
not more than 3 representatives of an organisation member;

In particular, please note the following:

1.

2.

3.

If you are qualified to practise the profession of patent attorney and
reside in the Asian Region but are not an APAA member, you can
attend only one APAA meeting as an observer. Thereafter, you must
become an APAA member in order to attend any APAA meeting. Please
see Join APAA for membership information.
If you are qualified to practise the profession of patent attorney and reside outside the Asian Region, you can oniy attend APAA meetings as an observer, subject to sponsorship approval.
If you are not qualified to practise the profession of patent attorney, you can attend APAA meetings as

(a) an Accompanying Family Person of an APAA member or as an observer; or
(b) an Accompanying Office Personnel of an APAA member in the same firm.

In November 2007, the 54th Council Meeting was held in Adelaide, Australia on November 17 - 20, 2007. The 55th Council Meeting will be held in Singapore on October 18 – 21, 2008. The brochure and registration form concerning the meeting will be sent to the APAA members and selected observers prior to the meeting. If you are a patent attorney or an attorney-at-law, are not in the mailing list of observers and would like to attend the meeting in Australia, please let us have your name as well as your firm name and address. We shall issue the brochure and registration form to you as soon as there are places available.

Meetings

2008
(18 – 21 October 2008)

55th Council Meeting
Singapore please click www.apaa2008.com