OPEN FORUM & EXCO PRAGUE, 6-12 October 2002 Formal and social activities
	For the second time in the history of FICPI both the above significant events of FICPI were held successively in one city. The EXCO opened about 7 weeks after the terrible floods which had affected a large part of the Czech Republic including Prague. Both events took place in the Hilton hotel, whose conference rooms were flooded only a few weeks previously. Nevertheless, the hotel management had ensured that the guest rooms and all conference rooms, including the Ballroom, where the EXCO meeting was held, were without any trace of damage. The opening ceremony of EXCO was held in Troja Castle, a former hunting castle of a Czech noble family, situated in an outlying quarter of Prague. After short welcome speeches from the President of FICPI, Malcolm Royal, and the Czech delegate, Josef Smola, the Nostic Quartet played a short concert. At the opening of the EXCO meeting distinguished guests, Mr Shozo Uemura and Mr Jürgen Schmid-Dwertmann (WIPO), Mr Michael Kirk (AIPLA), Mr Vincenzo Pedrazzini (AIPPI), Mr Espinoza Bellido (ASIPI), Mr Ichio Shamoto (APAA) and Dr Dieter Behrens (UNION) reported on behalf of their respective organisations. As it was in Prague, also the President of the Czech Patent and Trademark Office (Industrial Property Office) Mr Karel Cada, spoke, explaining the long history and tradition of industrial property protection and of the Czech Patent and Trademark Office and its predecessors, the Czechoslovak Patent Office and Patent Office of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The Vice-President of the Chamber of Czech Patent Attorneys, Mr Frantisek Kania, mentioned in his speech especially the history of Patent Attorneys in Czechoslovakia including their qualification and examination in the period between both World Wars and nowadays. EXCO, as usual, discussed, negotiated and decided many topics and at the end of its sessions it also adopted several resolutions which are expected to be published in this issue of FICPI Information and which will also be on the FICPI website. The summaries of individual EXCO papers given to all delegates were of valuable assistance in dealing with the large number of papers. The social program was excellent and accompanying persons had the opportunity of several sightseeing tours of Prague. On Monday, the evening program was held at the restaurant "U Rotta" with two folk bands and Bohemian and Moravian folk songs. The second day of the EXCO finished with a Gala dinner in the Zofín Palace, on Slovansky ostrov (Slavic island) on the Vltava (Moldau) river in Prague. This Palace was built in the first half of the 19th century for significant meetings, balls and other social events. It is interesting that the Czech composer Bedrich Smetana, founder of Czech national music, as a young man played his piano compositions for the first time in Zofín Palace. The Open Forum in Prague October 9 to 12, 2002, was attended by 322 participants and 137 accompanying persons, a very good number in view of the floods in the Czech Republic. Before the opening cocktail, held in the Ballroom of the Hilton hotel in the evening of 9 October 2002, a meeting of FICPI officials with Czech patent attorneys - possible new members of FICPI - was arranged. First the President of FICPI, Mr. Malcolm Royal, explained the aims and basic principles of FICPI and then all the present officials - Malcolm Royal, Jean-Jacques Joly, John Orange, Michele Mannucci as well as Mrs. Royal and Mrs. Ahner had individual discussions with the Czech patent attorneys (about 15) and their accompanying persons. Finally they all joined the opening cocktail. This meeting was an excellent introduction to FICPI for possible new members. The opening speech of the Open Forum on the morning of Thursday, October 10, was made by the Lord Mayor of Prague Mr. Igor Nemec. He expressed thanks for FICPI deciding to have such a significant meeting in Prague and mentioned also the role of Czech patent attorneys during the initial stage of the Czech Republic membership in the European Patent Organisation. The President Mr. Malcolm Royal in his reply expressed appreciation that Prague was ready to welcome visitors within such a short period after the floods. On Thursday, October 10, all participants and all accompanying persons spent the evening in the restaurant area of Strahov Cloister founded in 1140 by the Czech King Vladislav II. A pleasant atmosphere and beer from the cloister brewery contributed to a good humour and mood of all participants. The program for accompanying persons comprised two tours - a visit to the most important monuments of the Jewish town of Prague and the following day a visit to the most interesting monuments characterising Prague as the imperial town, especially the Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Lesser Town and Charles Bridge. It is a pity that in consequence of the floods some of the buildings and places of the Jewish Town were not opened as yet. The Open Forum ended with a Final Banquet at Obecní dom (Municipal House) built in 1905 - 1911 in the art-nouveau style and decorated by many famous artists. The Smetana Hall of the Municipal House formed a magnificent and beautiful setting for the final review of the Open Forum by the President of FICPI and for a festive conclusion of this event. On Saturday optional trips to Karlovy Vary and Kutná Hora were arranged. Karlovy Vary is a famous spa town situated in the West Bohemia, about 130 km from Prague. In the Middle Ages Kutná Hora (it could be translated as the Mining Mountain) was a very important and rich town thanks to its then prosperous silver mines.
	Josef Smola             President of the Czech Section of FICPI
	Letter from the President Prague/FORUM & EXCO    Prague/Working Program    Prague/RESOLUTIONS WIPO meeting    US Strategic Plan-AIPLA/USPTO New Swiss Design Law    President's letter re Berlin Congress Impressions of Prague    Welcome to new Members    Stop Press CET NEWS and CET Papers: CET Activities Report    Reform - CTM System FICPI's comments on: EU Community Design Draft Implementary Regulations FICPI Position Paper: DRAFT SPLT: technical character, utility and industrial application FICPI Position Paper: DRAFT SPLT: Observations by Third Parties back to NEWSLETTER 51 - Contents Page