What is the “independentprotection” principle?

The principle of independent protection refers to the idea that a country's laws and regulations determine the acquisition and protection of intellectual property (IP) rights within that country. This principle ensures that other member countries do not have any influence over a country's IP laws. For instance, the granting of a patent or trademark in one country does not guarantee the same outcome in another country. If a patent is invalidated in one country, it does not necessarily mean that it will also be invalidated in another country.

The principle of independent protection represents a country's national sovereignty. Each member country has the right to decide independently whether to grant an IP right and determine the extent of its protection based on its unique domestic conditions and national interests.