Attended the APAA 2025 Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I attended the APAA (Asian Patent Attorneys Association) Annual Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 6 to 10, 2025. The APAA Annual Meetings are international conferences attended by patent attorneys from around the world, mainly from the Asia-Pacific region. This year’s APAA brought together approximately 1,500 participants, and I had the opportunity to interact with many people, including long-standing associates as well as new contacts I met during the event.

Through this business trip, I was reminded once again that being a patent and trademark attorney is a truly unique profession that allows us to connect with people around the world through Intellectual Property and work together across borders. I also felt that international conferences provide a valuable opportunity to meet such colleagues in person and serve as a major source of motivation in our daily practice.

During the excursion program, we visited Batu Caves (a Hindu temple), a mosque, and a Chinese temple, which allowed me to experience the rich diversity of religious cultures.

Kuala Lumpur is lined with skyscrapers such as the Petronas Twin Towers, as well as enormous shopping malls, giving a strong sense of the city’s dynamism.

It was a highly fulfilling trip that allowed me to experience the vibrant energy of Malaysia.

Written by Chikako Tsunoda, Patent and Trademark Attorney, Trademark Group