Name Ulan Melisbek | Education Marmara University | |
Ulan Melisbek (pronounced [uˈlɑn melɪsbek]; born March 31, 1975 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) is one of the first political commentators in Kyrgyz Internet mass media. He founded the virtual Kyrgyz Diaspora's internet domain which was the biggest at the moment it was found. He also opened and maintained the first ever independent internet newspaper for Kyrgyzstan. These internet sites were few sources of information for thousands of Kyrgyz citizens who lived abroad, which covered political situation in Kyrgyz Republic. Ulan Melisbek was one of the most influential oppositioners during March Revolution in 2005 (24 March 2005).
Ulan Melisbek is Intellectual Property expert with over 11 years experience in the Industry both in the private sector as a Patent and Trademark Attorney and in the government as a not-your-typical public servant with experience leading the State Intellectual Property Office of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Mr. Melisbek has started his career as a Patent and Trademark attorney. He has founded the Kyrgyz Patent and Trademark Bureau (KPTB) in October 1999 and has developed the company into a leading Intellectual Property Law firm in the Kyrgyz Republic. Through strategic alliances and exceptional business practices, the firm has built strong rapport with clients such as British Petroleum, Bulgartabak, and major law firms around the world. The firm had specialized on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and industrial designs. Mr. Melisbek personally led and won number of major litigation cases on IPR Infringement in Kyrgyz Republic.
In October 2008, Mr. Melisbek had accepted an offer to lead the Kyrgyz State Patent Office of Intellectual Property. His experience as a private Patent and Trademark attorney and educational credentials from prestigious universities in Kyrgyz Republic, Turkey, and Switzerland had brought a much needed out-of-box thinking to the State Agency, which he led for over a year and a half.
During his tenure, at the Twenty Second Session (Sixteenth Regular) of the Administrative Council of the Eurasian Patent Organization Mr. Melisbek was unanimously elected Deputy Chairman of the EAPO Administrative Council. Similarly, at the 47 series meetings of member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held from September 22 to October 1, 2009 in Geneva (Switzerland), Kyrgyzstan was selected as regional coordinator of the World Intellectual Property Organization for countries that include Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
Mr. Melisbek holds two bachelor's degrees: in Economics and Management from the Marmara University, Istanbul, and in Law from Kyrgyz State University. He also hold a master's degree in International Law and Economics from World Trade Institute - Universities of Bern, Fribourg and Neuchâtel.
Since his departure from the State Intellectual Property Office, Mr. Melisbek has founded Melisbek & Partners Consulting and is dedicating his time to forming strategic partnerships with clients around the globe interested in protecting their IP assets.
WikiLeaks appearance
Mr. Melisbek's name appeared in the leaked diplomatic cable published by WikiLeaks where he was described as "A Kyrgyz government official, who claimed to be a confidant of President Bakiyev's influential son Maxim". According to the cable, Ulan met with the U.S. Government official to offer his help in keeping the Transit Center at Manas open. The Center was supposed to be closed, but Ulan allegedly said that "Maxim was convinced of the benefit of closing the Base, but there was a window of opportunity to "reconvince" Maxim to keep Manas Air Base—if the USG was willing to buy off Maxim".