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🍋 It's Official! ECTA 2027 in Sorrento - Early Bird Registration Is Now Open

Early Bird registration is now open HERE for the ECTA 45th Annual Conference “La Dolce IP”, taking place in Sorrento (Italy) on 16-19 June 2027! Sorrento is a highly popular destination, so we strongly recommend registering and booking your accommodation as early as possible.Explore the Conference programme and registration options and fees.PLAN WELL YOUR TRAVEL TO SORRENTO!Before booking your travel, check our Travel to Sorrento Guide for information on airports, transport options, and transfers from Naples to Sorrento.ECTA has secured special rates at the Hilton Sorrento Palace (Conference venue) and other hotels. Rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Accommodation and booking details will be included in your registration confirmation email - please reserve accommodation as early as possible!Members considering applying for a Committee during the ECTA General Committee Elections in January 2027 should note that the first in-person meetings of the newly elected Committees will take place in Sorrento on Wednesday, 16 June 2027, and plan their travel accordingly.CONFERENCE PROGRAMMEGet ready for three days of IP insights, discussions and networking!Topics will include IP valuation, numbers as trade marks, IP protection in the fashion industry, handling cases before the CJEU, trade mark enforcement strategies, domain name disputes, copyright liability for AI training data, and recent EU IP case law. And, as you would expect from ECTA, there will also be plenty of opportunities to network in some of the most beautiful venues!NEW THIS YEAR: ECTA LIFE!Unwind after the busy Conference days with our new ECTA Life initiative - tested for the first time in Sorrento!------👉 Conference sponsorship opportunities are still available! Check our brochure here for available options and contact us at ecta@ecta.org. If you have a different idea or budget, we will be happy to discuss tailored sponsorship opportunities! 👈On Friday afternoon, enjoy some extra free time in beautiful Sorrento: make your own plans with your ECTA friends or take the opportunity to join one of ECTA-organised activities.Places for ECTA-organised activities will be limited, with sign-ups available onsite at badge collection. More details on the activities will follow.

ECTA Staff - Welcoming Kris Keymolen and Team Update

We are pleased to announce that Kris Keymolen will be joining the ECTA Secretariat as Legal Co-Coordinator (Policy) as of November 2026.She joins us following the departure of Anna Ostanina, to whom we extend our heartfelt gratitude for 10 years of dedication and invaluable contributions to ECTA, and wish her all the best in her new position and future endeavours.Kris brings extensive experience in IP law, particularly as a Benelux and European trademark and design attorney. Her professional experience also includes her role as coordinator of another professional IP association, providing her with extensive experience in institutional relations and policy-related activities.Kris is already a familiar face within the ECTA community, having contributed to the Association's work as a longstanding member and former Secretary of the Professional Affairs Committee (now the Professional Affairs and Membership Committee).In her new role, Kris will work alongside Alessia Tozzi, with both jointly responsible for coordinating the work of ECTA Committees and institutional activities. We look forward to working with Kris and wish her a warm welcome to the ECTA Secretariat team!The ECTA Secretariat team will then be re-organised as follows:➤ Policy, institutional relations and communications:Kris Keymolen - Legal Co-Coordinator (Policy focus): coordinates Committee work and institutional activities alongside Alessia, with a focus on policy matters.Alessia Tozzi - Legal Co-Coordinator (Communications focus): coordinates Committee work and institutional activities alongside Kris, with a focus on ECTA communications.➤ Administration, events and accounting:Cathy van Vuuren - Head of Administration: responsible for all administrative matters.Marta Kondor - Events and Membership Coordinator: coordinates membership matters and event organisation.Julian Leuzzi - Accounting Administrator: coordinates accounting matters.

ECTA Mock Mediation Workshop featured in EUIPO’s Alicante News

ECTA is delighted that the article in EUIPO's latest Alicante News on the growing recognition of IP mediation highlights the joint ECTA-EUIPO Mock Mediation Workshop held at the ECTA Annual Conference in Dublin, recognising the important role of user associations in promoting mediation.The article also features insights from Judit Lantos (Chair of the ECTA Mediation Committee and moderator of the Mock Mediation workshop), on how practical simulations help IP practitioners embrace mediation as an effective dispute resolution tool.The full EUIPO article can be read here.

EUIPO Conference on Copyright (6-7 April 2027) - Save the Dates!

We are pleased to inform ECTA members that the EUIPO Conference on Copyright 2027 “Building Europe's Copyright Infrastructure for the Digital and GenAI Era” will take place on 6-7 April 2027 at the EUIPO premises in Alicante.The Conference is organised by the EUIPO Copyright Knowledge Centre and will bring together key stakeholders, including representatives of EU institutions, public authorities, creative industries, technology providers, academia, etc. to discuss the latest developments and challenges in copyright, with a particular focus on digital technologies, generative AI and the future of copyright infrastructure in Europe.The event will include high-level policy discussions, a Technology and Innovation Demo Fair showcasing practical solutions for copyright protection, licensing, rights management, transparency and enforcement, as well as opportunities for networking.Further details, including the programme and registration information, will be made available in due course.We invite all interested ECTA members to save the dates!

ECTA Bulletin (October Edition) Out Now!

ECTA Bulletin (October Edition) Out Now! READ IT HEREIn this particularly rich edition: Many interesting interviews, including with new ECTA President, Paola Ruggiero;Get ready for the 45th ECTA Annual Conference in Sorrento - La Dolce IP! 🍋A focus on geographical indications and insights on the UPC's first three years, SEP and FRAND issues, AI and design law, Ukraine's trade mark reform, dupes in the pharma sector, IP mediation, diversity & inclusion, and much more;Case law highlights, including the Obelix, Animal Farm/1984 and Fauré Le Page cases, plus the latest in our Art. 8(4) EUTMR series, this time focusing on the Benelux;Upcoming 2027 General Committee Elections, Committee updates and a warm welcome to new ECTA members!Interested in advertising in the next ECTA Bulletin? Send an email to ecta@ecta.org to learn more and secure your spot.Thank you to the ECTA Publications Committee for another excellent edition! A print-friendly version is available for members only in the ECTA Library (private site).