As of today, 20 October 2025, the SME Fund has reopened applications for the following vouchers, thanks to new funds made available:Voucher 1 - IP Scan (IP pre-diagnostic service) and IP Scan EnforcementVoucher 2 - Trade Marks and DesignsVoucher 3 – PatentsSince its launch in 2021, the SME Fund has supported over 95.000 SMEs across the EU in protecting their IP and fostering innovation.All SMEs established in the EU are eligible to apply for a grant. Owners, authorised employees or external representatives can apply. Applications can be filed until funds are exhausted. To find out more and apply, please visit the official SME Fund website.----In line with the European Commission and EUIPO’s focus on SMEs, ECTA established the SME Task Force, now SME-Link Committee. This Committee ensures coordination on this topic with all ECTA Committees, as well as active participation in EU discussions and initiatives related to SMEs. ECTA aims to promote a more effective use of IP by SMEs while highlighting the key role of IP practitioners in this process.

By Marius Schneider (ECTA International Trade Committee, IPvocate, Belgium) and Rubina Cateau (IPvocate Africa, Mauritius)Effective 1 December 2025, Tanzania will implement a mandatory trade mark recordation system for all imported goods. The system, introduced under Section 11A of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1963 (as amended by the Finance Act, 2025) and the Merchandise Marks (Recordation) Regulations, 2025, will be administered by the Fair Competition Commission (FCC).Under the new regime, any trade mark appearing on goods imported into Mainland Tanzania must be recorded with the Chief Inspector of Merchandise Marks at the FCC, regardless of where the mark is registered in Tanzania or not.This Recordation with the FCC is distinct from the trade mark registration procedure (which is a prerequisite).Recordation ProcessApplications for recordation must include:Details of the applicant, including nationality or jurisdiction of incorporation;Place of manufacture of the goods;Samples or clear images of the goods bearing the mark;Certified copies of the trade mark registration certificate;Information on authorised licensees or distributors; andPayment of the prescribed fee.Where the application is submitted by an agent, a Power of Attorney must also be provided.Recordations will be valid for one year and renewable annually. Goods without valid recordation may be detained or refused clearance at the border. The law also imposes penalties for false or misleading information provided in recordation applications.Rationale and Enforcement ImpactThe Tanzanian authorities have stated that the system is intended to combat counterfeit and infringing goods by enabling customs officials to quickly verify trade mark ownership and identify unrecorded or suspicious imports. The creation of a centralised register is expected to strengthen the country’s border enforcement capabilities.Implications for Right HoldersThis development marks a significant procedural change in Tanzania’s trade mark enforcement landscape. The measure applies to Mainland Tanzania only, but goods transiting through the mainland en route to Zanzibar will also be subject to these requirements.Our take on this RecordationNeighbouring Kenya has implemented a similar mandatory Recordation of trade marks with the Ant-Counterfeit Authority. Unlike what is the case in Tanzania, the absence of recordation in Kenya is a criminal offence. The Kenyan example has shown that there are major practical hiccups with the Recordation system. It is to be hoped that the Recordation will work smoother in Tanzania.Trade mark owners doing business in Tanzania should begin:Reviewing their trade mark portfolios to identify marks requiring recordation;Preparing the necessary documentation well in advance of the 1 December 2025 deadline; andUpdating licence and distribution agreements to ensure required disclosures to the FCC do not breach confidentiality obligations.Proactive planning will be essential to avoid costly delays or detentions at Tanzanian borders once the new system takes effect.

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union and the EUIPO have just released the 2024 Report on the Enforcement of IPRs, based on data provided by police, customs, and market surveillance authorities.According to the report, in 2024, approximately 112 million counterfeit items were detained at the EU border and within the EU internal market, with an estimated value of over EUR 3.8 billion - the highest recorded to date.Approximately 74% of the items were CDs/DVDs (including software), toys, clothing, clothing accessories, cigarettes (including e-cigarettes), perfumes, and cosmetics. China remains the predominant country of origin in terms of number of articles detained, followed by Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates. 90% of volume and value of infringed goods is detained in 7 Member States.The report data is also available via the IPEP Data Hub, a new interactive platform that offers an engaging way to explore the figures from three perspectives: overall, internal market, and detentions. The full report can be consulted here.This report is produced under the auspices of the EUIPO Observatory in which ECTA is represented (through members of the Anti-Counterfeiting and other Committees), actively contributing to and closely following the Observatory’s work. The Anti-Counterfeiting Committee will further analyse and discuss the report’s findings at the upcoming ECTA Autumn Meeting in Lyon.

The 6th edition of the DesignEuropa Awards took place yesterday at the Black Diamond library in Copenhagen. Hosted by the EUIPO, the event celebrated European design across various categories: Industry, Small Companies, Next Generation, and Lifetime Achievement.Past ECTA Presidents, Anette Rasmussen and Ruta Olmane, attended the event, underlining the association’s ongoing commitment to design awareness and protection in Europe.Previous ceremonies of the Award were held in Milan, Warsaw, Eindhoven, Berlin, and Riga, while the 2026 edition will take place in Ljubljana.If you missed the event, you can still watch the ceremony here. To learn more, please read here.

Today, the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property relaunched Create, Protect & Benefit - a cross-border campaign aimed at raising awareness of IP among entrepreneurs in the Netherlands and Belgium.Originally launched in 2021, the platform has been updated with a new strategy, visual identity, and behaviour-based approach. It is intended to provide information on how IP is relevant to innovation, collaboration, and business growth - particularly for entrepreneurs who are not yet familiar with IP.The campaign supports the ambitions laid out in BOIP’s Strategic Plan 2030 and is coordinated in collaboration with the Netherlands Patent Office, FPS Economy (BE), VLAIO (BE), and Wallonie Entreprendre (BE).

Register for the ECTA Workshop ‘Crafting European Geography: News and Case Law in the GI World’, taking place on 31 October 2025 from 16:00 to 18:00 (CET).The workshop will explore key developments in the field of geographical indications and will be divided in two parts. The first will focus on non-agricultural GIs, looking at the current state of play and offering practical tips for professionals. The second will examine recent case law on GIs, providing insight into significant legal developments and decisions.Speakers will include representatives from the EUIPO, EUIPO Boards of Appeal, WIPO, industry experts and practitioners from our ECTA Geographical Indications Committee. More details on the programme will be shared soon.The participation fee is:30,00 € (excl. VAT) for ECTA members not registered for the ECTA Autumn Meeting (Supervisory Board and Committee members already registered for the Autumn Meeting do not need to register separately for the workshop)50,00 € (excl. VAT) for non-membersThe workshop is free of charge for officials, full-time students, and full-time professors.A certificate of attendance will be provided upon request after the event.

ECTA is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP), formalised today at the ECTA office in Brussels by ECTA President Carina Gommers and BOIP Director General Hugues Derème. The agreement marks a new step in the ongoing cooperation between the two organisations, aiming to promote collaboration and the exchange of best practices in key areas of intellectual property.Commenting on the signing, ECTA President, Carina Gommers, said:“BOIP is a partner with whom ECTA shares a strong professional synergy, and this MoU builds on our fruitful cooperation in recent years - notably the successful ECTA ®etreat co-organised with BOIP last year in The Hague. As a Belgian practitioner who is part of the Benelux IP framework, it is especially meaningful for me to strengthen this partnership during my presidency. I am sure this MoU will serve as a lasting contribution to ECTA’s outreach in the region and to our shared mission of supporting the IP community”.BOIP Director General, Hugues Derème, also shared his views:"Our collaboration with ECTA has a longstanding and successful history. I'm therefore personally delighted about the signing of this MoU, because it underlines exactly our shared values. BOIP firmly believes in an IP system that is functional - one that prioritises the needs and wishes of its users. It is no coincidence that we are committed to delivering the highest quality of services in our BOIP2030 Strategic Plan. Quality is our goal, both in the services and information that we provide, but also in the impact that we can make on the IP system - to make it faster, more accessible, more transparent and efficient, and more harmonised. Our close collaboration with ECTA enables us to follow trends closely, exchange best practices, and drive together improvements of the Benelux IP system for the benefits of its users."This partnership is part of ECTA’s broader initiative to strengthen ties with regional and national IP Offices, in line with ECTA President’s Strategic Plan 2020-2026. Other similar MoUs have already been concluded, reinforcing ECTA’s engagement at a local level.   

The EUIPO has recently launched a redesigned EUIPN website, aimed at improving user experience and access to information.Updates include a redesigned European Cooperation Projects page with a new Virtual Communities section, and a merged News and Events section featuring new free-text search and filters. The Tools and Practices sections have also been updated, with a link to the IP Legislative and Practice Repository added.Both old and new websites will run in parallel for a limited time to ease the transition.To find out more, please read here.

We inform ECTA members that the revised EUIPO Rules on Mediation, to which ECTA contributed through its Mediation Committee, entered into force on 14 July 2025.The updated rules aim to provide a simplified, clearer, and more efficient process to support the swift resolution of intellectual property disputes.The new rules apply to all mediation requests submitted on or after 14 July 2025 and can be consulted here.

We are pleased to inform ECTA members that the EUIPO Boards of Appeal will host the 5th edition of the IP Mediation Conference in Malta on 16-17 October 2025.The conference will bring together key stakeholders in IP mediation and ADR, including judges, lawyers, mediators, business leaders, and representatives from EU institutions and academia, who will exchange insights, best practices, and emerging trends in the field.As the event will be hybrid, participants will be able to join in-person or online.To find out more and register, please click here.

Register for the ECTA Autumn Meeting in Lyon (30 October-1 November 2025) reserved for Supervisory Board and Committee members only.Often considered the gastronomic capital of France, Lyon enchants with its traditional bouchons, culinary legacy of Paul Bocuse, UNESCO-listed Old Town, and vibrant cultural scene - making it the perfect setting for a memorable (and tasty) ECTA gathering.The Autumn Meeting traditionally provides a more intimate yet enriching opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange within the ECTA community. This year’s workshop theme could not be more appropriate: agricultural and non-agricultural geographical indications, a subject deeply rooted in French identity. From Noix de Grenoble, Brioche de Saint-Genix, Poulet de Bresse, and Bergamote de Nancy to Champagne, Marseille soap, Couteau de Laguiole, and more, the topic promises to be both intellectually and gastronomically inspiring. Evening events will be held at great city venues, with optional Saturday excursions to further enjoy Lyon’s “delights”. We strongly encourage Supervisory Board and Committee members to early register to help us finalise and share the schedule in good time. To find out more about the event and register, log into the ECTA private site and check ECTA Committee meetings 2025.

The newly elected ECTA Committees begin their 2025-2027 term today.We thank the 400+ ECTA members who took part in the General Committee Elections this year - making it one of our most successful ever. As Committees are the core of ECTA, your dedication keeps our association moving forward.To all Committee members: we wish you a rewarding term filled with insightful discussions, impactful projects, and lasting professional connections (and friendships too!)The first in person meeting of the new Committees will take place during the ECTA Autumn Meeting in Lyon (30 October-1 November 2025). This event is exclusively for Supervisory Board and Committee members. Registration opens soon - keep an eye on your ECTA emails!

We are pleased to announce that, during the ECTA 43rd Annual Conference in Berlin, Klaudia Blach-Morysinska has been appointed as new Treasurer. The ECTA Board of Directors is now composed as follows: • Carina Gommers, President Responsible for strategic direction and overall supervision • Paola Ruggiero, 1st Vice-President Responsible for the academic program of events • Benjamin Fontaine, 2nd Vice-President Responsible for general management of Committees • Julien Scicluna, Secretary General Responsible for administrative and contractual matters • Klaudia Blach-Morysinska, Treasurer Responsible for financial matters Our sincere gratitude goes to former Treasurer, Jordi Güell, for his dedication and commitment to ECTA! To consult the updated composition of the ECTA Supervisory Board following this year's election, please click here.

On Thursday, 3 July 2025, the EUIPO Boards of Appeal will host an IP Tertulia in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB) of the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The Tertulia will cover topics such as the Korean trade mark and design appeal system, along with recent case law on absolute and relative grounds from both Korea and EUIPO Boards of Appeal. Speakers will include: • Mr Sven Stürmann, President, EUIPO Boards of Appeal • Ms Jo Hyunjoo, Deputy Director, Trial Policy Division, IPTAB • Ms Park Jaewon, Administrative Trademark Judge, Board 13, IPTAB • Ms Alejandra González Fernández, Member of the 1st Board, EUIPO Boards of Appeal The event will take place in Alicante from 17:00 to 20:30 and is open to all, with the option to also attend online. Simultaneous translation between Korean and English will be provided. To register and choose your preferred mode of participation, please click here.

We are pleased to announce that ECTA heads to Dublin for its 44th Annual Conference entitled ‘Green Light for Growth’ from 17-20 June 2026. Save the date! Dublin is a dynamic European capital which blends a thousand years of history with a vibrant creative spirit. A global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, its Docklands - once filled with ships - now host the European headquarters of major tech giants and trailblazing Irish firms. Its universities, research centres, and creative industries drive Dublin’s reputation as a city of ideas and progress. Delegates at ECTA 2026 will experience first-hand why Ireland is where heritage meets innovation - and where bold ideas find a green light to grow.

Attendees of the ECTA 43rd Annual Conference in Berlin will have a unique opportunity to interact with João Negrão, Executive Director of the EUIPO, during an exclusive one-hour interview conducted by Benjamin Fontaine, ECTA Second Vice-President. João Negrão took the reins of the Alicante Office in autumn 2023 and since then he is leading the office through a number of key challenges: enhancing customer experience through the digitalization of the EUIPO, new competencies, global economic constraints, geopolitics, and more. Many of these evolutions affect directly the members of ECTA, as regular users of the EUIPO services. The Conference audience will have the rare opportunity to ask questions, and this session represents a unique opportunity to have first-hand answers from the Executive Director in person! We look forward to this unusual session, do not miss it!

ECTA Bulletin: The June Edition is Out! READ IT HERE! • ECTA 43rd Annual Conference: As the ECTA community heads to Berlin, enjoy a welcome message from President Carina Gommers! • ECTA Committee updates: Interview on the Diversity & Inclusion Task Force, reports from the EUIPO-Link and WIPO-Link Committees, as well as recent developments from the International Trade Committee. The Patent Committee gives an overview of the last two years of the Unified Patent Court. • IP news: Updates from the USPTO, the Arab region, and developments in Turkish trade mark law. Copyright focus with a significant Chinese case and a comparative look at the EU and UK frameworks. • Case law highlights: Major rulings such as the German Birkenstock shoes and the Thatchers vs. Aldi case. • New Bulletin series launch on Article 8(4) EUTMR - ‘a non-registered trade mark or of another sign used in the course of trade’ may form the basis for opposition to registration of an EUTM on relative grounds. The first chapter focuses on Germany and Poland, with more Member States to follow! 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).

On the occasion of the World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, the EUIPO has launched a campaign related to counterfeit food and beverages in the EU #WhatsOnYourTableEU, aiming to raise awareness and protect consumers from fake food and beverages. Counterfeiting in this sector poses significant risks to public health and harms European economies and culinary heritage. In 2020, foodstuffs were the second most seized product category at the EU's external borders. The 2025 EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment Report from Europol highlights that the growth of e-commerce has given counterfeiters new ways to distribute fraudulent food, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to identify authentic products. Criminals manipulate food labels, packaging, and manufacturing processes, often targeting high-value products. To read the official press release of the campaign, please click here. ------ ECTA is dedicated to combating counterfeiting by sharing professional experience and best practices at the EU level and beyond, particularly through our Anti-Counterfeiting Committee.

The 2025 edition of the Guidelines for Examination of registered European Union designs, to which ECTA contributed during the latest revision round, entered into force in May 2025. A summary of the key changes introduced is now available here.