Join us at the ECTA 41st Annual Conference and network in a friendly atmosphere - More than 700 IP colleagues have already registered!

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Among other interesting panels, we will dig deep into the EU Design Reform in a session moderated by Katri Kiviniemi (Bryn Aarflot AS, NO):

1. Please introduce yourself and your link to ECTA.

My name is Katri Kiviniemi, European and Finnish Trade Mark and Design Attorney, currently living and practising in Oslo, Norway. I have been an active member of ECTA for some years already and, since last year, Chair of the ECTA Design Committee.

2. Please introduce the topic of your Conference session.

Design law reform in the European Union has been ongoing almost ever since the European level of protection for designs came into existence at the beginning of the 21st century, and we are now closer than ever to having an updated European design law.

In this session ‘Illuminating the Design Reform’ our aim is to give you a review of the process, further update on the current status, as well as bring forth some practical implications the new law may have, should it be adopted in its current form.

3. Please introduce the panel of your Conference session.

I am very excited about our distinguished panel. We have a perfect combination of stellar industry expertise, attorney from private practice with considerable experience on design prosecution and high-level representation from the EUIPO Legal Department:

• Director of Legal Department, EUIPO, Dimitris Botis;
• Benelux and European Trade Mark and Design Attorney, Winger Trademarks BV, Vice-Chair of ECTA Design Committee, Rogier Goos;
• Senior IP Counsel, Trade Marks and Designs, Phillips Intellectual Property & Standards, Edanela Perez Broce.

4. Why should Conference participants join your session, and at whom in particular will your session be directed?

Design rights are a very important part of the intellectual property portfolios of many companies already, however, in my opinion, still somewhat underused and undervalued. This is a great opportunity for attorneys already working with designs, both in private practice and in-house, to get an easy update on the expected changes to the design law in the European Union, as well as to all others to get a better understanding of the design rights in the European Union and their possibilities through some practical examples.

5. Why should IP colleagues register for the ECTA Annual Conference?

I cannot think of a more pleasant way of getting updated on what is going on in the world of intellectual property rights than attending the ECTA Annual Conference.

You will not only benefit from the topical educational sessions but from the lively discussions with fellow IP professionals in between and after sessions. Hope to have an opportunity to meet you in Prague!

**Find out more about the other educational sessions here!**