The ECTA 41st Annual Conference is only 2 weeks away! If you have not yet registered, hurry up, time is running out - register here!

The Conference academic program kicks off this year with a very distinguished keynote speaker from WIPO and the discussion on the latest IP news and trends with representatives from the EUIPO and European Commission, introduced and moderated by Paola Ruggiero, ECTA Second Vice-President (Bird & Bird, IT):

1. Please, introduce yourself and your link to ECTA.

My name is Paola Ruggiero, I am Head of the trade mark practice at Bird & Bird Milano and, currently, ECTA Second Vice-President.

2. Please, introduce the speakers and topic of your kick-off session.

I am very honoured to introduce this year’s keynote speaker, Mr. Edward Kwakwa (Assistant Director General, Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector, World Intellectual Property Organization).

Following the keynote speech, we will be updated on the current forces driving the world of IP by two other distinguished guests, Ms. Claudia Martinez-Felix (Deputy Head of Unit, DG GROW, European Commission) and Mr. Sandris Laganovskis (EUIPO Institutional and Cooperation Department).

In particular, we will learn about the novelties of the GI scheme for the EU producers; the challenges in the field of counterfeiting; the metaverse, in particular trade mark and slogan protection in the metaverse, and how the metaverse is changing trade mark filing and enforcement strategies; blockchain; virtual goods and NFTs; the main changes brought by the patent package just presented by the European Commission and more.

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

Attending the keynote speech and the discussion on the latest IP news and trends is the best way to enter in the spirit of the ECTA Annual Conference. Attendees will have a first bite of what the Conference offers and the possibility to exchange on exciting topics directly with officials. Indeed, interesting questions from the audience are more than welcome!

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

Being so involved in this association and its work, some might probably think that I am not objective. Anyway, I have to say that attending the ECTA Annual Conference will offer a lot of opportunities where everybody, younger or more senior practitioners, can find something of interest: top-quality educational sessions on various and hot IP topics, exciting gatherings in the most attractive locations, and the chance to network with 800+ IP colleagues worldwide, meet remarkable guests, as well as catch up with old and new ECTA friends. And, on top of this, the possibility of discovering Prague and its surroundings by participating in Saturday excursions.

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