The ECTA Annual Conference is almost at full capacity, with only a few places remaining. If you haven't registered yet, do so quickly here to join over 900 IP professionals!

The educational program is extensive, encompassing a variety of hot IP topics. Delegates will also engage in discussions on copycats in a session moderated by Julien Scicluna, ECTA Secretary General from France.

1. Introduce yourself and your link to ECTA.

I have been a member of ECTA since 2006 and was involved in several Committees before chairing the International Trade Committee. I am now ECTA's Secretary General.

2. Introduce the topic of your Conference session.

We will explore how to respond to copycats when the standard legal tools do not apply, or not fully. You know it is a copy, but it does not infringe on your rights, how do you act? We will consider the practitioner's point of view and that of industry. We will also delve into the mind of the consumer and see what neurosciences teach us on the likelihood of confusion. Watch out for the survey that will be circulated during the conference via the app and see the results during our session!

3. Introduce the panel of your Conference session.

- Stoyan Sirakov is a seasoned IP Attorney from Bulgaria and a long-standing ECTA member. He will update us on the current practice in dealing with copycats throughout the EU.

- Birte Vanrobaeys has a vast experience as an in-house Attorney at Versuni (The Netherlands) and will share her strategy in handling copycats.

- Femke van Horen is Professor of Consumer Behaviour and Marketing at the Marketing Department of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands). She has applied her research to understanding product imitation and consumer behaviour.

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

This session is a must for all IP practitioners interested in this ‘grey area’ of IP law and in legally apprehending lookalikes. The input of fundamental research on the question is particularly stimulating and challenges our legal knowledge.

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

As we often say, ECTA is Family and you don't want to miss out on our annual gathering, bringing together friends, networking and knowledge all wrapped up in a great place!

**Find out more about the other educational sessions here or watch the video teaser about the academic program here!**