Register for the ECTA Autumn Meeting in Porto (Portugal) from 15-16 October 2026! Located on the Atlantic coast, Porto is a city known for its UNESCO-listed historic centre, the scenic Douro riverside, its azulejos, and the famous Port wine produced and aged across the region.The Autumn Meeting is reserved for Supervisory Board and Committee members only, and traditionally offers a more focused opportunity for networking and knowledge exchange within the ECTA community. Registration for the Autumn Meeting is available in the ECTA private site.This year’s Autumn Meeting workshop“Self-defence class: Protecting one's name, image and likeness” will address both prosecution aspects, including the registration of a name or appearance as a trade mark, and post-grant matters, in particular the use and enforcement of the rights.Evening events will be held at iconic city venues, with optional Saturday excursions to further enjoy Porto and its surroundings. We strongly encourage early registration to help us finalise and share the Committee schedule in good time. To find out more about the event log into the ECTA private site and check ECTA Committee meetings 2026.

We wish to inform ECTA members that the 2026 edition of the Guidelines for Examination of EU trade marks (EUTMs) and registered EU designs (EUDs) enter into force today, on 1 July 2026, following adoption by the EUIPO Executive Director (Decision No EX-26-09) and after stakeholder consultation to which ECTA actively participated through its relevant Committees.The revised Guidelines include significant updates such as:implementation of the second (and final) stage of the EU design reform, including representation requirements for animated and dynamic EU designs;comprehensive review of Office’s practice in relation to geographical indications (GIs), particularly in light of the legislative reform related to GIs for craft and industrial products and General Court’s judgment T‑239/23, NERO CHAMPAGNE / Champagne;changes to Office practice related to deadline extensions and suspensions in opposition proceedings.For a broader summary of changes, please refer to the official EUIPO news here.

The ECTA 45th Annual Conference "La Dolce IP" will take place in Sorrento, one of the most beautiful corners of Southern Italy, from 16-19 June 2027! 🍋🔔 Early-bird registration will open earlier than usual, in November, as Sorrento is a highly popular destination. Be sure to reserve your place early!Sponsorship opportunities are already available. Take a look at our sponsorship brochure and feel free to send an email to ecta@ecta.org if you are interested or have any questions.

This update is to help ECTA members and IP community at large stay informed about upcoming ECTA events and plan ahead. Registration links and further details will be shared via direct email communication in due course.If you are not a member and would like to receive updates on ECTA events and activities, please email ecta@ecta.org to be included on our mailing list.15-17 October 2026ECTA Autumn Meeting 📍  Porto, Portugal Open to ECTA Supervisory Board and Committee members only / Registration open soon in July.Spring 2027ECTA ®ETREAT📍 The Hague, The Netherlands In collaboration with Benelux Office for Intellectual PropertyMore information will follow.16-19 June 2025ECTA 45th Annual Conference "La Dolce IP" 📍  Sorrento (South of Italy)Registration open in November.

We wish to inform ECTA members that, in line with the new BoA Action Plan 2026-2030 and following the biennial revision cycle, the revised EUIPO Boards of Appeal Rules of Procedure (BoA-RoP) will enter into force on 1 July 2026.The amendments include substantive updates to existing provisions and introduce new provisions for appeal proceedings concerning GIs for craft and industrial products, as well as procedural changes relating to extensions, suspensions, costs, and other aspects of appeal proceedings.To learn more about the amendments, please consult the official news here.To access the revised BoA-RoP, please click here. The revised Rules will be translated into all EUIPO working languages.ECTA actively participated in the public consultation on the revision of the BoA-RoP by submitting comments on the proposed amendments. ECTA also provided feedback on the outline of the BoA Action Plan 2026-2030 and continues to participate regularly in the BoA Focus User Group meetings.

We are pleased to announce that the ECTA Presidency rotation took place during the 44th Annual Conference in Dublin.The ECTA Board of Directors for the 2026-2028 term is as follows:Paola Ruggiero, PresidentResponsible for strategic direction and overall supervisionBenjamin Fontaine, 1st Vice-PresidentResponsible for the academic program of eventsMicaela Schork, 2nd Vice-PresidentResponsible for general management of CommitteesCarina Gommers, Secretary General (Ad Interim)Responsible for administrative and contractual mattersKrystyna Zurawska, TreasurerResponsible for financial mattersWe would like to express our sincere gratitude to former President Carina Gommers for her dedicated service and outstanding leadership over the past two years, as well as to former Treasurer Klaudia Blach-Morysińska for her valuable contribution to the Association.We wish our new President Paola Ruggiero and the entire Board of Directors every success in the journey ahead. The updated composition of the ECTA Supervisory Board following this year's election can be consulted here.

ECTA Bulletin (Conference Edition) Out Now! Enjoy reading it here.In this edition: Get ready for #ECTA44: Read the welcome to Dublin from ECTA President, Carina Gommers;Interviews with Benjamin Schindler from the Fédération Internationale de Basketball - in line with this year's World IP Day theme IP and Sports; and with Professor Morten Rosenmeier on the Danish Board of Design;Art. 8(4) EUTMR series: this time focusing on Czech Republic, Finland and Hungary;Insights on weak trade marks, the UPC, copyright protection for works of applied art and the increasing relevance of design protection and much more; plus case law reports, including the Chubby Gorilla case, the CJEU's Ape Tees judgment;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, and special thank to Birgit Reiter, for her outstanding work over the past two years as Chair of the Committee!A print-friendly version is available for members only in the ECTA Library (private site).

On the occasion of World Anti-Counterfeiting Day, the EUIPO is highlighting the value of design and the importance of protecting it against counterfeiting.According to recent survey findings from the EUIPO, product design is an increasingly important factor in consumer choice across the EU, however, European creators and businesses continue to face growing risks from counterfeiting and unauthorised copying.The survey found that nearly three out of four EU consumers are willing to pay more for products with a better design, with product design being particularly valued by younger consumers.Design-led sectors are especially vulnerable to counterfeiting, with estimated annual losses of €12 billion in the clothing sector and €2.7 billion in the handbags, jewellery and watch sectors. SMEs are particularly affected, as they often rely on a limited number of distinctive designs and have limited capacity to monitor and enforce their rights.Katri Kiviniemi, Chair of the ECTA Design Committee: “ECTA and BEDA are working together with the EUIPO to make the markets aware that a registered design right is a solid tool to add to the fight against counterfeiters.Recent EU design law reform further strengthened the enforcement of designs at the EU borders, including goods in transit, expanding the toolkit for rights holders. Registered EU designs can now be used to stop infringing goods in transit at the EU borders, even where those goods are merely passing through.However, if the goods are not ultimately destined for the EU market, an EU registered design may not be sufficient on its own, and companies would be well advised to consider protecting their designs internationally to ensure full coverage.The critical point is to file the first design application before the design is made public. Once a product is revealed, the window of protection for many markets is closed. We want creators and businesses to understand that registering your design early is not just a formality - it is the foundation on which any serious business or its IP and anti-counterfeiting strategy is built”.Stoyan Sirakov, Chair of the ECTA Anti-Counterfeiting Committee “Every counterfeit product represents more than an infringement of intellectual property rights. It undermines innovation, fair competition and the investment that businesses make in developing products, brands and designs that consumers value.In today's digital environment, counterfeit goods can be purchased more easily than ever through online marketplaces, social media and cross-border e-commerce platforms. While effective enforcement remains essential, long-term success in combating counterfeiting also depends on awareness and education. Consumers should understand that choosing genuine products is not only about counterfeits being potentially dangerous, frequent links to organised criminal networks or simply about complying with the law; it is about supporting creativity, rewarding investment and encouraging future innovation. Building that understanding is one of the most effective ways to reduce demand for counterfeit goods and foster a culture of respect for intellectual property”.To find out more, please consult the official press release here.

Among the highlights of the ECTA 44th Annual Conference in Dublin is the session “ESG Impact on IP Strategy in the Tech Industry”, moderated by Niccolò Ferretti (ECTA Patent Committee Secretary, Nunziante Magrone, Italy). While focused on technology and patent-related exclusive rights, the session is of broad relevance beyond patent practice, covering how ESG is reshaping IP strategy across all fields of IP.Learn more about this session from Niccolò:Introduce yourself and your link to ECTA.My name is Niccolò Ferretti. I am a partner at Nunziante Magrone and Head of the IP practice. My daily work mainly revolves around patent, trade mark and design litigation, with a strong focus on cross‑border disputes and proceedings before the Unified Patent Court. I am professionally based in Milan - although a few years ago I made what some might call a brave, and others a slightly reckless, life choice (as many ECTA friends already know): I moved to the countryside. There, whenever I am not drafting briefs or preparing hearings, I occasionally find myself helping my partner with her rural activities, dealing with animals and fruit trees - an excellent antidote to procedural deadlines.I have been involved with ECTA for quite some time, both as a regular attendee and as an active contributor to conferences and working groups. Over the years, I have served on several Committees, moving from Design to Anti‑Counterfeiting, with a short stop at the Law Committee, before finally landing - some might say settling - on the Patent Committee, where I currently serve as Secretary. For me, ECTA is a unique place where high‑level technical discussion meets real, hands‑on practice. But perhaps even more importantly, it is the place where, conference after conference, a solid group of colleagues has gradually turned into a circle of very good friends. That is why we call it: ECTA Family!Introduce the topic of your Conference session.The title of the session I will moderate is “ESG Impact on IP Strategy in the Tech Industry”. I admit, it may not immediately sound like stand‑up comedy, but I can promise you that the discussion will be far more lively than it suggests.We will explore how ESG considerations are reshaping IP strategy in the tech sector, from the way patents are drafted and enforced, to litigation choices, remedies, standards, SEPs, and even trade secret protection. We will look at green technologies, reputational risk, governance pressures on enforcement decisions, and the growing role of mediation and alternative dispute resolution. We will also touch upon the role of the UPC and national courts in ESG‑driven disputes, and how sustainability considerations are increasingly influencing both legal strategy and business narratives.That said, I won’t reveal everything now - I would like to keep a few surprises for the session itself. Let’s just say that ESG is no longer just a box‑ticking exercise or a compliance label: it is increasingly affecting what we protect, how we litigate, and how litigation is perceived by the “public jury”.I will act in order to keep the discussion dynamic, I might even bring a blowgun to wake up anyone who dozes off in the audience - just kidding, of course. The penalties for falling asleep will be far more severe… but also entirely imaginary.What I can promise is a genuinely engaging, practical and provocative discussion.Introduce the panel of your Conference session.I am delighted to moderate a panel that brings together three outstanding speakers, each offering a very different - and highly complementary perspective on the ESG impact on IP strategy in the tech industry.We will hear first from Marta Kozłowska, Litigation Manager at HP, who has extensive hands‑on experience with IP enforcement and litigation strategy from an in‑house perspective, within one of the most ESG‑driven global technology companies. Marta works at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and real‑world business constraints, which makes her insights particularly valuable.We are also joined by Dr. Clemens Heusch, Vice President and Head of Global Litigation and Disputes at Nokia. Clemens leads one of the most sophisticated global IP litigation teams in the tech sector, with deep experience in cross‑border patent disputes, SEP and FRAND issues, and strategic enforcement decisions at the highest level. His perspective on how ESG considerations interact with large‑scale litigation strategies will be especially compelling.Finally, we are honoured to welcome Mr Justice Rory Mulcahy, Judge of the Irish High Court, who has already delivered several significant decisions in intellectual property matters. His judicial perspective will allow us to reflect on how ESG‑related arguments and narratives may be perceived and assessed from the bench, adding a crucial institutional dimension to the discussion.Together, this panel promises a lively and genuinely multi‑dimensional discussion, combining in‑house, strategic and judicial viewpoints - precisely the mix needed to address ESG and IP.Why should Conference participants join your session, and at whom in particular will it be directed?Although the session focuses on technology and patent‑related exclusive rights, it is by no means intended only for patent attorneys or patent litigators. The ESG perspective inevitably cuts across traditional IP boundaries, and this is precisely what makes the discussion relevant to a much broader audience. Participants working in so‑called “soft IP” fields - such as trade marks, designs, copyright, advertising law and unfair competition - will find plenty of food for thought. Issues like ESG‑driven narratives, green claims, reputational risk, enforcement choices, proportional remedies and public perception are increasingly central also to brand protection, communication strategies and rights enforcement beyond patents.In short, the session is designed for anyone interested in how ESG considerations are reshaping IP strategy as a whole, not just from a technical patent angle. It will appeal to litigators, in‑house counsel and soft IP practitioners - especially those who want to understand how sustainability concerns are influencing decision‑making, litigation behaviour and the way IP enforcement is perceived both inside and outside the courtroom.Why should IP colleagues register for the ECTA Annual Conference?Well, if you have made it this far and are still reading my interview, there is a fairly good chance that you are already at least slightly tempted to join the Conference. And if that is not enough, I should mention that one of the main attractions this year will be the travelling circus of farm animals that I am planning to bring with me from Italy.Jokes aside, the real reasons are far better than that. The ECTA Annual Conference consistently delivers high‑quality technical content, discussed from a truly European and cross‑border perspective, and presented by professionals who deal with these issues every day in practice. It is not just about staying updated- it is about understanding trends, exchanging views, and challenging assumptions in an open and stimulating environment. Equally important, ECTA offers something that is increasingly rare: real networking. Not just business cards and polite conversations, but meaningful exchanges with colleagues who, over time, often become trusted contacts - and even friends. In short, the ECTA Annual Conference is the perfect combination of substance, debate, and human connection.And I can safely guarantee that the only animals you will encounter are the usual ones roaming the cocktail receptions.

We wish to inform ECTA members that the EUIPO has recently released a new study examining copyright-related databases and metadata standards across the EU.The study finds that data on works and authors is scattered across multiple unconnected systems, leading to duplication of records, legal uncertainty, and increasing transaction costs for creators and right holders. The study also highlights differences in how creative sectors - such as music, publishing, film and television - manage works, rights and distribution models according to their own operational needs, resulting in fragmented approaches and limited interoperability between systems.The findings will support the development of CopyrightView, an initiative intended to enhance access to copyright information across the EU.To read the Executive Summary, please click here.ECTA closely monitors such developments through its Copyright Committee and regularly exchanges views on these topics with EU institutions during its bilateral meetings.

We wish to inform ECTA members that the EUIPO has recently published the first edition of the Guidelines for the examination of geographical indications for craft and industrial products.These Guidelines provide information on application procedures for CIGIs, including communication channels, the Union register, amendments, opposition and cancellation proceedings, as well as specific aspects related to proceedings under the Geneva Act.ECTA, particularly through its ECTA Geographical Indications Committee, has been actively following the evolution of the CIGI regulatory framework since the outset, by providing comments on the various draft regulations and EUIPO's guidelines, as needed, preparing position papers on the subject, regularly exchanging with EUIPO and EU Commission representatives to brief the Committee members on the upcoming changes, as well as organising dedicated workshops on the topic.

One of the highlights of every ECTA Annual Conference is the traditional EU Case Law Update session - widely considered one of the most awaited sessions of the programme. This year’s edition will be moderated by Klaudia Błach Morysińska (ECTA Treasurer, Zaborski, Morysiński Law Office, Poland), who will guide attendees through the latest key IP decisions in the EU.Learn more about this session from Klaudia:1. Introduce yourself and your link to ECTA.My name is Klaudia Błach Morysińska and I am ECTA Treasurer. I have been actively involved in ECTA for several years as Supervisory Board member, Chair of the Law Committee and EUIPO-Link Committee Secretary. I highly value ECTA as a unique forum connecting practitioners, judges, in-house counsel and EUIPO representatives from across Europe.2. Introduce the topic of your Conference session.I will moderate the last session: “EU Case Law Update”, which is traditionally one of the most anticipated sessions of the ECTA Conference. This year we decided to organise the session around key thematic blocks emerging from recent CJEU and EU General Court case law.We will discuss topics such as consumer perception and market reality, weak marks and the scope of protection, procedural issues and preliminary injunctions, Brexit and territoriality, and finally parody and trade marks in light of the recent IKEA case.Our goal is to make the session practical, dynamic and highly interactive.3. Introduce the panel of your Conference session.I am delighted to moderate such an outstanding panel composed of experts representing different perspectives of trade mark law.Virginia Melgar from the EUIPO Boards of Appeal will bring the institutional and adjudicative perspective. Pierre-Yves de Harven, judge and experienced IP specialist, will share valuable judicial insights on recent developments in EU case law. Kristof Neefs, as a leading practitioner, will contribute the practical and strategic perspective from day-to-day litigation and enforcement practice.I believe this combination will create a very engaging and balanced discussion.4. Why should Conference participants join your session, and at whom in particular will it be directed?This session is designed for everyone working with EU trade marks and IP litigation - from experienced practitioners to younger lawyers looking to better understand recent trends in EU case law.We will focus not only on what the courts decided, but also on the practical implications of those decisions. The discussion will be highly interactive, with audience questions and practical examples, including controversial or unusual trade mark scenarios.Participants can expect practical takeaways, different viewpoints and lively debate rather than a traditional case-law lecture.5. Why should IP colleagues register for the ECTA Annual Conference?ECTA is one of the best opportunities to meet the European IP community in one place. The Conference combines high-quality substantive discussions with excellent networking opportunities and genuinely international perspectives.It is a unique place where practitioners, judges, academics, in-house counsel and EUIPO representatives can openly exchange views on the most current and challenging IP topics. Beyond the professional value, ECTA also creates a fantastic atmosphere that keeps people coming back every year.

By Judit Lantos (ECTA representative in the ETMD EP Advisory Committee and ECTA Mediation Committee Chair, Lantos Law, Hungary)We are pleased to inform ECTA members about the opening today of the new edition of the ETMD Education Programme organised by the EUIPO Academy for practitioners in EU trade mark and design law and practice.Applications can be submitted until 31 May 2026 (inclusive). The programme runs from September 2026 to March 2027.The EUIPO Trade Mark and Design Education Programmes (ETMD EP) for practitioners are tailored for IP professionals who, among other tasks, advise, assist, or represent clients or employers in EU trade mark and design matters. The programme provides in-depth legal and strategic training on EUIPO practice, ensuring participants can deliver expert advice aligned with the latest developments.The programme has 2 options:1. Instructor-led, partially onsite programme (limited to 60 participants, with exam)The programme includes interactive courses delivered both online and on-site in Alicante, with a maximum of 60 participants.It is an instructor-led, case-study-based learning programme, delivered partly onsite and subject to a tuition fee. Participants must pass an exam to obtain a certificate.The programme has been running since 2018, with several hundred alumni to date. Beyond in-depth training in EU trade mark and design law and practice, it also offers valuable networking opportunities.In this course you will learn about:The EUIPO and its online tools & services.The characteristics of European Union Trade Marks (EUTM) and EU Designs.The EUTM and EU design application processes, their respective requirements, key procedural matters, and be able to manage an application or renewal from start to finish.Opposition proceedings, and how to file, respond, and manage these types of procedures, while using the relevant EUIPO tools.Cancellation proceedings, their requirements and key aspects.Appeals, the role of the EUIPO Boards of Appeal, the procedural elements of an appeal and mediation.2. IP short training sessions (open to up to 200 participants)In addition to the full programme as described above, this year the programme has been extended to all IP professionals, maximum to 200 participants. It consists of short training sessions, and is designed to be followed independently. It is a fully online programme delivered, presentation-based learning, free of charge.-----We encourage ECTA members to participate in this programme.ECTA is actively involved in the project, with various members serving on the Examination Boards of both the practitioners’ and paralegals’ programmes, as well as on the ETMD EP Advisory Committee.

ECTA will also bring a copyright focus to its Conference programme, with a dedicated session on “The EUIPO Knowledge Center and a Comparison Between EU and US Systems”, moderated by Anke Nordemann-Schiffel (NORDEMANN, Germany).Learn more about this session from Anke:Introduce yourself and your link to ECTA.I am Anke Nordemann-Schiffel, co-founder of NORDEMANN, a Berlin-based IP firm dealing with all areas of IP. I myself spend most of my working hours with trade marks and copyright matters both nationally, internationally and, of course, at the EUIPO. I am also the President of GRUR, the German Association for Intellectual Property Law, which is close to ECTA. One of my first international conferences was ECTA in London in 2005, when I was pregnant and my luggage only made it to London on the final day of the conference…Introduce the topic of your Conference session.I will be moderating this year´s copyright session entitled “The EUIPO Knowledge Center and a Comparison Between EU and US Sytems”. Do not let yourself be misled by the lengthy title - the panel of three plus myself will discuss recent EU and US case law on what makes a protected work as well as the EUIPO´s activities to strengthen copyright in the EU. Our first preparatory call was so filled with everyone´s ideas that we much overran the time I had planned with.Introduce the panel of your Conference session.The panel stars Véronique Delforge from the EUIPO, Daniël Jongsma, Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, and Jacqueline Lesser from IceMiller, US.Véronique Delforge is an IP lawyer originally from Belgium with extensive experience. She has been working at the EUIPO as a Copyright legal expert since 2020. Before joining the Office, she worked on copyright matters at DG Connect at the European Commission for 4 years, as a lawyer in private practice for almost 8 years before then.Daniël Jongsma teaches at the Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki. He is a distinguished pan-European IP scholar with a focus on the process of harmonisation of intellectual property law in the EU, the interface between intellectual property law and fundamental rights, and more generally the impact of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union on the national laws of the Member States.Jacqueline Lesser is a partner at IceMiller, Philadelphia, US, and the leader of the firm’s Advertising Group. Jackie has more than two decades of experience as an IP counselor, and litigator, with a focus on trade marks, copyrights, marketing, advertising and publicity rights. She litigates in federal courts throughout the US, before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), the National Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau (NAD), and the Copyright Claims Board (CCB).Why should Conference participants join your session, and at whom in particular will it be directed?Everyone active in IP should join the session. Copyright, designs and trade marks share so many overlaps, and the CJEU´s most recent cases on copyright protection for design objects and furniture will be fun and interesting to explore - much better than reading the actual decisions. The EUIPO´s copyright activities and projects are lesser known and thus a must to learn more about first-hand.Why should IP colleagues register for the ECTA Annual Conference?That is almost a no-brainer to me 😊 - the ECTA Annual Conference is one of the cornerstones of the IP year, and ECTA is so very relevant as an organization that no one should miss it. ECTA is a get-together of the IP community that is fun, inspiring and very welcoming to newbies and irregulars alike.To learn more about the Conference and register, please click here.

This year, ECTA brings something truly dynamic to its Conference programme: a live mock mediation, moderated by Judit Lantos (Lantos Law, Hungary) together with Mr. Sven Stürmann (President of the EUIPO BoA).Learn more about this unique session from Judit:1. Judit, introduce yourself and your link to ECTA.I am Judit Lantos, founder of Lantos Law in Budapest (Hungary), and I currently serve as Chair of the ECTA Mediation Committee. The Committee was established about 1,5 years ago, and I have had the privilege of serving as its first Chair since December 2024.Within ECTA, I have been actively involved for many years, including as former Chair of the WIPO-Link Committee, former Supervisory Board member, former member of the Harmonization Committee and local organizer of the Annual Conference in Budapest in 2017. These roles have allowed me to contribute to different aspects of ECTA’s work and to build strong connections within the IP community.The Mediation Committee is a young and very dynamic Committee, focused on promoting practical, business-oriented dispute resolution. As reflected in our mission, we aim to encourage dialogue, foster communication and support IP professionals in finding commercially meaningful solutions to disputes, beyond purely legal approaches.2. Introduce the topic of your Conference session.Our session is a live mock mediation, based on a realistic EU trade mark dispute between a well-established pharmaceutical company and a fast-growing start-up.Rather than discussing mediation in theory, we will demonstrate how it works in practice, from opening statements to negotiations and, ultimately, settlement. The session will show how legal arguments, business interests, and strategic considerations interact in a mediation setting and how parties can move from confrontation to a constructive solution.3. Introduce the panel of your Conference session.We have an outstanding and diverse panel bringing together practitioners and institutional expertise. The session will be co-moderated with Sven Stürmann, President of the Boards of Appeal at the EUIPO, and myself - we will also act as narrators, guiding the audience through the different phases of the mediation.The mediator will be Alexandra Crawcour, a leading mediator at the EUIPO Mediation Centre, who will lead the process and demonstrate how mediation works in practice. The parties will be represented by two teams:The Italian pharmaceutical company will be represented by Amanda Zahringer, a business advisor and dual-qualified solicitor in Ireland, acting as the client, and Ivett Paulovics, a dual-qualified lawyer in Italy and Hungary based in Milan and Vice-Chair of the ECTA Mediation Committee, acting as external counsel.The Irish start-up company will be represented by Carol Gormley of FRKelly, Ireland, and a member of the Irish Association of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys (APTMA), together with Sean Cummings of Keltie, Ireland, also a member of APTMA. Together, they will bring the dispute to life in a highly interactive and engaging format.4. Why should Conference participants join your session, and at whom in particular will it be directed?This session is for anyone who would like to experience mediation in action rather than only hearing about it in theory. It will be particularly valuable for IP practitioners involved in proceedings before the EUIPO or national courts; for lawyers advising clients on selecting the most appropriate tools to resolve conflicts and achieve flexible, business-oriented solutions beyond the remedies typically available before courts; and for in-house counsels dealing with cross-border disputes. It will also be of particular interest to younger practitioners who wish to better understand negotiation dynamics and alternative dispute resolution.Considering that mediation is increasingly used in IP disputes, it is important for lawyers and IP practitioners to be familiar with this tool so that they can better support their clients as legal representatives in mediation procedures suggested by the authorities or by the adverse party.In this session, participants will gain practical insight into how parties articulate their positions and underlying interests, how a mediator facilitates dialogue and manages the process, and how creative, commercially meaningful solutions can emerge. The format is deliberately interactive and lively, offering an engaging and refreshing alternative to a traditional panel discussion.5. Why should IP colleagues register for the ECTA Annual Conference?The ECTA Annual Conference is one of the key events for IP professionals in Europe and beyond. It combines high-level substantive content with excellent networking opportunities and a strong sense of community.The Dublin programme offers a particularly rich and forward-looking agenda, covering key developments such as AI and its impact across different IP fields, ESG considerations in IP strategy, and sector-specific challenges in areas such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and green technologies. These topics reflect how quickly the IP landscape is evolving and how closely legal, technological and business considerations are now interconnected.In this context, mediation and alternative dispute resolution provide an important complementary perspective, offering tools to address complex, cross-border conflicts in a flexible and commercially meaningful way.Whether you are a long-standing ECTA member or attending for the first time, the Conference is a unique opportunity to stay up to date, exchange ideas and connect with colleagues from across Europe and beyond in a collaborative and engaging environment.To learn more about the Conference and register, please click here.

We wish to inform ECTA members that the EUIPO has published a new set of Boards of Appeal case-law research reports:Similarity between alcoholic beverages (except beers) (November 2025) - available in EN, ES, DE, FR, ITTrade marks contrary to public policy or accepted principles of morality (October 2025) - available in EN, ES, DE, FR, ITThomson Life doctrine and the concept of “independent distinctive role” of elements in a sign (November 2025) - available in EN, ES, DE, FR, ITThese reports are the result of discussions within the Consistency Circles and the General Consistency Meeting of the Boards of Appeal and reflect the views at the date of publication.The reports are working documents and do not have any binding effect on the Boards of Appeal.

🎉 Happy World IP Day 🎉To celebrate this year’s theme IP and Sports, ECTA has launched a series of initiatives:ECTA RUNS TO DUBLINThis week, we kicked-off a global challenge with various ECTA members running from different countries to the same final destination: the ECTA Annual Conference in Dublin 🏃‍♂️ ☘️Benjamin Fontaine (ECTA Second Vice-President, Plasseraud IP) - running from Alicante [video]Juan Berton Moreno (Berton Moreno IP Law) - running from Buenos Aires [video]Katri Kiviniemi (Castrén & Snellman) - running from Helsinki [video]Ike Ibeku (Benchmac & Ince) - running from Abuja [video]Mary White (Murgitroyd) - on the home stretch, running in Dublin [video]ECTA friends around the world, lace up your shoes and make your way to Dublin - we look forward to seeing you all at the finish line! Sign up here!INTERVIEW WITH BENJAMIN SCHINDLER (FIBA, Fédération Internationale de Basketball)🎤 In this focus interview, conducted by Anna Ostanina (ECTA Head of Legal and Institutional Relations), Benjamin Schindler (Senior Legal Affairs Manager at FIBA, Fédération Internationale de Basketball) reflects from a practical perspective on more than a decade of experience at the intersection of sports governance and IP enforcement.The discussion explores the specificities of the sport industry and the limits of traditional IP tools in an event-driven environment. His insights offer a perspective on how federations balance legal theory, operational constraints, and sponsor expectations in major international competitions and how external counsels can support them on this journey.Enjoy reading it! 🏀

The EUIPO has released today a new report, “IP-backed finance in Europe”, which examines how IP can be better used as a financial asset to support innovation, growth and competitiveness in the EU.Although IP-intensive industries account for around 48% of EU GDP and 31% of employment, many companies - especially SMEs - still find it difficult to use their IP to secure funding. The report estimates an EU SME credit gap of up to €365 billion per year, with a significant share linked to IP-intensive firms.The main barriers are lack of data, information gaps, lack of harmonised legal frameworks, limited recognition of intangible assets, and the fact that IP valuation is often costly and complex with few experts available.The report sets out key priorities to support IP-backed finance, such as improving IP visibility, strengthening valuation methods, building a robust data foundation, enabling risk-sharing tools, and increasing coordination across stakeholders.To find out more, please access the executive summary and full report here.ECTA is mindful of the relevance of IP valuation and the increasing international attention it is receiving. In this context, it has recently established a dedicated IP Valuation Task Force with the aim of actively contributing to the debate, providing recommendations, and sharing knowledge among its members.

ECTA and its Design Committee are actively cooperating with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA) in raising awareness of the importance of design protection.Despite being one of the strongest drivers of differentiation and value creation for businesses, design protection is still too often perceived as complex, costly, or purely legal. Through our ongoing conversations with the EUIPO and BEDA, many avenues for collaboration have emerged, and several joint initiatives are coming up in the course of 2026.Among these initiatives, ECTA will participate in a joint webinar with the EUIPO and BEDA on 21 April 2026 “Design protection as a business strategy: turning creativity into competitive advantage” (Register Here!) which aims to present design protection as a strategic business tool that is both accessible and closely aligned with designers’ real needs. In particular, Rogier Goos, ECTA Design Committee Vice-Chair, will illustrate success stories and strategic mistakes through real-world examples from the design sector and explain how IP practitioners support designers, acting as a bridge between their creative vision and EUIPO procedures.ECTA will also collaborate with the EUIPO to support IP education for university students in design and related disciplines, including architecture, engineering and fine arts. This will include participation in educational initiatives and Virtual Open Days dedicated to designs. Marta Alves Vieira (ECTA Design Committee Secretary) and Sylvia Todorova (ECTA Design Committee member) will contribute practical insights based on their experience as design attorneys.Another aspect of this collaboration will involve improving existing training materials, also by including examples of well-protected designs from our practitioners’ experience. Also, the IP Essentials MOOC on the fundamentals of intellectual property rights will soon introduce the module on designs, with the support of ECTA experts.ECTA is grateful to the EUIPO for the opportunity to collaborate on these relevant initiatives through the expertise of the ECTA Design Committee.