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ECTA Joins Today the 100 Years Celebration of the Hague System

Today, 6 November 2025, marks exactly the 100th anniversary of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs, signed in The Hague in 1925, which established the Hague System, also known as the international design system.ECTA joined the official celebrations directly in The Hague, city of peace and justice, represented at yesterday’s gala dinner and today’s symposium by President Carina Gommers and Head of Legal Affairs Anna Ostanina, and member of ECTA Design Committee Philippe Kutschke who participated as a speaker in the session “Where to Now? Ideas for the Development of the Hague System”.Over the past 100 years, the Hague System has enabled designers to protect their creations in up to 99 countries, with over 2 million design registrations already lodged via the system.Today’s event offered an opportunity to look back and honour the history of the Hague Agreement, its milestones and evolution into a truly global system. Participants learned about the different paths countries have taken in joining the system, prospective members, and explored its many advantages and strengths. The programme also featured experiences from end users/designers, big and small, who shared their challenges and success stories, highlighting the cost-effectiveness and procedural efficiency of the Hague System.Participants discussed the considerations when defining design protection strategies and explored the possibilities of making the Hague System more flexible and even more efficient, while further harmonising substantive law and formalities across jurisdictions.ECTA President Carina Gommers said “It is an honour to represent ECTA today at this landmark event celebrating a century of international cooperation in design protection. We sincerely thank WIPO and the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property for bringing us together on this important occasion and I am proud that ECTA’s collaboration with both organisations continues to grow. It is also thanks to the great work of our active Design Committee that ECTA plays its part in advocating for more harmonised and balanced design system and raising awareness about the value of design protection”.

ECTA Files an Amicus Brief on Cumulative Protection of Identical Collective Mark and Geographical Indication (Cremasco Case)

On 23 October 2025, ECTA has filed an amicus curiae brief in the referral by the EUIPO First Board of Appeal to the Grand Board of Appeals in the Cremasco case R 1946/2024-1.The case regards the question of the potentially misleading nature, within the meaning of Article 76(2) EUTMR, of a collective mark application consisting of a figurative sign which reproduces identically the logo contained in the product specification for a geographical indication. The Office’s Guidelines currently refuse such registrations on the grounds that they are deceptive, but the EUTMR does not appear to contain any explicit limitation regarding the collective nature of the entitlement to collective marks for a logo contained in the product specifications and there is little case law on this issue. Furthermore, cumulation of rights was found to be permissible in cases where the signs in question are similar, but the question remains open where the signs in question are identical.Thus, the First Board considered appropriate to refer to the Grand Board of Appeal the question on whether cumulative protection at EU level between a collective mark and a geographical indication is possible in cases where the signs are completely identical.ECTA’s views on the case is that a logo contained in the product specification can be simultaneously registered as a collective mark does not necessarily mislead consumers as to the character or the significance of the mark within the terms of Article 76(2) EUTMR, and the alleged conflict concerning the availability of use of geographical indications and collective marks does not constitute an absolute ground for refusal and is certainly not encompassed within the scope of Article 76(2) EUTMR.We wish to extend our gratitude to the ECTA Amicus Curiae Task Force and the Geographical Indications Committee for their contributions in elaborating this document.

ECTA Bulletin: The October Edition is Out!

The ECTA October Bulletin is out: READ IT HERE!This edition brings Big News: the ECTA Bulletin opens to advertising! Showcase your firm or company starting from the next issue - and enjoy a 20% discount if you wish to advertise in all three 2026 editions (March, June and October). Contact ecta@ecta.org to secure your spot!This October Bulletin features:Exclusive interviews with Sven Stürmann, President of the EUIPO Boards of Appeal; ECTA Award winners; and leaders of the National Association of Patent Attorneys of Ukraine.The continuation of our Art. 8(4) EUTMR series, this time focusing on Bulgaria, France, Italy, and Spain. By the end of the series, we aim to create a 'guide' offering lawyers an overview of the relevant national regulations.The latest case law reviews and insightful articles covering the 25th Anniversary of the UDRP, IP and SMEs, UK deviations from EU IP law post-Brexit, and the potential of a Pan-African Trade Mark Registration System.Updates from our International Trade, Internet, Harmonization, and Patent Committees, plus insights into the recently launched monthly ECTA UPC Coffee, an exclusive initiative for ECTA members.A refreshed ‘New Members’ section, introducing new ECTA members interviewed during the Annual Conference in Berlin.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).

Save the Date - All Upcoming ECTA Events

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.30 October - 1 November 2025ECTA Autumn Meeting - Lyon, FranceOpen to ECTA Supervisory Board and Committee members onlyRegistration is open via the ECTA private site31 October 2025ECTA Workshop 'Crafting European Geography: News and Case Law in the GI World' - Lyon, FranceOpen to allRegister here26 February 2026ECTA Round Table - Alicante, SpainIn collaboration with the University of Alicante and Magister LvcentinvsOpen to allMore information will follow5 March 2026ECTA ®etreat - Munich, GermanyOpen to allThis event will focus on patent-related topics. More information will follow.17-20 June 2026ECTA 44th Annual Conference “Green Light for Growth” - Dublin, IrelandOpen to allRegistration is expected to open at the end of January / beginning of February 2026.15-17 October 2026 ECTA Autumn Meeting - Porto, PortugalOpen to ECTA Supervisory Board and Committee members onlyMore information will followSpring 2027 ECTA ®etreat - The Hague, The NetherlandsIn collaboration with The Benelux Office for Intellectual PropertyMore information will follow

SME Fund 2025: Vouchers Reopen Today

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.