We are pleased to announce that, during the ECTA 43rd Annual Conference in Berlin, Klaudia Blach-Morysinska has been appointed as new Treasurer. The ECTA Board of Directors is now composed as follows: • Carina Gommers, President Responsible for strategic direction and overall supervision • Paola Ruggiero, 1st Vice-President Responsible for the academic program of events • Benjamin Fontaine, 2nd Vice-President Responsible for general management of Committees • Julien Scicluna, Secretary General Responsible for administrative and contractual matters • Klaudia Blach-Morysinska, Treasurer Responsible for financial matters Our sincere gratitude goes to former Treasurer, Jordi Güell, for his dedication and commitment to ECTA! To consult the updated composition of the ECTA Supervisory Board following this year's election, please click here.

On Thursday, 3 July 2025, the EUIPO Boards of Appeal will host an IP Tertulia in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Trial and Appeal Board (IPTAB) of the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The Tertulia will cover topics such as the Korean trade mark and design appeal system, along with recent case law on absolute and relative grounds from both Korea and EUIPO Boards of Appeal. Speakers will include: • Mr Sven Stürmann, President, EUIPO Boards of Appeal • Ms Jo Hyunjoo, Deputy Director, Trial Policy Division, IPTAB • Ms Park Jaewon, Administrative Trademark Judge, Board 13, IPTAB • Ms Alejandra González Fernández, Member of the 1st Board, EUIPO Boards of Appeal The event will take place in Alicante from 17:00 to 20:30 and is open to all, with the option to also attend online. Simultaneous translation between Korean and English will be provided. To register and choose your preferred mode of participation, please click here.

We are pleased to announce that ECTA heads to Dublin for its 44th Annual Conference entitled ‘Green Light for Growth’ from 17-20 June 2026. Save the date! Dublin is a dynamic European capital which blends a thousand years of history with a vibrant creative spirit. A global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, its Docklands - once filled with ships - now host the European headquarters of major tech giants and trailblazing Irish firms. Its universities, research centres, and creative industries drive Dublin’s reputation as a city of ideas and progress. Delegates at ECTA 2026 will experience first-hand why Ireland is where heritage meets innovation - and where bold ideas find a green light to grow.

Attendees of the ECTA 43rd Annual Conference in Berlin will have a unique opportunity to interact with João Negrão, Executive Director of the EUIPO, during an exclusive one-hour interview conducted by Benjamin Fontaine, ECTA Second Vice-President.

João Negrão took the reins of the Alicante Office in autumn 2023 and since then he is leading the office through a number of key challenges: enhancing customer experience through the digitalization of the EUIPO, new competencies, global economic constraints, geopolitics, and more. Many of these evolutions affect directly the members of ECTA, as regular users of the EUIPO services.

The Conference audience will have the rare opportunity to ask questions, and this session represents a unique opportunity to have first-hand answers from the Executive Director in person!

We look forward to this unusual session, do not miss it!