INTA Continues Outreach in Europe: Key Developments to Watch For

INTA continues its work strengthening collaboration with governmental and regulatory bodies in the European region. Here, the Association provides an overview of these activities and provides information on key developments in Europe to watch for in the coming months.

Next in Europe: Important Upcoming Events

October 31: Brexit date (though a further extension is still possible)
November 1: Official start of the mandate of the new European Commission (2019‒2024)
November 25‒29: European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights working groups and expert groups meetings-Alicante, Spain
December 1: Official start of the mandate of the new President of the European Council Charles Michel (Liberal “Renew Europe,” Belgium)

Recent Activities in Europe

October 11: INTA held an educational and networking event for Young Practitioners and Trademark Administrators, in Oslo, Norway.
October 2‒3: INTA Chief Representative Officer-Europe Hélène Nicora held a series of bilateral meetings with European national IP offices during the WIPO General Assemblies in Geneva, Switzerland, to strengthen INTA’s collaboration with European national offices.
September 25‒27: INTA Policy Officer-Europe Hadrien Valembois attended the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights plenary session in Alicante, Spain, where the draft Work Plan 2020 and the respective stakeholders’ comments were discussed. On September 26 and 27, Mr. Valembois attended the IP Horizon 5.0 Conference, which focused on what the top-level IP offices consider to be the most pressing issues in today’s IP examination and asset evaluation environment and the preparations that are needed to make full use of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in daily practice.
September 24: INTA Policy Officer-Europe Carolina Oliveira participated in a meeting organized by the EU Commission Directorate-General for Trade (DG TRADE) in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss the 2020 Work Plans for the EU IP Key programs. Financed by the European Commission, the IP Key programs are implemented by the European Union Intellectual Property Office to support robust IP systems in China, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. More information on trainings, seminars, and projects foreseen in the different regions are available here.
September 19‒20: Ms. Nicora and INTA Policy Officer‒Europe Carolina Oliveira traveled to Prague, Czech Republic, to join the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Czech Intellectual Property Office (IPO or Office). Ms. Nicora and Ms. Oliveira attended an international conference titled “Protection of Industrial Property Rights” on September 19, and on the following day, met with the IPO’s President Josef Kratochvíl and his team to discuss activities, strategies, and IP priorities of INTA and the Office, as well as future opportunities for collaboration.
September 15-17: INTA held its Trademark Administrators and Practitioners (TMAP) Meeting in Berlin, Germany. See a recently published report of the event from the October 1 INTA Bulletin and revive the live action by viewing the latest #INTATMAP tweets.

INTA’s Europe Representative Office, based in Brussels, Belgium, represents the Association’s 1,800+ members across Europe (including those in EU and non-EU member states, and Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States). Working in collaboration with staff at INTA’s headquarters in New York City, the Europe Representative Office leads the Association’s policy, membership, marketing, and communications initiatives throughout the region. To learn more about INTA’s activities in Europe, please contact INTA Chief Representative Officer-Europe Hélène Nicora at [email protected] and follow us on Twitter at @INTABrussels.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of items in the INTA Bulletin, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.