TMAP Returns to Berlin, Germany

Conny Schmitt (Grünecker Patent Attorneys & Attorneys-at-law, Germany)

This year’s Trademark Administrators and Practitioners (TMAP) Meeting will be held September 28–30 in Berlin, Germany, marking the first time TMAP has been held in Europe since 2019. The Meeting will bring together a diverse group of trademark administrators (TMAs), paralegals, young practitioners, and attorneys who manage global trademark portfolios for two full days of dynamic educational and Business Development activities in Germany’s vibrant capital.

Bahia Alyafi (Alyafi IP Group, Middle East)

2025 TMAP Meeting Co-Chairs Conny Schmitt (Grünecker Patent Attorneys & Attorneys-at-law, Germany) and Bahia Alyafi (Alyafi IP Group, Middle East) sat down with the INTA Bulletin to discuss why Berlin is the perfect host city for this year’s TMAP, highlight some of the key topics and trends that will be discussed in the Meeting’s educational program, and share their tips for how first-time registrants can maximize their TMAP experience.

This year, TMAP is returning to Berlin, Germany, for the first time since 2019. Why was this the right time for TMAP to return to Europe?
Conny Schmitt: After the Second World War, Berlin was divided into the East and the West sector. In 1961, a wall was built that physically divided families, communities, and a whole nation for nearly 30 years. When the wall finally came down in 1989, Berlin was reinstated as the capital of a now unified Germany. Berlin is one of the most powerful examples in history of a city that was divided by ideology and then reunited. It’s a symbol of freedom, reconciliation, and unity. With today’s challenges and renewed geopolitical divides, I could not think of a better time and place to bring our community together for the TMAP Meeting.

What is the vision for this year’s TMAP, and how is it reflected in the educational program?
Bahia Alyafi: Conny set up well for this question! The vision for TMAP is about bringing our community together. Right now, there are a lot of challenges and external forces around the world that are trying to divide us, but effective intellectual property (IP) laws and treaties are about harmonization and multilateralism—we are a part of the glue that holds international trade together! We have to rely on one another. For TMAP, our goal is to bring everyone together to discuss key issues and trends in IP and how to navigate the political, cultural, and economic climate together so that we can deal with these changes effectively.

What sets TMAP apart from INTA’s other Meetings? Who would benefit from attending TMAP?
BA: TMAP is designed primarily for TMAs and younger practitioners, but these days our work process is so interconnected that even more experienced lawyers are also benefiting from attending TMAP and participating in our educational program.

CS: Our educational sessions are very in-depth and very detailed. Many people who attend TMAP are specifically attending for the educational sessions, so that makes TMAP a bit different from other meetings that are perhaps more focused on networking. Everyone participates in all the sessions.

It’s also not as intimidating as a larger meeting. You really get to know your fellow registrants. You have no choice but to talk to people because it’s in such an intimate setting, and they can help you understand the dynamics of laws in other jurisdictions. You are forced outside your bubble. That’s what TMAP is for.

For the second year in a row, TMAP will feature two full days of educational programming. Please provide an overview of the educational offerings.
BA: Our educational sessions are going to be very informative and interactive and provide different perspectives from all around the world. We’re going to be using the updates in EU laws and legislation as steppingstones to discussions on their potential impact on the global IP community. We’ll look at how other jurisdictions will adopt this legislation, how it may change, and what it means for brands going forward. These discussions will benefit TMAs, lawyers, and brand owners.

We’re also going to talk about the latest AI regulation in the EU, legislation designed to regulate greenwashing, protection of 3D creations, and how to utilize LinkedIn to enhance your personal brand and to build influence.

Much more will be added to the program in the coming weeks, including the announcement of our keynote session. Registrants who want to get a head start on planning their schedule can download the INTA Events app now. You’ll need it to check into sessions, just like at the Annual Meeting and you’ll be able to use it to continue networking after the Meeting

There is a strong focus in the program on EU regulations. Why were these topics chosen as key priorities?
CS: We talked about this a lot and we thought that with TMAP being in Europe, this would be a great opportunity—since we’ll most likely have more people from Europe—to put a little bit of focus on some of the EU laws and case decisions that will have a global impact, including the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the AI Act. They will have an impact globally, just like the General Data Protection Regulation—which is also an EU regulation—did and still does.

The AI Act and the DSA will impose on how platforms must monitor and remove illegal contact. That’s why it’s so important to focus on these regulations and explain them, as they will really shape the future in this field.

BA: The EU is often ahead of other jurisdictions in terms of regulation, so using the EU regulation can be used as a sounding board, or as a diving board, into the topic. If we use it as a sounding board, it can help us get a sense of the current climate. But we could also use it as a diving board and jump into the potential impacts of these topics on brands. We chose these topics because of their relevance. They have an impact on our day-to-day life, whether we’re TMAs, lawyers, brand owners, or just consumers.

Beyond the sessions, what elements of the meeting are you most excited about, like the Exhibition Hall, networking receptions, or Lunch and Learn Circles?
BA: I always say TMAP is one of my favorite events because it’s a more intimate event. You build a lot of great personal connections that last for a long time. Each component of the Meeting is a different piece of the puzzle. When you put it all together, it creates this amazing experience.

Lunch and Learn Circles, which are small group discussions that cover current topics in law, practice and professional development, are very helpful in diving deeper into a topic and discussing it freely without having anyone judge you. There is no judgment at TMAP, which allows us to learn more. The Exhibition Hall is awesome because you get to see a lot of the latest tools available for administrators and lawyers. These are just some of the different puzzle pieces that come together to create this experience.

CS: Another factor that contributes to the intimate group experience of TMAP this year is that there will not be any concurrent sessions, so everybody will have the chance to attend each and every session.

Conny, as a resident of Germany, what is it about Berlin’s culture that makes it an ideal location for TMAP?
CS: I had been to Berlin many times when it was still divided, and many times after Germany was reunified, and I think that there is no other city in Germany today that is as open and diverse and global as Berlin.

It’s also a really vibrant city full of energy and young people. It’s one of Europe’s most dynamic centers for creativity, music, art, design, and innovation, and a significant hub for IP, as it is home to thousands of startups, particularly in the tech, cosmetics, fashion, and media industries. And it has a vibrant arts and music scene. I believe that this very special combination of history, technology, and creativity makes it an ideal location for the TMAP Meeting.

BA: If I may add, it’s fun, international, and personal. That’s Berlin. And that’s TMAP.

What advice would you offer a first-time TMAP registrant on maximizing the Meeting?
CS: One of the benefits of the TMAP Meeting is that it’s rather easy to navigate, so it’s easy to make use of all the opportunities that are offered to you. Go to every educational session. Talk to people. Get to know them. Be open and create a network for yourself. Make friends for life and build reliable work connections.

That’s what TMAP is for. I made friends at INTA events 20 years ago who are still my very close friends and key work connections. Get as much as you can out of the Meeting by talking to people.

BA: I would add two things. The first is to have fun. The second is that if you feel intimidated, just approach someone and say, “I’m so-and-so and this is my first time at TMAP.”

TMAs who attend TMAP really get to know each other. They love to meet other people. Just introduce yourself and start a conversation.

Learn more and register for the 2025 TMAP Meeting.

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

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