ECTA (European Communities Trademark Association) and the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) met for yet another year in the traditional bilateral meeting between one of the sector’s main international professional associations and the EUIPO. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the European Trademark Office in Alicante and focused on discussing upcoming objectives and taking stock of the achievements made to date. The agenda of topics to be discussed included the in-depth analysis of responses to our consultation in support of our forthcoming 2030 Strategic Plan.

Isabel Cortés, Director of Institutional Affairs at PONS IP, participated in the bilateral meeting held annually by both organisations, along with a team of 8 renowned European industrial property professionals. A team of EUIPO technicians led by its executive director, Joao Negrao, was also present.

The work meetings addressed topics such as the new roles and responsibilities of the EUIPO, together with its upcoming collaboration plans with User Associations, international cooperation and various aspects of the Office’s future Strategic Plan; the latest developments in agricultural and non-agricultural GI reforms; SME programme updates; various abuses of the IP system, such as abuse of EUIPO User Area credentials; the numerous procedural issues relating to representation before the Office, including cancellation procedures, reopening of examinations, filing of evidence, deadline extensions, rejoinders and others; and key recent case law and other practical IP matters.