High Level Conference on Industrial Property

Within the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, O.A. (SPTO) organized a High Level Conference on Industrial Property (IP) in Madrid on September 11 and 12.

The event brought together numerous experts from National Industrial Property Offices, representatives of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the European Patent Office (EPO) and other related national and international organizations to discuss the future Directives on Patents, Geographical Indications and Designs.

On the afternoon of September 11, the Director of the SPTO received the attendees at the Museo del Traje, part of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, giving a welcoming speech.

The second day, at the Royal Tapestry Factory, was inaugurated by the Undersecretary of Industry, Commerce and Tourism. After the opening ceremony, a round table discussion began on the value of IP as an intangible asset in Europe, with special reference to patents as a driver of innovation. It was moderated by the Director of the SPTO, who highlighted the role of IP as a key element in "technological sovereignty or autonomy".

The panel participants, senior representatives of WIPO, EPO and EUIPO, discussed the challenges of monetization and access to financing for intangibles, and the role of IP in supporting innovation and technological development in countries.

The second panel, at the proposal of the European Commission (EC), dealt with one of the dossiers currently under discussion within the IP Working Group of the Council of the European Union: the proposal for a Regulation on Standards Essential Patents (SEPs). This proposal is one of the three initiatives of the so-called "patent package", launched by the EC in April 2023, whose intention would be to favor a common legal framework and boost innovation, investment and competitiveness in the single market.

The discussion focused on the monitoring role of national IP offices, on the essentiality to improve transparency and increase confidence, as well as the establishment of a Competence Center to manage the process.

At the end of the morning session, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism attended the Conference and highlighted the relevance of the Spanish Presidency in laying the foundations for a new economic development space, where IP plays a fundamental role for Spanish companies and their internationalization.

The next round table, moderated by the Director of the SPTO's Department of Distinctive Signs, dealt with the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of geographical indications of artisanal and industrial products. Its purpose is to complement the EU's system of protection of geographical indications, which already existed for agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines and spirits, and to enable effective compliance with the obligations arising from the EU's accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement.

The last round table, moderated by the Director of the Patents and Technological Information Department of the SPTO, discussed the Community Design Directive and its Regulations. The current situation of industrial designs, their main difficulties and possible support tools were analyzed. Among them were the new draft Regulation on Ecodesign, cooperation programs, and the participation of SMEs and entrepreneurs in the system of registration and protection of designs through IP.