Observatory working group meetings

The European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights (the Observatory) will hold its working group meetings from 14 to 16 April 2025, both in-person at the EUIPO headquarters in Alicante and online. These meetings will bring together representatives from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, to discuss key issues related to intellectual property rights.

During the meetings, participants will delve into various themes across four working groups:

• The Public Awareness working group will review the Spring Campaign 2025, influencer outreach initiatives, strategies for engaging the next generation, and preparations for the International IP Enforcement Summit 2025, scheduled to take place in Athens on 12-13 June.

• The IP in the Digital World working group will address several topics, including an update on the Digital Services Act from the European Commission, new online marketing practices, court-developed practices for addressing intellectual property rights (IPR) infringements at fairs, and streaming fraud related to artificial play creation on online streaming services. The group will also discuss good practices from payment providers and receive an update on the work of the Cooperation with Intermediaries expert group.

• The Enforcement working group will discuss about intellectual property crime in the context of serious and organised crime, as well as the single contact point framework for combating counterfeiting, various enforcement projects, and certification for free trade zones.

• The Economics and Statistics working group will focus on collaborative efforts between EUIPO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), including studies on firm-level IP contributions, the Belt and Road Initiative, and trade in counterfeit goods. The group will also introduce the progress report on IP-backed finance, IP valuation, and commercialisation, as well as the terms of reference for the new joint EUIPO-European Patent Office study on innovation in European sectors.

During the working groups' common session, participants can expect:

• An update from the European Commission on topics of interest

• A panel discussion on the role of EUIPO in relation to the E-commerce communication

• An update on the EUIPO Copyright Knowledge Centre and the Generative Artificial Intelligence and IP study

• A presentation on the impact of megatrends on the IP system in the EU

• An introduction to the IPEP (Intellectual Property Enforcement Portal)

• An update on customs policy

• Information on the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT)

These meetings will provide a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to engage in discussions, share knowledge, and collaborate on efforts to protect intellectual property rights in the EU.

Source: https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/news/observatory/observatory-working-group-meetings-04-2025