The European Communities Trademark Association (ECTA) has established a Patent Committee, which is a surprising move since its traditional focus on trademarks. However, considering ECTA’s evolution into various intellectual property (IP) fields over the years, including geographical indications, designs, copyright, and others, and the internationalization of patents with the unitary patent system in the EU, the move is seen as logical. The Patent Committee will focus on post-grant procedures, particularly the European Commission’s new Patent Package and issues typically handled by experienced patent lawyers involved in patent litigation. The temporary committee’s plan aims to gather existing patent-related knowledge within ECTA, create new expertise in post-grant patent procedures, for example the PMAC (Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre), and advise European stakeholders neutrally and unbiasedly. ECTA seeks to attract new patent experts to its membership and collaborate with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on new registries and procedures. The committee’s mission is to contribute to the development of a balanced and well-equipped EU patent system.
Are you interested in joining the ECTA’s new Patent Committee? Send your apply by email to ecta@ecta.org.