IP Summit 2016: what to expect
The pan-European IP Summit has been taking place since 2004 and notable host locations include Alicante, Paris and Berlin.
The 2016 summit will discuss IP “evolutions” from this year, such as the new EU trademark system, the EU copyright framework and the Digital Single Market.
Other evolutions to be discussed are the trade secrets directive, new technologies and their impact on corporations and the EU patent system post-Brexit.
The Summit is expected to welcome more than 450 delegates and 100 high-level IP speakers.
These speakers include IP counsel, judges, lawyers and EU commissioners as well as representatives from Fortune 500 companies.
Kate O’Rourke, president of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, and Amandine Doat, IP and brand protection legal director at Tommy Hilfiger, are two speakers booked to present at the summit.
Other brands which will be represented include Unilever, Microsoft, Nestlé, Pernod Ricard, Audi and Sony/ATV Publishing.
IP evolutions—highlights
At this year’s conference a host of hot topics and important new regulations will be discussed. WIPR has picked out a few to watch out for.
New EU trademark system
Delegates at the conference will discuss the new trademark system, which was implemented in March this year.
The new trademark system included a reduction in renewal fees and a re-branding of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market to the European Union Intellectual Property Office.
EU patent system post-Brexit
The Summit will discuss the unitary patent and Unified Patent Court and Brexit’s impact on the system as well as reform of the European Patent Boards of Appeal and the Patent Cooperation Treaty procedure.
“The Summit will discuss the unitary patent and Unified Patent Court and Brexit’s impact on the system.”
Brexit has been one of the biggest talking points this year, and when British Prime Minister Theresa May announced in October that article 50 would be triggered in March 2017, IP law was discussed once again.
UK lawyers spoke to WIPR at the time. David Rose, partner at Mishcon de Reya, said that “the process of disentangling EU and UK laws is especially complex in the area of intellectual property rights”.
New technologies and their impact
The next evolution to be discussed is the emergence of new technologies which have disrupted the existing IP market. Notably, these include 3D printing and the ‘internet of things’. When J Scott Evans, the past president of the International Trademark Association and associate counsel of software company Adobe, spoke to WIPR last year, he mentioned the role 3D printing will play for trademarks.
“For many years, the trademark attorneys who I’m familiar with have regarded design patents as superfluous unless they’re in certain industries, and trade dress and trade configuration registrations are really murky and difficult,” he said.
“3D printing is going to change that—it’s going to change the way we do design registrations in Europe, design patents in the US, and trade dress registrations. Configuration lawyers are going to see a wholesale change in the next few years.”
What to expect
Since its launch in 2004, the IP Summit has been known as a valuable place for delegates to network.
This year’s summit is due to provide opportunities to network through its gala and cocktail receptions, as well as in lunch and coffee breaks.
In 2016, the summit is developing its networking opportunities by creating an online platform for delegates to exchange contact details. Those selected will receive an invitation to share their contact details via email, which they can accept or decline.
More details about the IP Summit can be viewed here.
