Intellectual Property: EU Virtual Communities and International Alliances

The creation, protection, and management of intellectual rights takes shape through "intellectual property" a collaborative activity involving multiple stakeholders.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), responsible for managing registered EU trademarks and designs, is promoting the transformation of the European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN) into a more integrated and strategic framework. The goal is to implement an evolutionary process that will lead to the creation of a true community.

This transformation is being implemented through the introduction of new-generation European Cooperation Projects (ECPs) and thematic Virtual Communities, which aim to establish common examination standards and offer tangible benefits to Intellectual Property (IP) users.

The first virtual communities were created in February 2025, and by 2026, 19 additional communities will be operational, focusing on areas such as the standardization of geographical indications, the modernization of digital services, and the alignment of intellectual property registration procedures among EU member states.

International Intellectual Property Alliances

The transformation process also extends beyond the EU, creating international "Intellectual Property Alliances" (IP Alliances). This initiative aims to foster ...