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In this interview with Rolf Claessen on the IP Fridays podcast, João Negrão, the executive director of the EUIPO, discussed the office’s recent developments and future plans. Negrão highlighted the conclusion of the consultation phase for the EUIPO’s 2030 Strategic Plan, emphasizing key areas such as financial sustainability, efficiency, effectiveness, and the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. He noted the challenges posed by political and economic volatility and the expansion of EUIPO’s competencies, including geographical indications.

Negrão addressed the potential new role of the EUIPO in handling non-binding essentiality checks for standard essential patents (SEPs), should the proposed regulation be approved. He assured that the EUIPO would adapt to these new competencies using a project management approach. The interview also covered the EUIPO’s new mediation center for IP disputes, launched in November 2023. Negrão explained that while mediation and conciliation have been offered by the Boards of Appeal since 2011, the goal is to expand these services to first-instance proceedings to provide cost-effective and timely alternatives to traditional dispute resolution.

Celebrating the EUIPO’s 30th anniversary, Negrão reflected on its growth from a small office to an organization with 1,200 staff members, protecting almost five million trademarks and designs. He cited significant achievements, including the establishment of the Observatory on IP Infringements. The conversation touched on the DesignEuropa Awards, now held annually, which recognize excellence in design across various categories, including industry, small and emerging companies, lifetime achievement, and young designers. These awards aim to promote the design system and celebrate outstanding work. You can apply here:

https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/designs/designeuropa-awards/how-to-apply

Negrão discussed the EUIPO’s new competence in geographical indications for craft and industrial products, aimed at protecting local products, promoting quality recognition, and supporting local producers and regions in Europe. He also highlighted the EUIPO’s expanding international cooperation with countries like Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, aiming to harmonize IP systems globally and support European businesses by ensuring robust, predictable IP systems in these regions.

Finally, Negrão outlined his personal goals for the EUIPO, emphasizing his desire to use his extensive experience to contribute to the office’s further development. He aims to focus on strategic planning, cooperation with national and international IP offices, and addressing issues such as IP infringements and the underrepresentation of women in the IP system. Overall, the interview underscored the EUIPO’s efforts to improve the IP system, embrace new competencies and technologies, and support stakeholders through effective implementation and international cooperation.

Key Takeaways:

1. EUIPO’s Strategic Plan:
   
   
   
   • The consultation phase for the 2030 Strategic Plan closed recently.
   
   
   
   
   
   • Key focus areas include financial sustainability, efficiency, effectiveness, and leveraging emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
   
   
   
   
   
   • The EUIPO aims to address challenges such as political and economic volatility and expanding competencies, including geographical indications.
   
   
   
   





2. New Competencies and SEPs:
   
   
   
   • The EUIPO may soon handle non-binding essentiality checks for standard essential patents (SEPs) if the proposed regulation is approved.
   
   
   
   
   
   • João Negrão emphasized that the EUIPO will adapt and implement these new competencies using their established project management approach.
   
   
   
   





3. Mediation Center:
   
   
   
   • The EUIPO launched a new mediation center for IP disputes in November 2023.
   
   
   
   
   
   • Mediation and conciliation have been offered by the Boards of Appeal since 2011.
   
   
   
   
   
   • The aim is to expand these services to first-instance proceedings to provide cost-effective, timely alternatives to traditional dispute resolution.
   
   
   
   





4. 30th Anniversary and Achievements:
   
   
   
   • Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the EUIPO has grown from a small office to one with 1,200 staff members, protecting almost five million trademarks and designs.
   
   
   
   
   
   • Significant achievements include the effective protection of IP rights and the establishment of the Observatory on IP Infringements.
   
   
   
   





5. DesignEuropa Awards:
   
   
   
   • The DesignEuropa Awards, now held annually, recognize excellence in design across several categories, including industry, small and emerging companies, lifetime achievement, and young designers.
   
   
   
   
   
   • The awards aim to promote the design system and celebrate outstanding work in the field.
   
   
   
   





6. Geographical Indications:
   
   
   
   • The EUIPO has taken on the competence for geographical indications for craft and industrial products.
   
   
   
   
   
   • This new IP right aims to protect local products, promote quality recognition, and support local producers and regions in Europe.
   
   
   
   





7. International Cooperation:
   
   
   
   • The EUIPO is expanding its international cooperation with countries like Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, aiming to harmonize IP systems globally.
   
   
   
   
   
   • These efforts support European businesses by ensuring robust, predictable IP systems in these regions.
   
   
   
   





8. Future Goals:
   
   
   
   • João Negrão’s personal goal is to use his extensive experience to contribute to the EUIPO’s further development.
   
   
   
   
   
   • The focus will be on strategic planning, cooperation with national and international IP offices, and addressing issues such as IP infringements and underrepresentation of women in the IP system.
   
   
   
   

Overall, the interview highlighted the EUIPO’s ongoing efforts to improve the IP system, embrace new competencies and technologies, and support stakeholders through effective implementation and international cooperation.

Here is a transcript:

Rolf Claessen: Today’s interview guest is the executive director of the EUIPO, João Negrão. Before this role, he served as the president of the boards of appeal at the EUIPO. João has been with the EUIPO for 14 years after having worked at INPI, the National Institute of Industrial Property of Portugal, for nine years. Thank you very much for being here.

João Negrão: Thank you very much for having me, Rolf. It’s a pleasure.

Rolf Claessen: The consultation phase for the EUIPO Strategic Plan 2030 closed on February 16th. What are the main topics of the Strategic Plan, and what are the next steps?

João Negrão: Yes, indeed. As you probably know, the EUIPO has developed incredibly since 1994. We are now celebrating our 30th anniversary. While we have many achievements to be proud of, there is always room for improvement. We’re interested in looking to the future to see where we can make positive changes. We face challenges, such as the current political and economic situation, which generates levels of uncertainty and volatility regarding the demand for trademarks, designs, and now geographical indications. Since we are a self-funded organization, we need to be very careful in planning our activities and implementing our budget. Financial sustainability, efficiency, and effectiveness are key topics within the new strategic plan.

Emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will also significantly impact our work and the IP system overall. We need to leverage these technologies to improve our efficiency and help our users apply for and receive better results in a timely manner. Another challenge is the expansion of the IP system in Europe, with new competencies being entrusted to the EUIPO, such as geographical indications. We need to implement these competencies excellently to continue providing high-quality services. Additionally, addressing IP infringements remains crucial, especially with the rise of new technologies and virtual goods.

Rolf Claessen: Thank you for mentioning the new competencies of the EUIPO. I want to discuss a potential new competency. On April 27, 2023, the new commission published its proposal for a regulation on standard essential patents (SEPs). The European Parliament voted in favor on April 28. If the council approves, the EUIPO might handle non-binding essentiality checks for SEPs and mandatory mediation before litigation. Given that the EUIPO has limited experience with patents, how do you think the office can find enough experts with SEP experience, and how do you see this new development?

João Negrão: We should follow the methodology we’ve used since the EUIPO’s establishment in 1994. We support the commission and legislators with