Watch LIVE on 14 and 15 June 2023
Following earlier editions in London (2014), Berlin (2017), Paris (2019) and Stockholm – online (2021), the fifth International IP Enforcement Summit will take place on 14 and 15 June 2023 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The summit will bring together key European and international decision-makers, law enforcement authorities, multinational companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), consumer representatives, and other relevant players to discuss ways to improve protection and enforcement of IP rights in the EU and around the globe.
The summit will focus on how innovative solutions and further cooperation can best tackle IP crime in the context of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). It will also be an opportunity to continue the discussion about the EU Toolbox against counterfeiting, building on, in particular, the Digital Services Act.
The event will take place at the National Palace of Culture in Sofía, Bulgaria. The current local time in Sofia is - All times listed are EEST (Eastern European Summer Time)
The programme (draft):
Panel I – Strengthening the fight against IP crime through cooperation
The European Multi-disciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) aims to tackle the main crime threats posed by organised and serious international crime. In the current cycle 2022-2025, IP crime is among the selected priorities. The panel will address how the EMPACT platform can be utilised to enhance inter-agency cooperation and, cross-border criminal investigations and facilitate better investigations into serious and organised IP crime.
Panel II – Information sharing: breaking down silos between rights holders, intermediaries and law enforcement
An efficient regulatory framework and the use of new technologies have a key role for ensuring effective and safe information sharing between all stakeholders, including rights holders, intermediaries and law enforcement authorities.
Panel III – SMEs and IP enforcement
Intellectual property infringement is a challenging and expensive threat to face. This leaves SMEs – who are the core of our economy – particularly vulnerable to threats related to counterfeiting and piracy. What solutions are there to overcome these challenges?
There will also be several breakout sessions during the two days. More information about these is available in the draft programme.
The programme will be updated continuously.
IP Summit Hosts:
The Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria (BPO), is a modern Bulgarian state institution. Its mission is to implement a modern system for protection of industrial property as well as to promote innovation, competitiveness, entrepreneurship and economic growth for the benefit of society. The BPO is a reliable partner for implementing European policies in the field of IP protection.
The European Commission is responsible for ensuring that appropriate mechanisms for the protection and enforcement of IP rights are in place in the EU and in third countries. In this context, one of the Commission’s objectives is to ensure that intangible investments, in particular intellectual property, help accelerate the pathways for the transition into a green, digital and resilient economy.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is the EU agency responsible for managing the EU trade mark and the registered Community design systems. In 2012, the Office was given the responsibility for the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights which works to support the protection and enforcement of IP rights.
Vladia Borisova
President, Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria
Thierry Breton
Commissioner for Internal Market, European Commission
Christian Archambeau
Executive Director, European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)
Speakers:
President, Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria
Executive Director, European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)
European Commissioner for Internal Market
Vice President, Worldwide Selling Partner Services, Amazon
CEO, ByoWave
Executive President, Pikolinos
Director, Revenue and International Operations, Investigations & Strategy, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Director, US National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center
CEO, UNIFAB
Head of Office, Analysis Project Copy Online, Europol
Driver of EMPACT IP Crime, Counterfeiting of Goods and Currencies, Ministry of Interior, Bulgaria
Head of Service, Observatory, EUIPO
Regulatory Affairs Counsel, Mastercard Europe
Global Head of Media and Intellectual Property Policy, Meta
Senior Director, Philips Intellectual Property & Standards
Legal and Policy Officer, DG CNCT, European Commission
Head of Intellectual Property, Legal Affairs Department, International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Chairman, Sports Rights Owners Coalition (SROC)
Director General, Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe (ACT)
Legal and Policy Officer, DG GROW, European Commission
Chair, Norwegian Society of Composers and Lyricists (NOPA) and Board Member of the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA)
Deputy Head, Training and Research Unit, European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL)
President, InfoCons, Romania
Head of Department, National University of Public Service, Hungary
Member of the European Parliament
Senior Director of Anti-Counterfeit, Vinted
Director, European and International Relations, La Poste Group
Brand Protection Director, LVMH
Deputy Head of Unit, DG GROW, European Commission
Chairperson, Malta Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority
Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Acting Director, Observatory, EUIPO
Secretary-General, OECD
CEO, European Startup Network
CEO and Founder, Coolcasc
Director, Building Respect for IP Division, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
IP Expert, Latin America IP SME Helpdesk
Head of the Outreach and Knowledge of IP Service, Observatory, EUIPO
Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Mercedes-Benz Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG
Director, Customs Schiphol Cargo
Director for IP Enforcement, U.S. Department of State
Director Operational Integrity, Compliance & Safety, Air France KLM Cargo
Head of Unit, DG JUST, European Commission
Deputy Director for Compliance and Enforcement, World Customs Organization (WCO)
Associate General Counsel, Senior Director, Trademarks and Copyrights, Mattel Inc.
ECC-Net Strategy Coordinator, European Consumer Centre Belgium
Head of Unit, Working Party on Countering Illicit Trade, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Chief of Customs Checkpoint Kapitan Andreevo, National Customs Agency, Bulgaria
Director General, Intellectual Property Protection & International Cooperation Bureau, Korean Intellectual Property
Member of Anticounterfeiting Committee Western Europe, INTA
State Secretary, Ministry for Justice, Sweden
Member of the European Parliament
Director, DG GROW, European Commission
Moderator:
Freelance journalist and presenter