On 8 and 9 September, the 11th Regional Seminar for Judges on Current Issues in Intellectual Property Rights took place in Priekuļi, Cēsis Municipality. The event was organised by the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia in cooperation with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO).
The aim of the seminar was to promote the exchange of knowledge and professional dialogue on the most pressing issues in the enforcement of intellectual property rights. Over the course of two days, participants discussed recent developments in European and national case law, the interaction between artificial intelligence and copyright, aspects of trade secret protection, patent litigation, and current developments in trademark protection.
Opening the seminar, Agris Batalauskis, Director of the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia, emphasised the importance of continuous professional development and the exchange of experience. He noted that intellectual property is a highly dynamic field that evolved alongside technological advances, changes in the business environment and the emergence of new innovations, while professional practice continues to develop accordingly. He highlighted that seminars of this kind provide valuable opportunities not only for acquiring new knowledge but also for meeting colleagues, sharing experience and engaging in professional discussions. He further observed that the exchange of differing professional views and the examination of various scenarios often enable participants to approach familiar issues from a different perspective and gain new insights.
In turn, Sven Stürmann, President of the EUIPO Boards of Appeal, underlined the importance of close cooperation between the courts of the Member States and the institutions of the European Union. He stated that continuous dialogue between national courts, EU institutions and the EUIPO Boards of Appeal plays a vital role in fostering consistent and predictable practice in trademark and design cases, thus strengthening legal certainty and confidence in the intellectual property protection system. A clear and reliable legal environment provides businesses with the confidence needed to develop their ideas and activities.
In her address, Natalie Carlson, Legal Counsellor at WIPO, spoke about the growing role of the judiciary in the development of the intellectual property system. Courts are playing an increasingly important role as judges are required to address ever more complex issues arising from rapid technological advances, globalised markets, new forms of innovation and creativity. She also stressed the importance of dialogue among judges from different countries, noting that the exchange of experiences and case-law enables them to learn from one another.
Traditionally, participants were given a practical group exercise involving the resolution of various intellectual property cases, which were subsequently discussed collectively. The seminar concluded with a discussion on intellectual property case law from a regional perspective.
The seminar featured contributions from leading experts and representatives of the judiciary from several countries. Speakers included Richard Hacon, Presiding Judge of the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court in London; Dr Thomas Hoeren, Director of the Institute for Information, Telecommunications and Media Law at the University of Münster; Virginia Melgar, Chairperson of the Fifth Board of Appeal of EUIPO; as well as representatives of the Latvian courts and Industrial Property Board of Appeal.