Under the framework of the European Cooperation Projects (ECP), in particular ECP8 ‘European Network of Authenticities’, the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria (BPO) and the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI) held parts of their compulsory awareness-raising activities in the Authenticities of Plovdiv, Sofia and Thessaloniki.
On 17 and 18 November and from 19 to 22 November 2021, the BPO held educational enforcement events in Plovdiv and Sofia respectively, at which around 70 attendees followed interesting seminars on different important topics regarding trade marks and designs, intellectual property (IP) infringement and counterfeiting.
On 25 November 2021, the OBI held an IP enforcement seminar in the town hall of the municipality of Thessaloniki. 49 attendees, including individuals from the police, customs and the financial crime prosecution body, followed the IP enforcement seminar in which speakers focused on how to successfully tackle counterfeiting, among other topics.
The EUIPO was kindly invited to these events to present the state of play of the project and the European dimension provided by its growing network of five European Authenticities.
These events were part of a series of IP-related awareness-raising activities taking place locally in these certified Authenticities.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is behind this initiative, which brings together national and regional IP offices of the EU, municipalities across Europe and local organisations to help combat fake products and piracy. It also aims to increase awareness of IP rights among citizens and businesses and pave the way for a European network of certified Authenticities, where best practices and ideas can be shared and joint activities are put in motion.
