The two seminars organised by the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI) in collaboration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), under the auspices of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), were successfully concluded.
The seminars were inaugurated with greetings from the General Director of OBI, Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, and the Dean of the Faculty of Law at NKUA, Konstantinos Christodoulou, highlighting the importance of collaboration in the field of intellectual property. A greeting was also delivered by Mr. Dimitris Botis, Director, Business Support Department at EUIPO.
The success of the seminars was further confirmed by the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between OBI and NKUA. During the sessions, a fruitful dialogue took place between participants and speakers, addressing key issues in intellectual property and the challenges that require further attention.
On the first day of the seminars, the presentations focused on specialized topics aimed at professionals in the intellectual property field.
In the first part, Mr. Botis, Director, Business Support Department, EUIPO, spoke about developments in the field of intellectual property and analyzed the new regulation on geographical indications for non-agricultural products. Mrs. Elena Katsoula, Seconded National Expert at EUIPO, addressed alternative dispute resolution within the framework of European Cooperation Programs. Mr. Theodorakeas, Team Leader – European Cooperation Service Institutional and Cooperation Department (ICD) EUIPO, presented the advanced functions of electronic trademark filing systems. Mrs. Flora Karamolegou, Legal Assistant, Boards of Appeal, Second Board of Appeal, EUIPO, discussed recent case law concerning European trademarks and common issues in proceedings before EUIPO.
In the second part, the presentations were given by representatives of the academic community at NKUA.
Mrs. Effi Kinini, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of NKUA, presented the topic of the loss of trademark rights due to tolerance. Mr. Iakovos Venieris, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of NKUA, analyzed bad faith in trademark filing, and Mr. Christos Chrysanthis, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of NKUA, focused on weak trademarks. The day’s proceedings were coordinated by Mrs. Theodora Simitsi, Deputy General Director of OBI.
The seminar on the second day followed the same structure in the first part, while the second part included additional presentations.
A representative from WIPO, Mr. Juan Rodriguez, Senior Legal Counsellor at the Madrid Legal Division, Madrid Registry, Brands and Designs Sector, WIPO, spoke about the system for filing international applications. On behalf of OBI, Mrs. Matina Chrysochoidou, Director of Trademarks, and Mr. Georgios Kefalogiannis, Electronic Filing Operator for National Trademarks, presented topics related to the national approach to intellectual property.
Participants had the opportunity to exchange views and identify important issues that will be the subject of future actions, strengthening the substantive outcome of the discussions.
Presentations in Greek:
Loss of Trademark Rights Due to Tolerance-E. Kinini
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)- E. Katsoula
Bad Faith in Trademark Filing- I. Venieris
Legislative Developments in European Law- D.Botis
Recent Case Law & Common Issues in EUIPO Proceedings- F. Karamolegou
Weak Trademarks- C. Chrysanthis
