Celebrating World IP Day: How the European Union is Advancing Sustainability and Innovation through Intellectual Property Protection

The European Union (EU) is celebrating World IP Day to recognize the critical role that intellectual property (IP) plays in advancing technology and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s theme of focusing on the SDGs highlights the significant impact of IP in guiding us towards a more fair and sustainable future.

The EU has introduced several initiatives to enhance IP protection and strengthen the single market, benefiting innovative businesses across Europe. A notable achievement was the implementation of the unitary patent system, which harmonizes patent protection across EU countries. Additionally, new regulations have been established to provide geographical indication (GI) protection to craft and industrial products across the EU, such as Herend porcelain (HU) and Donegal tweed (IE), safeguarding names linked to specific regions.

In April 2023, the ‘patent package’ was introduced to improve transparency and efficiency in the patent framework. Furthermore, new measures have been put in place by the EU to enhance IP enforcement, including recommending measures to combat counterfeiting through its toolbox against counterfeiting. These efforts ensure that companies have access to essential tools for tackling counterfeit products and protecting their IP rights.

On this World IP Day, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering innovation and creativity as vital drivers of progress towards a sustainable and inclusive future for all. By promoting design excellence, innovation, competitiveness while ensuring fair competition in the spare parts aftermarket, we can create a better world for everyone.