On 3-4 September, the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia, in partnership with the European Patent Office (EPO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), hosted a regional seminar for judges. The event gathered legal experts from the Baltics and Europe to discuss current issues in intellectual property rights.

EPO President António Campinos kicked off the seminar with a video message, emphasizing the judiciary’s crucial role in tackling challenges brought by the rapidly evolving technological and legal landscapes. He praised the early success of the Unitary Patent system, particularly its positive effect on SMEs and the innovation hub in the Baltic states, highlighting Latvia’s strong uptake. He also underscored the significance of the regional division of the Unified Patent Court (UPC), noting Latvia’s role in its development and how the UPC benefits businesses and applicants across the region.

“The judiciary plays a pivotal role in this system. The legal certainty provided by the UPC depends on the expertise of its judges and legal professionals, and their consistent application of the law across all courts in the system,” the EPO President stated. He further explained the EPO’s collaboration with the UPC in developing extensive training resources for judges.

Strengthening a collaborative legal community

Agris Batalauskis, Director of the Patent Office of Latvia, also stressed the need for training: “As the IP system continues to evolve, international cooperation is essential for creating a sustainable and effective training format for judges, thereby reinforcing the legal protection offered by the IP system.”

The seminar also featured support from Edger Brinkman, a senior judge at the Court of the Hague and the Unified Patent Court in the Netherlands. Such events are key to the EPO’s efforts to engage the judiciary and legal professionals. By fostering a well-informed and collaborative legal community, we can better address the complexities of intellectual property law in a fast-changing technological landscape.