Discussion at the EU Parliament with the Executive Director of EUIPO

The Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), João Negrão, took part in a discussion at the Legal Affairs Committee, where he provided an overview of the Office's activities and initiatives. In the course of the meeting, the Committee finalized its stance on the new regulations supporting standard-essential patents (SEPs) and voted on the provisional agreement concerning Community Designs. The EUIPO is expected to have a significant role in these legislative measures.

MEPs propose entrusting the EUIPO with establishing a SEP Licensing Assistance Hub, acting as a centralized resource to offer complimentary training and assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. EUIPO's role would extend to aiding small businesses in identifying necessary standard essential patents for product development and facilitating payment procedures associated with patent usage. Additionally, the hub would provide guidance on enforcing rights and procedures for compensation if a company holds such patents.