News and events

Infringement of intellectual property rights (IPR) is a major risk for the profitability and survival of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), according to a joint report by the EUIPO, through the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report ‘Risks of Illicit Trade in Counterfeits to Small and Medium-Sized Firms’, released on Tuesday 31 January also shows that SMEs whose intellectual property is violated are 34 % less likely to survive after 5 years.

The EUIPO, through the European Union Intellectual Property Network, creates tools and practices so that businesses big and small can benefit from more efficient registration services and increased legal security when applying for a trade mark or design.

The call for applications to the SME Fund 2023 will be open from 23 January to 8 December 2023.

When you travel to France, the Eiffel Tower in Paris will be one of the key sites to visit; when you think of Italy, one of that country’s symbols is Michelangelo’s David; as you enjoy the sun setting down in the Spanish city of Logroño, you may well order some Chorizo Riojano to go with your glass of Rioja wine; when you stroll down the streets of Copenhagen, you will admire the beautiful furniture and the distinctive Scandinavian design style on display in local stores.

The outputs of the period 2017-2021 show increased productivity in EUIPO operations and diminishing deficiency rates.