About us
UNION-IP is an association of European IP professionals, altogether from private practice, industry or universities. Personal and professional exchange is prioritised.
Foundation
In 1961, twenty-two far-sighted patent attorneys from nine European countries founded the “UNION of European Patent Attorneys” with the intention of providing European colleagues with a forum for discussing and influencing forthcoming draft laws and international agreements and also helping the profession in Europe to grow together.
During time, the statutes have been adopted to welcome all industrial property practitioners from all European countries, as expressed in the official name “UNION of European Practitioners in Intellectual Property”.
The main topics of UNION-IP deal with activities, developments and problems affecting the IP professionals in Europe.
In 1961, twenty-two far-sighted patent attorneys from nine European countries founded the “UNION of European Patent Attorneys” with the intention of providing European colleagues with a forum for discussing and influencing forthcoming draft laws and international agreements and also helping the profession in Europe to grow together.
During time, the statutes have been adopted to welcome all industrial property practitioners from all European countries,
as expressed in the official name “UNION of European Practitioners in Intellectual Property”.
The main topics of UNION-IP deal with activities, developments and problems affecting the IP professionals in Europe.
Aims
UNION-IP is an association of practitioners in the field of intellectual property, that is of individuals whose principal professional occupation is concerned with patents, trademarks or designs and related questions and who carry on their profession independently or as employees. UNION-IP is a private, free, international association which is not dependent on any national or international authority: it approves its own members, in accordance with its statutes, in total independence, and likewise decides on its own activities and its own budget.
It aims on the one hand to work continuously on current developments in intellectual property in Europe, especially by making early submissions during the preparation of proposed laws and treaties with the intention of influencing them; and on the other hand to devote itself to the improvement of professional and personal understanding between European practitioners in the intellectual property field in different countries and different branches of the profession.
UNION-IP is an association of practitioners in the field of intellectual property, that is of individuals whose principal professional occupation is concerned with patents, trademarks or designs and related questions and who carry on their profession independently or as employees. UNION-IP is a private, free, international association which is not dependent on any national or international authority: it approves its own members, in accordance with its statutes, in total independence, and likewise decides on its own activities and its own budget.
It aims on the one hand to work continuously on current developments in intellectual property in Europe,
especially by making early submissions during the preparation of proposed laws and treaties with the intention of influencing them; and on the other hand to devote itself to the improvement of professional and personal understanding between European practitioners in the intellectual property field in different countries and different branches of the profession.
Activities
An important part of the work of UNION-IP is the continuing exchange of experience and ideas among friends and colleagues from different parts of Europe, working together in the Commissions and Executive Committee of the UNION-IP, called members of UNION-IP.
UNION-IP maintains close contacts with international authorities such as WIPO (The World Industrial Property Organization) and the Commission of the European Union, and it is invited to their consultations and discussions. It participates regularly as a non-governmental organization with observer status at international conferences.
An important part of the work of UNION-IP is the continuing exchange of experience and ideas among friends and colleagues from different parts of Europe, working together in the Commissions and Executive Committee of the UNION-IP, called members of UNION-IP.
UNION-IP maintains close contacts with international authorities such as WIPO (The World Industrial Property Organization) and the Commission of the European Union,
and it is invited to their consultations and discussions. It participates regularly as a non-governmental organization with observer status at international conferences.