English
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is the European Union (EU) agency responsible for managing the EU trade marks (EUTMs), the registered Community design (RCDs), the Geographical Indications (GIs) for craft and industrial products and the European and international cooperation in the field of intellectual property (IP), as well as the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights. The EUIPO acts as a key facilitator of the European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN) and is involved in an increasing number of EU-funded projects operated under contribution agreements with the European Commission. The Observatory aims to raise public awareness, deliver training, develop systems, and provide evidence-based data on IP protection and enforcement. It is also responsible for establishing and managing the EU orphan works database and the public single online portal for the out-of-commerce works. The Office’s work at EU level extends to the harmonisation of registration practices and the development of common tools in cooperation with its partners from national and regional IP offices throughout the EU, users, and other institutional partners. All decisions adversely affecting a party to a proceeding can be appealed to the Office’s Boards of Appeal.
