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‘For strong trademark rights in a strong Europe’

Discussions on artificial intelligence, support for small businesses and joint projects: DPMA President Eva Schewior meets Joao Negrao, Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office, in Alicante

Alicante. New AI tools, convergence projects and the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises: the German Patent and Trade Mark Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) work closely together on many levels. DPMA President Eva Schewior has now further strengthened this relationship: she visited the Director of the EUIPO, Joao Negrao, at the European authority's headquarters in Alicante for the first time. Both directors have been in office since 2023. The President of the EUIPO Boards of Appeal, Sven Stürmann, also took part in the meeting.

‘For us as the largest national patent and trade mark office in Europe, the EUIPO is one of our most important international partners,’ emphasised the DPMA President. ‘Harmonisation of trade mark law is particularly important in politically turbulent and economically difficult times. The strategic and far-sighted cooperation between our two offices is a decisive factor for strong trade mark rights in a strong Europe.’

At their meeting, Schewior and Negrao discussed the development of trade mark and design applications in Europe. Applications are rising sharply, particularly for trade marks. They also discussed ways of supporting the examination process with artificial intelligence. EUIPO experts showed the German delegation a room specially set up for testing AI applications. The DPMA is also participating in a cooperation project run by the European authority in which various approaches are being tested. In addition, the Office is currently working on its own ‘Innovation Lab’, which will also test possible applications.

The DPMA and EUIPO also cooperate intensively within the framework of several European working groups. The main aim is to harmonise the legal framework and examination practice within the European internal market (convergence). The heads of the offices also discussed support and promotion for small and medium-sized enterprises in protecting their intellectual property. The DPMA President thanked the EUIPO for its excellent work in managing the SME Fund, which promotes the filing of property rights applications, and called for further support for small businesses. During her visit, the DPMA President also signed the EUIPO's Golden Book.

Piictures: EUIPO, DPMA

Last updated: 17 November 2025