The EU’s IP Action Plan: Driving Innovation for a Sustainable Future through Protection and Enforcement

Intellectual property (IP) plays a vital role in advancing technologies that are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide. The European Union has been at the forefront of strengthening IP protection and enhancing the single market, with significant progress made since unveiling an ambitious IP action plan in November 2020.

One major milestone in EU IP policy was the implementation of the unitary patent system, which harmonized patent protection across EU countries. Additionally, the introduction of the ‘patent package’ in April 2023 includes proposals to improve transparency and efficiency in the patent framework.

The EU has also taken steps to provide geographical indication (GI) protection for craft and industrial products throughout the region. GIs help protect product authenticity by preserving names associated with specific regions, such as Herend porcelain (HU) and Donegal tweed (IE). By updating EU designs protection rules, the EU aims to encourage design innovation, competitiveness, and fair competition in the spare parts aftermarket.

In addition, measures have been taken by the EU to intensify IP enforcement, including recommending tools through its toolbox against counterfeiting. This toolbox provides companies with necessary tools to combat counterfeiting and protect their IP rights effectively.

On World IP Day, the EU reaffirms its commitment to supporting innovation and creativity as essential drivers of progress towards a sustainable and inclusive future for all.