Here's a golden opportunity to benefit yourself and improve your working knowledge of intellectual property:MARQUES has been alllocated one free place at the forthcoming IP Seminar on Trade Marks and Designs, an attractive and informative programme organised by the OHIM IP Academy and which runs from 29 September to 3 October.

This place is available on a first-come, first-served basis to any MARQUES member who wishes to attend. For further information and registration, please contact Alessandra Romeo at aromeo@marques.org.

More about the seminars

The IP seminars are traditional training events at OHIM's headquarters in sunny Alicante. They are designed to offer a learning platform for the acquisition and exchange of ideas and practices in the IP field. The IP seminars are open to experts from EU and non-EU national offices, as well as from user associations.

The Autumn IP Seminar will be a one-week intensive training course, offering a comprehensive programme on trade mark and design issues. It will combine presentations from OHIM and external experts with interactive working groups. The seminar will be held in English, with French and Spanish simultaneous interpretation available.

What's the programme?

The outline of the course looks like this:

• Monday, 29/9: Community Design – registration (including design rights versus other IP rights)
• Tuesday, 30/9: Community Design – invalidity (including case law)
• Wednesday, 1/10: Common issues and procedures (OHIM and EU Observatory, appeal and court proceedings, case law, new OHIM website)
  • Plus: Official dinner
• Thursday, 2/10: Community Trade Mark – absolute grounds for refusal (including new developments in OHIM practice and dealing with geographical indications in TM proceedings)
• Friday, 3/10: Community Trade Mark – relative grounds for refusal.

What's the catch?

There isn't one -- though you have to bear your own travel and accommodation costs, and it's up to you to pack your swimsuit, bucket and spade ...

 If you are interested in attending, please let Alessandra know by 5 September.