Virtual Workshop on Mediation: Intellectual Property Cases

On 15 December 2022, representatives from 16 Latin American countries attended the ‘Virtual Workshop on Mediation: Intellectual Property Cases’, organised by the EUIPO and IP Key Latin America (LA).

The main objective of the activity was to contribute to raise awareness among SMEs and IP rights holders about alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation.

The speaker, Natalia Kapetanaki (Boards of Appeal Operations), gave a presentation on the EUIPO’s dispute resolution services (ADR). She also presented best practices in mediation processes with a special focus on SMEs. Kirsten Bauch (head of the ADR service) gave the welcoming remarks to the workshop.

Alfonso Rivera (IP Key LA Activities Coordinator for the Andean Community), presented the results of the study ‘Presence and use of mediation in Intellectual Property cases in Latin America’, carried out in 2020 on behalf of IP Key LA.

This workshop is a follow-up to the mediation study conducted in 2020 within IP Key LA, which highlights mediation possibilities in Latin America. The aim is to raise awareness, especially among SMEs, and share with them ways to resolve IP disputes in a confidential, efficient and cost-effective manner.