Foundation
In 1961, twenty two far-sighted patent attorneys from nine European countries founded the "UNION of European Patent Attorneys" with the intention of providing European colleagues with a forum for discussing and influencing forthcoming draft laws and international agreements, and also helping the profession in Europe to grow together.
Although originally restricted to patent attorneys in the countries of the European Economic Community, UNION has removed these limitations from its Statutes and today welcomes free and employed industrial property practitioners from all European countries, as expressed in the present name "UNION of European Practitioners in Intellectual Property".
Still retained are the limitations to European membership and the concentration of activities on problems and developments which especially affect the professional in Europe.
Aims
UNION is an association of practitioners in the field of intellectual property, that is of individuals whose principal professional occupation is concerned with patents, trade marks or designs and related questions and who carry on their profession independently or as employees. UNION is a private, free, international association which is not dependent on any national or international authority: it approves its own members, in accordance with its statutes, in total independence, and likewise decides on its own activities and its own budget.
It aims on the one hand to work continuously on current developments in intellectual property in Europe, especially by making early submissions during the preparation of proposed laws and treaties with the intention of influencing them; and on the other hand to devote itself to the improvement of professional and personal understanding between European practitioners in the intellectual property field in different countries and different branches of the profession.
Activities
In the years after its foundation UNION was one of the organisations which participated most actively in the preparations for the European patent system. Since that time it has continuously pursued its activities in the patent field, particularly in arranging roundtable discussions on current patent problems. It has contributed prominently to the debate on the application of the patent system to biotechnological inventions. In addition it has dedicated its activities to other areas of intellectual property in Europe, especially the harmonisation of trade mark and design laws as well as the Community Trade Mark and Community Design. It has taken the initiative in bringing forward discussions of the existing and newly created utility model or short term patent laws in numerous European countries and raising the question whether these laws should be harmonised or whether a European Utility Model should be created.
UNION maintains close contacts with international authorities such as WIPO (The World Industrial Property Organisation) and the Commission of the European Union, and it is invited to their consultations and discussions. It participates regularly as a non-governmental organisation with observer status at international conferences.
UNION maintains friendly relations with other international associations which with their own emphasis are also working in the field of intellectual property and UNION is often represented by an observer at these meetings.
An important part of the work of the UNION is the continuing exchange of experience and idea among friends and colleagues from different parts of Europe, working together in the Commissions and Executive Committee of the UNION.
Events
The most important events for the members of the UNION are the Congresses taking place every three years, each in conjunction with a General Assembly of the members. Recent congresses and their themes were:
- Brussels 2001, 40th Anniversary Symposium
- Budapest 2002, Latest and Possible Future Developments in IP Law
- Spoleto 2005, UNION Congress
Discussion of current developments and projects take place in the Commissions of UNION. Present and future members of UNION are cordially invited to co-operate in the Commissions.
UNION regularly organises roundtable meetings to which high-ranking representatives of national authorities and international organisations are invited, in order to discuss topical problems and to develop the opinions and suggestions of UNION.
National Groups
Members of UNION in each country form a National Group. The National Groups send their delegates to the Executive Committee of UNION and nominate members for the Commissions.