Protecting Intellectual Property: A Key to Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the EU

Intellectual property (IP) plays a critical role in advancing technologies that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide. As such, World IP Day serves as a reminder of its importance.

The European Union has taken significant steps to strengthen IP protection and enhance the single market since announcing an ambitious IP action plan in November 2020. The implementation of the unitary patent system has been a major milestone in EU IP policy, providing harmonized patent protection across all member states. Additionally, the introduction of the ‘patent package’ in April 2023 includes proposals to improve transparency and efficiency in the patent framework.

Furthermore, efforts have been made to provide geographical indication (GI) protection for craft and industrial products throughout the EU. 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 to these measures, the EU has also intensified IP enforcement by recommending measures to combat counterfeiting through its toolbox against counterfeiting. This toolbox provides companies with essential tools for combating counterfeiting and protecting their IP rights effectively.

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