On Wednesday, 12 February, representatives of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Latvian Patent Office (LPO) discussed the implemented activities, events and projects, as well as the activities planned for 2025. The LPO received recognition from the EUIPO for the jointly implemented activities and events, and, in particular, for the ones in the field of youth education.
Sandris Laganovskis, Director of the EUIPO Institutional and Cooperation Department, highlighted the LPO’s ability to implement both general activities related to registration of intellectual property (IP) rights and the projects that ensure the LPO’s successful operation in the digital environment, including the improvement of the user experience.
Sandris Laganovskis noted that the exchange of ideas and opinions during the meeting was invaluable, expressing the confidence that its results would contribute to strengthening the mutual cooperation.
Agris Batalauskis, Director of the LPO, informed the EUIPO’s delegation about the LPO’s activities that have been implemented since the previous meeting in September 2024, i.e. the development of IT projects, the activities aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the awareness-raising and educational activities and events.
The EUIPO highly appreciated the different activities implemented with the aim of informing and educating children and young people about IP protection. The EUIPO plans to share the LPO’s experience with other member states and will continue to provide the necessary support for these and other LPO’s activities.
The LPO’s director says: “The EUIPO's positive assessment of our work proves that we are moving in the right direction and that we have chosen an effective approach to implementing our joint activities and measures. That is why our performance has been both noticed and is yielding concrete results. Our priority has always been and will be to implement activities and measures that are in line with Latvia's interests and provide best results. The fact that we can serve as an example to other member states implementing similar activities is a high assessment, but it is not an end in itself. This progress would not be possible without the excellent and dedicated specialists in the LPO’s team. Their professionalism and contribution guarantee that our work is effective and brings good results.”
The EUIPO’s representatives also appreciated the LPO’s active involvement in the new project on Virtual Communities, which will start in the first months of this year.
At the meeting, the EUIPO was represented by: Director of the EUIPO Institutional and Cooperation Department Sandris Laganovskis, the representatives of the European Cooperation Area Olivier Galaup, Ricardo Ferreira, Joana De Moura, Sergio Beltra, Country Coordinator Aleksandr Maksimenkov, and Deployed Project Manager Valters Andersons.
The LPO was represented by Director Agris Batalauskis, Deputy Director/Director of the Administrative and Finance Department Ēriks Rēķis, Chairperson of the Industrial Property Board of Appeal Dace Liberte, Head of the Technical Support Division Arnis Dmitruks, Director of the Development and International Cooperation Department (DDIC) Ilze Grava, DDIC Deputy Director Terēze Vētra, DDIC Leading Officer Vineta Sondore, DDIC Project Manager Katrīna Gulbe, DDIC Public Relations Officer Ella Niedra, Director of the Trademarks and Industrial Designs Department (TIDD) Laima Daugavvanaga, and TIDD Deputy Director Ieva Paula Drekslere.