Continuing to implement The European Network of Authenticities project initiated by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), a creative workshop was organized by the Latvian Patent Office (LPO) on 30 August at Liepaja Youth House aiming to promote young people's understanding of the importance of intellectual property (IP) protection and harms done by counterfeiting.
Throughout the day, young people actively participated in various educational and interactive activities - discussions, games, and competitions. At the event, LPO’s representatives not only shared theoretical knowledge with the young participants of the event, but also offered them practical tasks that help better understand real situations of counterfeiting and IP infringement faced by consumers, entrepreneurs, and inventors.
Especially popular among the participants were creative tasks to explore the topic of counterfeiting through theatrical improvisation. The teams competed with each other by presenting sketches that not only entertained, but also clearly demonstrated the negative impact of counterfeiting on society and business. The best team was awarded for the most original and creative performance that most successfully demonstrated the importance of counterfeit detection and IP protection.
At the beginning of 2023, the municipality of Liepaja signed a memorandum of understanding with the LPO on cooperation in The European Network of Authenticities project, involving joint activities of the municipality and the Latvian Patent Office with the aim of raising awareness of Liepaja’s citizens of IP protection, educating people in forming their daily habits of buying authentic products, as well as promoting Liepaja as a city that recognizes authentic products and does everything necessary to fight against counterfeits and their distribution.
Liepaja has joined the European Network of Authenticities with the slogan ”Authentic is eternal!” and it is the first municipality in Latvia to join this project, advocating for original, authentic products and the protection of IP rights.
The project aims to promote better understanding of the importance of original design and authentic products and services through various public activities.
The current European network of Authenticities comprises 18 European cities, including two cities from Latvia - Liepāja and Daugavpils - that are the only ones from the Baltic region.
The project is being implemented by the municipality of Liepaja in cooperation with the LPO and the EUIPO within The Authenticities project.
More information can be found on the Liepaja municipality’s website: www.liepaja.lv/autentisks.