ECTA
Budget
€2,262,085
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
5
1.25 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
The Association has always concentrated on those issues where the interests of all members coincide and has refrained from taking a position on matters in which there is no common viewpoint. The extensive work carried out by the Association so far, following the above guidelines, combined with the high degree of professionalism and recognised technical capabilities of its members, has established ECTA at the highest level and has allowed the Association to achieve the status of a recognised expert spokesman on all questions related to the protection and use of trade marks, designs, geographical indications, copyright, domain names and related matters in and throughout the European Union, and for example, in the following areas: Harmonisation of the national laws of the EU member countries; European Union Trade Mark Regulation and Directive; European Union (Community) Design Regulation and Directive; Organisation and practice of the EUIPO.
EU Legislative Interests
The fields in which ECTA is active can be found inter alia in its position papers. In this regard, during the period of June 2024 to June 2025 ECTA has submitted a number of position papers and other submissions including, for example, the following: • ECTA Contribution to the Public Consultation on the promotion of CIGIs; • ECTA Contribution to Commission's Initiative: Protecting geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products – implementing rules; • ECTA Contribution for the upcoming EU-Colombia, Ecuador, Peru IP Subcommittee; China IP Working Group ; EU- Turkiye IP Working Group; • ECTA Contribution to EC Consultation on internet governance; • ECTA Position Paper on IPEP and legal representatives’ role in it; • ECTA Position Paper on the creation of the specialised GI Board of Appeal at the EUIPO; • ECTA Amicus Curia Brief in relation to case WEERGAVE VAN HET GEZICHT VAN EEN PERSOON (fig.), R 50/2024-G; • ECTA Feedback to Commission’s initiative: Detailed Rules for the Implementation of Regulation 2023/2411 on CIGIs; • ECTA Comments on the International Registration Language Option in the Madrid System; • ECTA Comments to the draft EUIPO Guidelines on trade mark, designs and GI practices; and many others. Jointly with other associations ECTA also contributed to: • Joint Statement on Accessibility of (non-confidential) documents residing in EU Design files directly via the eSearch plus (subject to login), signatories: APRAM, BMM, CITMA, ECTA, MARQUES and UNION IP • Joint letter of ECTA and 23 other IP related organisations on the Inclusion of Intellectual Property Crime within the next European Union EMPACT 2026-2029 policy cycle as sub-priority with its own action plan within the key threat “Fraud, economic and financial crimes” ECTA position papers are available at www.ecta.org
Communication Activities
ECTA informs its members of its activities relating to the EU policies above via the ECTA website (www.ecta.org/ www.ecta.eu) and ECTA Bulletin issued electronically three times a year, as well as via ECTA LinkedIn page.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
ECTA together with other associations specialised in Intellectual Property (APRAM, BMM, CITMA, GRUR, MARQUES and UNION-IP) is participating in the European Sister Associations. The above mentioned associations meet once per year in order to discuss the latest developments in the field of Intellectual Property. Latest physical meeting took place in Paris in March 2025.
Organisation Members
ECTA Supervisory Board Members and Board of Directors are from EU countries only. Our Committee members are primarily European with some exceptions. Ordinary membership is open to nationals of EU countries only, but Non-Ordinary membership is open to countries outside of the EU.
Additional Information
For 2025 the estimated amount of our gross income is 2.262.085 Eur.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.