Delegation to Germany and the UK Highlights Opportunities for Collaboration with Government Agencies, Trends in IP Valuation

An INTA delegation led by 2024 President Dana Northcott, CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo, and Chief Representative Officer for Europe and Intergovernmental Organizations Tat-Tienne Louembe, visited Germany and the United Kingdom in December.

On December 3, in Munich, the delegation met with Ewa Schewior, President of the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) to exchange insights and explore future collaborative opportunities. The day concluded with a fruitful roundtable discussion with Munich-based members who shared key concerns about trademark registration proceedings conducted by the DPMA, hosted by member firm Grünecker.

The delegation dedicated the following three days to meetings in the UK. On December 5, Ms. Northcott and Mr. Sanz de Acedo exchanged views with Feryal Clark, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (commonly referred to as the “IP Minister”). Appointed in July 2024, Minister Clark oversees responsibilities related to intellectual property (IP) and artificial intelligence, encompassing all aspects related to the operation of the UK Intellectual Property Office.

With the assistance of INTA Past President Toe Su Aung (Elipe, UK), the delegation actively engaged with local members, including brand owners Chanel, Haleon, Kantar, Lipsy, P&G, TikTok, and Unilever, to discuss jurisdiction-specific challenges and explore future activities. The delegation also participated in a podcast interview conducted by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys.

The visit concluded with a workshop titled “Integrating Intellectual Property, Finance, and Valuation” at the London Stock Exchange. This event spotlighted global trends in IP valuation and provided strategies for effectively managing and leveraging intangible assets. It underscored the importance of fostering more dialogues between the finance and IP communities in order to demonstrate how IP can serve as a tool to enhance competitiveness and shift the perspective of IP from being seen as a risky bet (in terms of infringement and litigation) to an opportunity (e.g., royalties, goodwill, value, etc.). This workshop will also be held in 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Singapore; and New York City, USA, during INTA’s Business of Trade Secrets: Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities in the Ever-Changing World of AI Conference.

This visit highlighted INTA’s ongoing commitment to engaging with stakeholders and advancing IP interests across key jurisdictions.

INTA’s Europe Representative Office, based in Brussels, Belgium, represents the Association’s members across Europe (which includes the European Union, non-EU member states, and Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States). Working in collaboration with staff at INTA’s headquarters in New York City, the Europe Representative Office leads the Association’s policy, membership, marketing, and communications initiatives throughout the region. To learn more about INTA’s activities in Europe, please contact INTA Chief Europe Representative Officer Tat-Tienne Louembe and follow us on X.

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