In order to promote the development of Shanghai’s overseas intellectual property, under the guidance and support of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration (SIPA), the Shanghai Commercial Mediation Center (SCMC), together with King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), jointly expand the overseas intellectual property services for Shanghai enterprises in Madrid, Spain. On July 7, the launching event of the Shanghai Enterprise Overseas Intellectual Property (IP) Service Station at Madrid (Madrid IP Service Station) was successfully held in the KWM’s Madrid office.

Mr. Roberto Pomares, Managing Partner of KWM’s Madrid office, welcomed the guests attending the event on behalf of the Madrid IP Service Station. Ms. Wei Zhang, Director of SCMC, and Dr. Naiwei Chen, Vice Chairman of SCMC, participated in the event online. Director Zhang says that as the birthplace of the Madrid Agreement, Madrid is SCMC’s second IP service station in Europe after Munich, which is of great significance in enhancing Shanghai’s IP international cooperation and overseas service capacity. Director Zhang expresses special thanks to Mr. Samuel Martínez, head of the IP team of KWM’s Madrid office, who has recently made a special visit to Shanghai to meet with SCMC and discuss about the details of the Madrid IP Service Station launching event.

Director Zhang (right) delivered an online speech

Dr. Chen emphasizes that SCMC will give full play to its international and professional advantages in the field of IP, and will fully cooperate with the improvement of the working mechanism of overseas IP service for Shanghai enterprises.

Dr. Chen delivered an online speech

Mr. Chen Yu, Deputy Director-General of SIPA, Ms. Virginia Melgar, Chairperson of the Fifth Board of Appeal (BoA) of European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Dr. Théophile Margellos, Senior Consultant and Mediator of SCMC, Former President of BoA of EUIPO, Professor of Law at the University of Alicante delivered speeches respectively.

Mr. Yu points out that Chinese government has long attached importance to the enhancement of enterprises’ overseas IP capacity and supported the construction of overseas IP service system. The establishment of Madrid IP Service Station will continue to improve the working mechanism of overseas IP service for Shanghai enterprises, further promoting the cooperation and exchanges between IP institutions in China and Europe, and providing greater convenience for enterprises of both sides.

Ms. Melgar believes that the establishment of the Madrid IP Service Station is forward-looking. The European Commission has recently proposed a new regulation on the licensing of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). If the Proposal is adopted, EUIPO will not only focus on trademarks and design rights, but also on an EU-wide registration for SEPs. The Madrid IP Service Station is likely to witness this key moment of a changing European IP landscape.

Dr. Margellos says that China and Europe are each other’s major trading partners, and IP is a priority trade issue of mutual concern. The establishment of the Madrid IP Service Station is a positive measure to respond to the needs of innovation subjects in China and Europe. The Co-Mediation Mechanism for International Commercial IP jointly launched by SCMC and BoA of EUIPO in 2020 is expected to usher in a broader development on this platform, and to help more international IP disputes be resolved properly.

Mr. Yu, Ms. Melgar, Dr. Margellos and Mr. Pomares jointly unveiled the plague of Madrid IP Service Station.

From left to right: Dr. Margellos, Ms. Melgar, Mr. Yu, Mr. Pomares

The event also attracted several attendees, including representatives of China-Europe Chamber of Commerce, IP lawyers, experts, and industry professionals. The event atmosphere was warm and positive results were achieved.