The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission have initiated an intellectual property (IP) training program for influencers, available on the Influencer Legal Hub platform . The new resources are designed to help social media influencers manage issues related to IP law in the EU, enabling them to protect their creativity and innovation while also respecting the intellectual property rights of others. The initiative also highlights the need to avoid promoting counterfeit or pirated goods and services.
Social media influencers bring creativity and innovation to the world, whether it’s their own work or that of others. The content they produce is their intellectual property (IP) and should be handled and safeguarded accordingly. At the same time, influencers must respect the intellectual property rights of others and avoid violating them. They are subject to the law and may face legal consequences if they do.
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Additionally, influencers must ensure they do not mislead their audience by endorsing goods or services that infringe on IP rights, such as counterfeit cosmetic products that could harm consumers or pirated sports events, the proceeds of which could support illegal activities. Influencers have the potential to significantly contribute to fostering a culture of respect for intellectual property among their audience and peers.
The training includes two videos accompanied by written legal briefs, offering a comprehensive overview of IP law, focusing on copyright, trademarks, and designs, which are the most relevant IP rights for influencers. The two themes the videos focus on are :
- Copyright: safeguarding original creations, such as music and audiovisual works, linked to the content produced or utilized, monetizing copyrighted material, and understanding the significance of honoring others’ copyright.
- Trademarks and designs: securing the symbols that distinguish a company’s goods and services through trademarks, as well as the visual design of products. Understanding the process of registering trademarks and designs, along with strategies to prevent violations.
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The materials have been developed with valuable contributions from members of the Public Awareness Working Group and the Communication Expert Group within the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights.
The Influencer Legal Hub platform was launched by the European Commission in 2023 to provide training and resources on consumer law. Influencers can learn more about their legal obligations, such as when and how to disclose their advertising activities on social media, the professional due diligence they must observe, and the rights of consumers who purchase products or services directly from them.
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InfoCons is an active member of the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) Observatory, playing a role e in the Civil Society Working Group within the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights. This involvement underscores InfoCons‘ commitment to addressing the challenges posed by intellectual property infringements across Europe.
Moreover, InfoCons launched the A.C.T.I.V.E. project in 2023, an initiative that actively promotes the protection of intellectual property. The main objectives of this project are to raise awareness among young Europeans about the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and the negative effects of violating these rights, to reduce the consumption of counterfeit goods and digital content from illegal sources, and to encourage the younger generation to actively engage in protecting Intellectual Property Rights.
InfoCons – European Organization for Consumer Protection and Promotion of Programs and Strategies , a full member of the World Organization Consumers International, founding member of the Federation of Consumer Associations, and member of ANEC .