European Intellectual Property Authorities Explained : Who They Are and What They Do
The protection of intellectual property in Europe relies on a network of specialized institutions, each with a distinct role: from the registration of rights to law enforcement and the fight against counterfeiting. Knowing these authorities helps consumers and rights holders understand where to turn and how the European system works.
EUIPO – the European Union Intellectual Property Office
EUIPO, based in Alicante, Spain, is the European Union agency responsible for registering the European Union trademark (EUTM) and registered Community designs. These provide uniform protection throughout the EU through a single application. EUIPO also hosts the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, a platform that brings together authorities, the business community and civil society – including InfoCons – to analyse the phenomenon of counterfeiting and develop awareness and research tools.
EPO – the European Patent Office
The EPO, based in Munich, administers the European patent system and, more recently, supports the functioning of the European patent with unitary effect. The EPO is not an institution of the European Union but of the European Patent Organisation, which also includes states outside the EU. Through the EPO, inventors can obtain patent protection in many European states through a single procedure.
The European Commission and other EU institutions
The European Commission, in particular the directorates-general responsible for the internal market and trade, develops EU policy and legislation on intellectual property, from copyright directives to regulations on the enforcement of rights. Other European structures also contribute to the fight against counterfeiting:
- Europol – the EU police cooperation agency, which coordinates operations against counterfeiting and piracy networks.
- OLAF – the European Anti-Fraud Office, involved in protecting the EU's financial interests, including in cases relating to counterfeit goods.
- The customs authorities of the member states, coordinated through the EU framework, which detain at the borders goods suspected of infringing intellectual property rights.
A network in which the consumer's voice also matters
These authorities work closely together to ensure a high level of intellectual property protection and to protect consumers from counterfeit products. Through its participation in the EUIPO Observatory, InfoCons ensures that the consumer perspective is integrated into the work of this European network. Coordination between the European, international (WIPO) and national levels is essential for the effectiveness of the fight against counterfeiting and for citizens' trust in the marketplace.
From information to action: the role of the InfoCons app
InfoCons' objective is not only to provide access to information, but also to empower consumers through digital innovation. The InfoCons app – a unique, innovative application – gives them practical tools to identify risks and actively contribute to a safer and more transparent marketplace. Through a simple barcode or QR code scan, consumers can access relevant information about products, right in front of the shelf.
One of the key features is the alerts section, which makes it possible to verify whether a product is subject to official safety alerts issued at European level, for both food and non-food products. The app provides information on the product name, the country concerned, the level of risk, the country of origin, the date the alert was published and an image of the product. At the same time, through dedicated functionalities, citizens can report products or services that may infringe intellectual property rights through counterfeiting or piracy.
Available in 33 languages, the app helps to disseminate consumer protection and intellectual property awareness messages at European and international level. Its educational dimension promotes informed choices and a culture based on responsibility, transparency and originality.
The presence of InfoCons at the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is a concrete demonstration of how digital innovation can support respect for intellectual property rights and protect consumers in Romania and around the world.
Intellectual property and the everyday consumer
Intellectual property is often perceived as a technical subject reserved for lawyers and large companies. In reality, it is present in the life of each of us, every single day. The trademark on a product tells us who made it and guarantees a certain standard of quality; patents make it possible for new medicines, technologies and innovative solutions to emerge; copyright rewards the work of those who create cultural and educational content. When these rights are infringed through counterfeiting or piracy, the first to suffer is often the consumer.
Counterfeit products mean not only economic losses for companies and public budgets, but also a real danger to people's health and safety. Counterfeit toys, cosmetics, car parts, medicines or electronics can endanger consumers' lives, precisely because they are made without respecting quality and safety standards. In an increasingly digital economy, where online commerce erases borders, these risks multiply, and the need for accurate, rapid information becomes essential.
That is precisely why InfoCons has developed a unique and innovative consumer protection app that allows people to check products before buying them, consult European safety alerts and report products suspected of counterfeiting or piracy. Through this digital tool, every consumer becomes an active partner in the shared effort to make the marketplace safer, more transparent and fairer.
InfoCons' participation in the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is part of this steady commitment: bringing the voice of Romanian and European consumers to the world's foremost intellectual property forum and turning global debates into concrete protection for citizens.
InfoCons, a voice for consumers in international forums
InfoCons is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO, the only consumer protection organization in Romania accredited within this international forum. This official recognition places Romania on the global map of organizations that contribute to the international dialogue in the field of intellectual property. Through its participation in WIPO meetings and working groups, InfoCons promotes consumer interests and supports policies that encourage innovation and the fight against counterfeiting.
At European level, InfoCons is an active member of the EUIPO Observatory – the European Union Intellectual Property Office – with an important role within the Civil Society Working Group. At national level, the organization has been part, since 2006, of the Working Group on Intellectual Property Matters, coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice. This involvement on three levels – national, European and international – gives InfoCons a complete perspective on the counterfeiting phenomenon.
The organization's commitment translates into concrete actions: European projects dedicated to young people, large-scale awareness campaigns and an innovative app that puts information within reach of every consumer. All of these share a common denominator: the conviction that respect for intellectual property rights and consumer protection are two sides of the same coin.
In this context, the presence of InfoCons at the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, through its President Sorin Mierlea, is a natural continuation of nearly two decades of work dedicated to defending consumer interests in the field of intellectual property.
Signature: InfoCons Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property Department