New EU commissioners for IP portfolios

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2024

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

New EU commissioners for IP portfolios

Elžbieta Bienkowska, formerly deputy prime minister of Poland, is to be the new EU Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SME Commissioner

bienkowska.jpg

Her nomination to the expanded directorate was announced today by President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker.

Her portfolio covers most of the work previously handled by the Enterprise and Industry and Internal Market and Services commissioners.

Notably, she will take over most IP matters from former Commissioner Michel Barnier of France, including oversight of OHIM and responsibility for the proposed trade mark reforms and the work on the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court.

However, copyright work will fall under Commissioner Günther Oettinger of Germany, who is in charge of Communications Networks, Content and Technology.

The European Parliament now has to give its consent to the full College of Commissioners, following hearings in the relevant parliamentary committees.

more from across site and ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Leaders at some IP businesses are looking to consolidate the fragmented market and, considering the benefits, their rivals may want to follow suit
Counsel at three US firms explain how they are expanding their UPC teams or if they are looking to partner with European firms
Lucy Wheatley, partner at McGuireWoods, discusses the challenges of explaining trademarks to a jury and reveals a logistical hurdle she had to navigate
Law firms avoid strategy rethink after district court ‘reaffirms the value’ of a strong trademark
We discuss Kathi Vidal’s departure from the USPTO, how IP business Qantm is using its private equity investment, and the latest AI trends spotted by law firms
Sources say they have found the social media platform Bluesky to be a good place to post IP content, while others plan to watch the site closely
The USPTO’s internal ban on AI use, a major SEP ruling rejecting an interim licence request, and the EUIPO’s five-year plan were among the biggest talking points
Speaking to Managing IP, Kathi Vidal says she’s looking forward to helping clients shape policy when she returns to Winston & Strawn
AA Thornton and Venner Shipley’s combination creates a new kid on the block, but one which could rival the major UPC players
Amit Aswal explains why you should take on challenges early in your career and why the IP community is a strong, trustworthy network
Gift this article