In this section, the speakers will present various issues which have been developed by the case-law on the relation between geographical indications and trade marks, such as the scope of protection under absolute and relative grounds for refusal, the function of collective trade marks which designate a geographical origin, and concepts from geographical indications law that have been litigated ( ‘evocation’, etc.) Please click on the presenter name below to view their content:
Prof. Alberto Ribeiro de Almeida is a Jurist and University Professor. He holds a Ph.D. – Doctor in law (commercial law) by the University of Coimbra. Alberto has published several books and articles in national and international magazines, especially in the field of industrial property (namely, designations of origin, geographical indications and trade marks). He has been a speaker at several international congresses and workshops on industrial property, European law, competition law, national, European and international rules on designations of origin and geographical indications. He is also a Professor of Commercial Law at the Lusíada University (Norte – Porto). In addition, he is the coordinator of the IVDP legal department, Vice-President of the DROCON group at the OIV and WIPO Consultant. Alberto is also a member of various Intellectual Property Associations and a reviewer of law magazines.
Ms. Virginia Melgar graduated in law from the University of Paris (Paris II Assas) in 1981; and also graduated in Criminal Sciences from the Institute of Criminology Paris in 1980. Virginia has been a judge in France since 1982 and has experience as a Public Prosecutor at the Versailles Court of First Instance (1984-1986); Magistrate at the Ministry of Justice - Criminal division (1986-1991); seconded national expert at the Legal Service of the European Commission (1991-1994); lawyer at the Legal Service of the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (OHIM) in Alicante (1995-2001); Deputy Director of the General Affairs and External Relations Department of OHIM (2001-2004); examiner of trade marks at the Trade Marks Department of OHIM (2004-2006); Principal Director Legal Affairs at the European Patent Office Munich (2006-2011); lawyer at the cancellation and litigation department of OHIM (2011 until 1/9/2015); and since 1/9/2015, a member of the 5th Board of Appeal of EUIPO.
Mr. Ignacio Ulloa Rubio was born 1967 and he holds a Law Degree with honours (1985-1990) and PhD studies (1990-1993) at Universidad Complutense, Madrid. Ignacio has professional experience as Public Prosecutor of Gerona (2000-2003); Judicial and Human Rights Advisor for the Coalition Provisional Authority, Baghdad, Iraq (2003-2004); Civil First Instance Judge and Investigative Judge (2003-2007); then Senior Judge, Gerona (2008); Deputy Head of EUJUST LEX Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq at the Council of the European Union (2005-2006); Legal Counsellor of the Constitutional Court of Spain (2006-2011 and 2013); Secretary of State for Security (2012-2013); Civil Expert on Rule of Law and Security Sector Reform of the Council of the European Union (2005-2011); and External Expert on Fundamental Rights and Criminal Justice for the European Commission (2011-2013). He is also a lecturer and author of numerous publications. Ignacio has been a Judge at the General Court since September 2013.