On 8 April, Alicante (Spain) will host an international conference dedicated to examining the positive impact of intellectual property (IP) protection. Organised by the International University Chair for the Protection of Intellectual Property - a collaboration between the University of Alicante and Alibaba International - the event will provide a platform for dialogue among government representatives, academic experts, international organisations, and private sector leaders.
The conference will open with remarks from Pablo Garde, Undersecretary of Industry and Tourism of Spain and President of the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office, followed by welcome messages from Luis Barcala, Mayor of Alicante; Luis Alfonso Martínez Giner, Vice-Rector of Academic Planning at the University of Alicante; and a representative of the Alicante Chamber of Commerce.
Throughout the day, participants will address key themes related to IP enforcement, innovation, and cooperation, including:
Industrial Property and Its Positive Impact on Companies
Moderated by Pilar Montero, Professor of Commercial Law at the University of Alicante, and José Antonio Moreno, Director at the Global IPR Enforcement Team at Alibaba International
Speakers:
Elisa Rodríguez, Director of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO)
Ivan Sempere, Founding Partner, PADIMA
The Impact and Trends of Counterfeiting
Moderated by Pauline Monier, Director at the Global IPR Enforcement Team, Alibaba International
Speakers:
Bérengère Dreno, Enforcement Specialist, EUIPO Observatory
Marco Musumeci, Programme Officer, United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
Key Factors in Collaboration for Effective IP Protection
Moderated by Pilar Montero
Speakers:
João Amaral, Director of External Relations and Legal Affairs, INPI (on behalf of Grupo Anti-Contrafação)
José Luis Gómez, Chief Inspector, Spanish National Police
Magdalena Jakubicz, Director, EMEA & APJC Brand Protection Team, CISCO
Claudio Bergonzi, Director, Global IPR Enforcement Team, Alibaba International
Facilitating the Effective Enforcement of IP Rights in the Digital Environment
Moderated by José Antonio Moreno
Speakers:
Raquel Herrero, Lieutenant, Guardia Civil, Judicial Police
Mathieu Gigleux, Investigator, European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Juan Santamaria, Legal Director, Natura Bissé (on behalf of ANDEMA)
Nicole Semjevski, IP Enforcement Portal, EUIPO (to be confirmed)
Sofian Baghriche, Legal Counsel for IP Enforcement and Brand Protection, International Olympic Committee
A dedicated conversation on the role of Alibaba in supporting Spanish companies will be led by Mauricio Escanilla, Head of Government Affairs in Spain and Portugal, Alibaba International.
The conference will close with a presentation by Esperanza Gallego, Professor of Commercial Law and Director of the International University Chair for the Protection of Intellectual Property, on the role of academia in preparing professionals for the future of IP protection. Closing remarks will be delivered by Matthew Bassiur, Vice President of Alibaba Group and Head of the Global IP Enforcement Team, and Andrea di Carlo, Deputy Executive Director at EUIPO.
UNICRI is grateful to the organisers for the invitation to contribute to this important event, which provides an opportunity to address the intersection of crime, justice, and development.
During his intervention, Marco Musumeci, responsible for UNICRI’s Counterfeiting Programme, will examine how counterfeiting impacts global markets, public safety, and legal systems, while also highlighting emerging trends in this complex and evolving phenomenon.
UNICRI’s participation supports the broader dialogue on countering counterfeiting and strengthening international cooperation in defence of the rule of law and effective intellectual property protection.