The Model Law on Intellectual Property

The Mannheim Centre for Competition and Innovation (MaCCI) – a joint initiative of the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) and the University of Mannheim – is pleased to announce its conference The Model Law on Intellectual Property. The main objective of the Model Law on Intellectual Property – and thus of the conference – is to initially provoke a discussion on the reform of the regulatory technique of IP-law. The conference at the same time aims at presenting the results of the project to a broader public. Well-known academics and practitioners will discuss the possible advantages of the model law for the further harmonization and its faculty to simplify, improve and amend IP-law.

The presentations and discussions on Thursday afternoon will focus on the concept of a comprehensive code of intellectual property law, the need for further reform on both a European and national level, and the advantages and disadvantages of the regulatory technique. The core subject on Friday morning will be on the integration of all protected subject matters, i.e. positions at present protected by the Act against Unfair Competition, industrial property as well as copyright and Community IP-rights, into a comprehensive code. Friday afternoon is dedicated to the individual areas of possible reform, in particular those common rules contained in the general part (Book 1), which at present are not expressly provided for and thus to a large extent have remained unchartered scientific waters. A comparison between the legal situation under existing law and the Model Law proposals will allow an in-depth analysis of current problems and possible solutions. The conference aims to kick off a truly European discussion on the further development of this fascinating area of law.

The conference languages will be English and German, simultaneous translation of all contributions will be available.

Programme

Programme (as PDF, 397 KB)