The Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI), in collaboration with the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), organized on 5.12.2025 in Alexandroupolis, a specialized seminar titled “Enforcement of Intellectual Property (IP) Rights – Support for Law Enforcement Authorities in the identification of products that infringe rights.”
The seminar was addressed to law enforcement authorities in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with the aim of strengthening their work in combating the circulation of counterfeit and pirated products and was attended by 56 representatives of the Hellenic Police, Customs, and Port Authorities.
The importance of enforcing Intellectual Property Rights for their effective protection was emphasized by Ms. Myrto Lambrou Maurer, Head of International Affairs at OBI, who coordinated the seminar and welcomed the attendees on behalf of OBI.
The services of the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights of EUIPO were presented by Ms. Evangelia Stavropoulou, who provided training on the Observatory’s IP Enforcement Portal Database, which contains specialized information for law enforcement authorities to identify counterfeit and pirated products.
From OBI, Ms. Myrto Lambrou Maurer informed participants about the protection offered by Industrial Property Rights, emphasizing what law enforcement authorities should pay attention to during inspections. She also presented OBI’s National Patent Register for retrieving information regarding the validity of rights.
From the Komotini Central Enforcement Unit, Mr. Georgios Salakis, Deputy Head, and Ms. Dimitra Tasidou, officer of the Anti-Smuggling Department of Kipi Customs, analyzed practical issues faced by law enforcement authorities when conducting inspections and seizing counterfeit and pirated products.
Next, company representatives conducted training on the identification of counterfeit/pirated products, presenting examples from product seizures.
From LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER, Mr. Manos Tavlas, Lawyer, Intellectual Property Legal Advisor, presented distinguishing indicators of the company’s authentic products.
On identifying authentic tobacco products of PAPASTRATOS PHILIP MORRIS, Mr. Nikos Prentoulis, Lawyer, provided information, while for cosmetics and perfumes of L’ORÉAL and personal care products of PROCTER & GAMBLE, Ms. Christina Kefala, Lawyer at Malamis & Partners, presented relevant information.
Finally, the points on which inspections should focus for identifying authentic alcoholic beverages were presented by Mr. Panagiotis Malamis from Malamis & Partners.
The event was supported by Ms. Georgia Sakellaropoulou and Ms. Varvara Bouzoukou from OBI’s Legal Support Directorate.
