Alicante Leads Intellectual Property Research

Intellectual property is one of the most significant debates facing contemporary society, and Alicante has emerged as a leader in this field. Mayor Luis Barcala emphasized the "tremendous platform that becoming a European reference for the defense of intellectual property rights has provided for the city, thanks to the establishment of the EUIPO and initiatives like the Alibaba Chair at the University of Alicante for international intellectual property protection, which enhance the city's value and position it in such a strategically important area today." The mayor expressed these sentiments during a reception in the Blue Hall of the City Hall to the leaders of this UA chair, led by its director, Esperanza Gallego.

"The establishment of the EUIPO in Alicante has definitively marked this city; it has been pivotal, as it has placed Alicante on the European Union map and is now a reference not only in Europe but worldwide," stated the mayor, adding that this milestone has been complemented by "the establishment of the Trademark Court and now this specialized chair, launched as a result of the collaboration between the Magister Lvcentinus of the University of Alicante and Alibaba International, a global leader in e-commerce."

In this regard, Barcala argued that "we are all aligned; Alicante has a specific commitment to cooperate with the EUIPO in defending intellectual property rights, and we also offer our support to the chair to collaborate whenever necessary."

The Alibaba Chair at the University of Alicante for international intellectual property protection was established to foster the exchange of ideas between the academic scientific community and practice on how best to protect intellectual property rights internationally, with particular attention to the digital market.