The EUIPO Strengthens Cooperation by Hosting Caribbean Judges at the IP Case Law Conference 2026

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) hosted high-level judicial representatives from CARIFORUM states, including the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and representatives from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Suriname, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic at the 6th IP Case Law Conference 2026, which took place on 21 - 22 May 2026 at the EUIPO headquarters in Alicante, Spain.

Organised by the EUIPO Boards of Appeal, the IP Case Law Conference is EUIPO’s flagship judicial event, bringing together senior judges, legal practitioners, academics and institutional representatives from Europe and beyond to discuss the development of intellectual property laws. Under the theme “Growing through change”, the 2026 edition addressed recent case law developments in trade marks, designs, copyright and domain names, as well as emerging challenges such as AI-related disputes and the future of IP adjudication.

The participation of Caribbean judges took place in the context of the EU-funded CarIPI cooperation project, which supports institutional capacity building and the effective enforcement of IP rights across CARIFORUM states. Targeted engagement with the judiciary and legal professionals forms part of CarIPI’s 2026 work programme, supporting greater consistency and predictability in the application of IP laws and strengthening confidence among right holders and the business community.

By facilitating direct exchanges between Caribbean and international judges and exposure to comparative IP case law, this activity contributes to improved judicial understanding of IP enforcement, promotes more consistent jurisprudence across the region, and ultimately supports a business environment favourable to innovation, investment and trade.