Case study
Grupa MTP | IP Friendly
The Client
Grupa MTP is the largest organiser of fairs, conferences and congresses in Central and Eastern Europe. The organisation has operated in Poznań for 100 years, connecting people from across the globe. The brand’s portfolio includes 100 fair events addressed to businesses as well as individuals. With SMM Legal, the Client has collaborated since 2015.
Specialisation:
The challenge
The main goal of the IP Friendly project was to enable the fair exhibitors to quickly and effectively react to any disputable situations regarding the intellectual property. We wanted to avoid involving the exhibitors in lengthy litigation proceedings, but offer them an immediate solution to their concerns. The entire project was the initiative of our law firm’s experts, who noticed the opportunity to even better safeguard the interests of our Clients.
The Result
For the first time in Poland, a project protecting the intellectual property of exhibitors in the form of accelerated arbitration proceedings was launched.
Developing a quick, flexible and deformalised procedure catering for businesses’ real needs.
Enabling an aggrieved party to file a motion and having it considered even during the fairs.
Devising specific measures protecting the exhibitors in the course of the fairs (for example, immediate removal of an exhibit violating the rights of an applicant).
Participation in appointing and training a group of independent arbitrators resolving the exhibitors’ issues.
Implementation of an accelerated arbitration procedure in Poland, inspired by international solutions of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the SingEx fair in Singapore or the Palexpo fair in Geneva.
Increasing the awareness of the importance of intellectual property among entrepreneurs and exhibitors.
Testimonials
IP Friendly is an absolutely innovative initiative in the Polish exhibition industry. Together with SMM Legal, we are the first to introduce tools that will not only provide protection of intellectual property rights at trade fairs, but at the same time, remain close to the business needs of our exhibitors. Thank you for your collaboration on this project.
