ECTA promotes knowledge and professionalism of members and owners alike in the fields of trade marks, designs, copyright, geographical indications and other IP rights, within the European Union. The association was founded in 1980, with the initial aim to create an association of IP practitioners, whose main interest was focused on trade marks, and to be involved in the creation of a European trade mark system. There was no Community Trade Mark system (CTM) at that time and it was still uncertain whether it would ever become reality. However, ECTA was able to play an active role in the drafting of the CTM regulation. In 1998, its role was redefined so as to follow more closely the implementation of the CTM system. Currently, the CTM (now EUTM) system has been fully implemented and ECTA has also been actively involved in the reform of the CTM in the recent years by providing various parties with well reasoned opinions and contributions. ECTA is following and actively contributing to many ongoing legislative and implementation processes, including the recently finalised EU copyright law reform, the ongoing reform of the design law, evaluation of domain names practices and much more. To learn more about ECTA's activities, follow us on LinkedIn and on our website www.ecta.org/ www.ecta.eu