Category: Events

On June 12, 2025, WIPO Director General Daren Tang visited Athens for bilateral talks focused on leveraging intellectual property (IP) as a driver for strengthening Greece’s innovation ecosystem, with particular emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In addition, Mr. Tang delivered a keynote speech at the International IP Enforcement Summit 2025, co-organized by the Hellenic Industrial Property Organization (OBI), the General Secretariat for Market Surveillance (DIMEA), and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), highlighting the importance of effective IP enforcement.

During his visit, Mr. Tang:

Officially opened the International IP Enforcement Summit 2025, which brought together over 350 participants and 50 speakers to address the challenges of IP protection in the digital era. Alongside Mr. Tang, prominent Greek and European leaders spoke at the summit, including Deputy Minister of Development Lazaros Tsavdaridis, EUIPO Executive Director João Negrão, Director-General Kerstin Jorna of the European Commission’s DG GROW, and Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs Ilhan Kyuchyuk.

Met with Maria-Daphne Papadopoulou, Acting Director of the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO), for an in-depth discussion on issues such as the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright, the training of judges on IP enforcement, and broader copyright protection efforts. The meeting also highlighted the HCO’s initiative to establish a mediation center for alternative dispute resolution in the IP sector. Ms. Papadopoulou emphasized HCO’s commitment to IP education at all levels, from primary and secondary schools to plans for introducing IP seminars at university departments linked to creative industries. To support this, HCO has already signed (and plans to sign more) memoranda of understanding with universities and higher education institutions.

Held talks with Panagiotis Kanellopoulos, Director General of OBI, and participated in an event hosted by OBI where he met with representatives of six Greek startups. Discussions focused on commercializing innovation and the IP support tools offered by WIPO. The startups – active in biotechnology, AI, sustainable materials, and deep-tech – shared their experiences and stressed the need for accessible, practical IP support.

Also met with Deputy Minister Tsavdaridis to explore the strengths of Greece’s innovation landscape and the need for tailored IP support for startups, SMEs, and innovation hubs, through tools such as WIPO’s IP Diagnostic Tool and IP Management Clinics.

https://www.wipo.int/web/director-general/w/daren-tang/news/2025/wipo-director-general-visits-greece

https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/landing-pages/international-ip-enforcement-summit-2025

On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO) and the National Documentation and Electronic Content Centre (EKT) at the HCO headquarters, in a cordial and constructive atmosphere.

On Monday, June 2nd, the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO) carried out a school visit to the 6th Primary School of Kamatero, following an invitation by Ms. Venetia Mylona, the teacher of the 5th grade.

The Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO), in collaboration with the Audiovisual Works Protection Society (EPOE), organized a seminar on the topic “Addressing Digital Piracy: Challenges, Evidence, and Legal Solutions in the Digital World”, on Thursday May 22, 2025.

On 29 and 30 April 2025, the EUIPO hosted two important events in Alicante related to the fight against live event piracy. The first was the fourth meeting of the Network of National Administrative Authorities on Live Event Piracy, and the second was a conference titled “Strengthening the Fight Against Online Piracy of Sports and Other Live Events – Assessing Progress and Challenges.”

The seminar entitled “COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION: ISSUES OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY” was successfully held on May 12, 2025, by the executives of the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO) at the “Sakis Karayiorgas II” Auditorium of Panteion University. The event served as a meeting point for professors, students, and members of the university’s academic library, who were informed about issues related to intellectual property in the modern era.
The event was greeted by the Rector of Panteion University, Professor X. Koulouri, and the President of the HCO’s Board of Directors and Emeritus Professor at Panteion University, Mr. P. Tsiris. The Rector expressed her warm thanks to the President of the HCO, as well as to the Deputy Director and staff of the HCO for organizing the seminar, emphasizing the importance of such initiatives, including strengthening the cooperation between the HCO and Panteion University.
The executives of the HCO presented the basic principles of intellectual property, the exceptions and limitations of intellectual property rights that apply for the benefit of educational institutions and the educational process in general. The lecture captured the audience’s attention, who actively participated with questions to the HCO officials. The collaboration between Panteion University and the HCO is expected to continue in the future as part of the Memorandum of Educational Cooperation signed between the two entities, with new seminars that will enhance the exchange of knowledge and raise awareness on intellectual property issues.
View photographic material from the event.

As part of the Educational Cooperation Memorandum between Panteion University and the Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO), a lecture by HCO officials will be held at Panteion University, in the “Sakis Karagiorgas II” Auditorium, on May 12, 2025, from 12:00 to 14:00, under the topic:

“COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION: COPYRIGHT ISSUES”

The event will be opened with welcome addresses by the Rector of Panteion University, Professor Christina Koulouri, and the Chairman of the HCO Board of Directors, Emeritus Professor Panagiotis Tsiris.

The program will include presentations by:

• Ms. Maria-Daphne Papadopoulou, Acting Director of HCO

• Ms. Maria Sinanidou, Attorney and Scientific Associate of HCO

• Ms. Eva Moustaka, Attorney at HCO

This event aims to highlight the key aspects of copyright and related rights, with an emphasis on the exceptions and limitations that apply for the benefit of educational institutions and the educational process more broadly.

There will also be a presentation on the relationship between copyright law and the media, as well as current developments concerning artificial intelligence.

Please note that the lecture is open to the public and is addressed to students, teaching staff of Panteion University, and members of the university’s academic library staff.

The programme

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the HCO will curate the event titled “That sounds like music to my copyright” as part of Athens Music Week. The event will take place at the Karatzas Amphitheatre (82-84 Aeolou Street, Athens) from 15:00 to 18:00.

On Monday 28 April and Wednesday 30 April 2025, the HCO conducted online educational visits to the 3rd Primary School of Kordelio in Thessaloniki.

The Hellenic Copyright Organization (HCO), in collaboration with the Hellenic Industrial Property Organisation (OBI) and the collective management organizations for musical works in Greece — “AUTODIAXEIRISI,” “ENOSI DIKAIOUCHON EDEM,” “APOLLON,” “ERATO,” “GRAMMO,” and “GEA – GRAMMO, ERATO, APOLLON” — celebrates this year’s World Intellectual Property Day, established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), with a special event dedicated to music creation and its ecosystem.