"Introduction to Series" [2013] ELECD 198; in Geiger, Christophe (ed), "Constructing European Intellectual Property" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013) xiv

Book Title: Constructing European Intellectual Property

Editor(s): Geiger, Christophe

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781001639

Section Title: Introduction to Series

Number of pages: 6

Extract:

Introduction to the series

EUROPEAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INSTITUTES
NETWORK (EIPIN): OUR COMMON HISTORY
1. Once consolidated, projects recreate their lives. Dreams and legends mix
with reality to define their own existence. This is the case of EIPIN. In
1994 while walking up and down the beach of San Juan, Alicante,
Professor Dieter Stauder, at that time Director of the international
section of the CEIPI (University of Strasbourg) shared his vision of
`bringing our students together' with Manuel Desantes, Professor at the
University of Alicante. This vision was to become a shared obsession.

2. The idea, simply stated, was that there will be no truly unified Europe
unless people from different cultures know one another, understand one
another and work with one another. Consequently, it was imperative for
intellectual property institutions to create a network offering students the
possibility to do precisely that ­ to meet, to understand and to work
together. They posited that common enrichment would radiate from
these `physical contacts', and correctly so, as EIPIN collaboration has
been enhancing the academic experience of countless students and
professors for more than a decade.

3. It took almost six years, however, to realise this vision for the first time.
Years during which the relations between the four founding institutions
gradually moved from competitive to cooperative. Years in which bilat-
eral contacts and visits among the partners multiplied. Years in which
the partners grew to know each other. Years in which the concept was
fine-tuned. Years during which the partners all ...