30/10/2025
Serbian judges and prosecutors are being trained to harmonise their work with that of the European Union and protect intellectual property crimes.
Belgrade, the Serbian capital, hosted a training session aimed at learning about the criminal enforcement of intellectual property rights in the Balkan country. The training analysed the existing legal framework and areas for harmonisation with the European Union (EU) acquis regarding the protection of this type of crime.
The training was organised by the European EU4IM project and brought together not only criminal judges, but also officials from the relevant police and prosecution departments and law enforcement officers from the Coordination Body for the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in Serbia.
The training structure has been based on a highly practical methodology, and joint resolution of practical case studies has been carried out, which have been discussed in small groups, addressing EU case law and its complementarity with the Serbian legal framework.
The training was led by Patricia Rodríguez Lastras, senior prosecutor at the Cybercrime Unit of the Spanish Attorney General’s Office, who has extensive experience in prosecuting complex economic crimes relevant to the protection of intellectual property rights, including the counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products, large-scale digital piracy and the involvement of organised crime in counterfeiting. Thanks to her extensive international experience in collaboration with the EUIPO, the EU Intellectual Property Office, she has contributed to the development of best practices for cross-border investigations. Her expertise combines practical prosecution strategies with a deep understanding of EU legal frameworks and case law.
This work not only reflects the support that the European EU4IM project has been providing to the Serbian judiciary, but on this occasion it has also brought together many of the institutions involved in the procedural chain. Intellectual property protection in Serbia is very difficult to enforce, and this seminar has brought together staff from the institutions involved to supervise and coordinate the tasks of the various state administrative bodies involved in its operational protection, as infringements can originate in multiple sectors.
In addition, training on geographical indications will be held in November, as these indications make it possible to protect the name of a product with a specific place of origin to which it owes its qualities or reputation. Participants will learn the difference between a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), depending on the strength of the link between the qualities of a product and its geographical origin.
