The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission have launched intellectual property (IP) training for influencers on the Influencer Legal Hub. The new materials will help social media influencers navigate issues in IP law in the EU, helping them protect their creativity and innovation, while respecting the IP rights of others. The initiative also emphasises the importance of avoiding the promotion of counterfeit or pirated goods and services.
The training features two videos accompanied by written legal briefs, offering a comprehensive overview of IP law with a focus on copyright, trade marks and designs - the most relevant IP rights for influencers. The material has been consolidated with valuable contributions from members of the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights’ Public Awareness Working Group and Outreach Expert Group.
The Influencer Legal Hub was made available by the European Commission in 2023 to provide training and resources on consumer law. Influencers can learn about their legal obligations, for example, when, where and how they should disclose their advertising activities on social media, what professional due diligence they are expected to observe and what rights consumers have when they buy products or services directly from them.