Mediation: A Path to Resolving Intellectual Property Disputes

A dispute over a trademark, design or patent does not always have to end in lengthy court proceedings. Mediation offers an opportunity to reach an agreement with the assistance of an impartial mediator, while focusing on what really matters to both parties’ businesses.

As an active member of ECTA’s Mediation Committee, I am involved in promoting the use of mediation in the field of intellectual property. Interest in this approach is gradually growing, as confirmed by a recent article published by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Between January and August 2026, overall participant satisfaction with EUIPO mediation services reached 94%.

Above all, an opportunity to find a commercially viable solution: an agreement on the coexistence of trademarks, adjustments to product branding, a licence, or arrangements for future cooperation. This can be particularly useful where the parties have an existing business relationship or where a dispute involves multiple IP rights and several countries

Instead, they facilitate discussions and help the parties work towards an agreement whose terms they determine themselves. Throughout the process, the lawyer continues to protect the client's interests, assess the risks associated with individual proposals and ensure that the final agreement is properly drafted from a legal perspective.

For Czech businesses involved in proceedings before the EUIPO, a first step could be a free 30-minute online information session with the EUIPO Mediation Centre. This provides an opportunity to assess whether mediation is suitable for a particular case.

At KOREJZOVA LEGAL, we would be pleased to assess with you whether mediation could be the right approach to resolving your dispute and to provide legal representation throughout the process.

JUDr. Petra de Brantes, 

Attorney at Law & Czech IP Mediator

Read the full EUIPO article „From awareness to practice: the growing recognition of IP mediation“ here.

Photo: "Three colleagues in a business meeting shaking hands over charts and documents." by Yan Krukau on Pexels.