Observatory of Intellectual Property, Competition and Communication (OPICC)

Reference center: Research Center Law and Investment on Future and Earth

The OPICC, Observatory of Intellectual Property, Competition, and Communications, aims to monitor and comment on the main regulatory developments, judicial interventions, and expressions of industry self-regulation in the fields of invention and design patents, trademarks, commercial advertising, biotechnology and plant varieties, software protection and semiconductor topographies, competition law, and copyright as it relates to intellectual creations intended for the market of goods and services—with particular reference to the activities of the Italian Competition Authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato).

The Observatory also monitors the same aspects within the sectors of telecommunications, information and media, and electricity, and it studies issues related to the liberalization of the gas and local public utility sectors. The primary reference framework is the Italian legal system, in constant connection with the European and international landscape.

The OPICC also engages in professional training for legal experts in intellectual property, competition, and regulation of public utility services. It provides consultancy and knowledge support both for the presentation or critique of legislative or regulatory proposals under discussion or development in relevant national, EU, or international forums, and for their drafting across the various fields of interest.

The Observatory edits the annual journal Concorrenza e mercato (ISSN 1720-2698), published by Giuffrè Francis Lefebvre. It is a peer-reviewed journal classified since 2011 as a top-tier "Class A" publication for Area 12. Indexes of volumes since 2002, as well as previews of all contributions from 2009 to the most recent issue, are available on the Observatory’s website.

Since December 1995, a reciprocal exchange relationship has been established with the Max Planck Institute in Munich. Given the tradition, experience, and prestige of the Max Planck Institute, this collaboration can only lead to a rapid enrichment of our activities and knowledge base, as well as opportunities for fruitful meetings among researchers. Similar relationships are being developed with other foreign universities, including the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., Columbia University, and the Information Society Project at Yale Law School.