ECTA was formed in 1980 and is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2005.

ECTA brings together all those persons practising professionally in the Member States of the European Community in the field of trade marks, designs and related IP matters.

These professionals are trade mark advisors, trade mark attorneys, lawyers practising in industry and all others who can be considered specialist practitioners in these areas.

ECTA is therefore, an association made up of individuals coming from industry and from private practice, who have a common interest concerning the protection of trade marks and designs in the European Union.

ECTA numbers approximately 1.500 members coming from 85 countries.

ECTA acts as an informed spokesman on all problems relating to the protection and use of trade marks and (industrial) designs in the European Union and has established close links with the OHIM - Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) located in Alicante (Spain), as well as with WIPO -World Intellectual Property Organization, the European Commission and other non-governmental organizations in the intellectual property field such as AIPPI, APRAM, BMM, INTA, ITMA, GRUR and MARQUES.

ECTA organises annual conferences, publishes Law books, Gazettes and Flash letters.