BY-LAWS

By-laws EPIPA as approved by the Management Board on 24 October 2019

Article 1
Membership

1.1
Legal entities, such as national Associations in the field of Intellectual Property can become members or associate members of EPIPA

1.2
EPIPA has no personal members, strictly legal entities. Each entity has up to 2 representatives in the Management Board of EPIPA, see Article 2.1

1.3
The Management Board of EPIPA decides during a Management Board meeting whether a new Association desirous of joining EPIPA can become a member, or an associate member

1.4
Candidate members or candidate associate members are officially invited in writing to become a member or associate member by a notification from the Management Board

1.5
New members start contributing financially with the start of the new year after entry, i.e. as of the 1st of January

1.6
Termination of membership is done by giving written notice to the Management Board, effective immediately without any refund of any fee.

1.7
Associate membership is for up to 2 years with 1 possible extension of 1 year, by a written request to the Management Board

1.8
Associate members do not contribute financially and have no voting right, but are invited and encouraged to send up to 2 representatives to attend Management Board meetings

1.9
Associate-membership can be converted to membership at any time, by a written request to and approval by the Management Board. Financial contribution starts as of January of the subsequent year

Article 2
Management Board

2.1
Each (associate) member has up to 2 representatives in the Management Board of EPIPA, either a Board member from the national Association or an official representative (committee member) of the Board of the national Association (in addition to Article 5.3 of the statutes)

Article 3
Management Board Meetings

3.1
Management Board meetings are to be held at least twice a year, one by means of electronic communication and one face-to-face meeting

3.2
Face-to-face Management Board meetings are hosted alternately in the countries of the national Associations that are members of EPIPA

3.3
Costs of hosting the face-to-face Management Board meetings are borne by the organizing Association

3.4
Costs of attending face-to-face Management Board meetings (travel/hotel expenses) are borne by the national Associations

Article 4
Finance

4.1
Costs are divided among the members of EPIPA: PFO 50%, NAIPA 25% and DAIPA 25%. As soon as EPIPA consists of 4 national Associations or more, costs will be divided equally among the national Associations (members)

4.2
Each member will deposit the contribution fee at the beginning of each calendar year to the current account of EPIPA

4.3
The contribution fee for the next year is decided each year before the end of the calendar year

4.4
Costs of international relations are borne by the national Associations

4.5
Costs for EPIPA, including website hosting, website building, website maintenance and name protection are borne by EPIPA

4.6
Costs of a European Conference organized by EPIPA are borne by EPIPA

4.7
Costs for promotional material for EPIPA are borne by EPIPA

4.8
Other costs are to be decided and approved on by the Management Board and taken into account as specified in Article 7.3 and Article 10.3 of the statutes

4.9
All payments are handled by the Treasurer and approved by a second Board member

Article 5
Committees

5.1
Committees can consist of 1 or more person(s)

5.2
Unless the Management Board decides otherwise, if a committee consists of more than 1 person, it shall appoint, from its committee members, a chairperson and a person to report to the Management Board

5.3
Committees shall report at least once a year to the Management Board

Article 6
Changes

6.1
The by-laws can be changed whenever the Management Board deems necessary

6.2
The by-laws, including the changes, will enter into force the day following the decision, or as specifically stated in the specific change and decision