A Century of Excellence: The French Legacy in Global Intellectual Property

When the Paris Convention for the Protection of Intellectual Property was signed in 1883, few could have foreseen the profound impact France would have on the global intellectual property landscape. This historic moment planted the seeds for what would become an extraordinary journey of innovation, leadership, and advocacy.

From the moment AIPPI was constituted in 1897, French members stood at the forefront -not merely as participants, but as architects of a movement that would shape and harmonise intellectual property worldwide. As we celebrate 100 years since the official formation of the French Group in 1925, we honour not just an organization, but a living legacy that continues to influence, inspire, and innovate.

At the constituent meeting in Brussels in May 1897, Eugène POUILLET, lawyer, became the first president of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI). At the first congress in Vienna the same year, France was represented by 85 members out of the 400 members representing 17 states.

From 1900, at the Paris congress, although the role had not yet been provided for by statutes, Georges MAILLARD, whose work at the Vienna congress was widely noted both for his summarising work and for his leadership of the debates, became the first Reporter General of AIPPI. He held this position until 1914.

During this initial period prior to the First World War, it is also worth noting that André TAILLEFER was appointed Deputy Secretary General in 1910.

France’s representation within the association continued to grow, its membership increasing from 85 to 132 between 1907 and 1914, French Group being the most represented group at the time.

Then the First World War interrupted the activities of the AIPPI. But it was only in 1925, when the transitional statutes (ratified at the Zurich congress in 1927) were applied, that the French group was created.

While Georges MAILLARD naturally took over as president of the French group, André TAILLEFER became the new Reporter General.

Since 1925, the French group has been represented at AIPPI by numerous inspiring persons:

France has also hosted several AIPPI events, including:

– Four international congresses in Paris (1900, 1950, 1983 and 2010), including the 1983 congress celebrating the centenary of the Paris Convention, and the 2010 Congress, partly in Versailles, which made history for AIPPI World Congresses,

– Two Councils of Presidents in 1967 and 1972.

At the national level, the French group has always been very active, under the impetus of its Board of directors and Leadership Team, whose successive presidents have been since its creation: Georges MAILLARD (1925-1941), Marcel PLAISANT (1946), Paul CARTERON (1947-1956), Pierre REGIMBEAU (1956-1961), Georges MARCONNET (1961-1967) Jean MONNET (1967-1970), Robert HARLE (1970-1978), Philippe COMBEAU (1978-1980), Bernard DE PASSEMAR (1980-1983), Gerard FOLDES (1983-1986), Jacques AZEMA (1986-1989), Philippe GUILGUET (1989-1992), Jean-Pierre STENGER (1993-1996), Alain GALLOCHAT (1997-2000), Jean-Jacques MARTIN (2001-2004), Denis MONEGIER DU SORBIER (2005-2006), Yves BIZOLLON (2007-2008), Thierry SUEUR (2009-2012), Aurélia MARIE (2013-2016), Eléonore GASPAR (2017-2020), Corinne VEDEL (2021-2024) and Richard MONNI (2025-current).

Over the course of this century, the group’s membership has grown steadily, and today includes about 700 IP professionals, lawyers, patent and trademark attorneys and professionals from industry.

This high level of activity is illustrated in particular by the Annual conference that takes place the day of the Annual General Meeting, the traditional Life Science day, in partnership with the associations LES France and ASPI (Association Française des Spécialistes en Propriété Industrielle de l’Industrie), and the sustained activities of its nine Commissions. French group of AIPPI is also represented in almost all of the Standing Committees, and is proud to have members on each of the Bureau Advisory Committees, the Communication Statutory Committee, and the leadership of both the Membership and Programme Statutory Committees.

French group also collaborates through Trilateral Meetings with German and Polish Groups, the last of which was held in Warsaw last year, and with Italian and Spanish Groups, whose Trilateral meeting was held in Venice in 2023, ahead of the first Spring Meeting/MidTerm Congress.

French group is known and recognised for its seriousness and involvement, as evidenced by its famous 7.30 a.m. meetings during International Congresses, or its reports re. the Study questions, reports which are sometimes so detailed that they do not fit the online form!

But French group is also an association of IP professionals known for their kindness, their goodwill and their openness towards the younger generations, who are increasingly attracted to our association, as evidenced by the number of members of the Young Commission. The enthusiasm of our Young Commission signals that the torch is being passed to capable hands, ensuring that the French voice in intellectual property will remain influential, thoughtful, and forward-thinking.

On 12 June 2025, the Leadership Team of the French group, its Vice-Presidents Géraldine ARBANT, Corinne HUEBER SAINTOT, and Cyra NARGOLWALLA, its Secretary Brigitte CARION TARAVELLA, its Treasurer Thomas BOUVET, and its president Richard MONNI, will have the pleasure of inviting our members and friends, as well as institutional representatives and magistrates, to an event celebrating this remarkable journey.

The Leadership Team, and I as President of the French Group of AIPPI, are proud to invite you to join us in honoring our distinguished past while embracing the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

In 2025, we are not only celebrating 100 years of history, but 100 years of passionate advocacy, 100 years of intellectual rigor, and 100 years of collaborative spirit that transcends borders. The French Group of AIPPI is entering its second century not resting on laurels but poised to meet new challenges with the same excellence and commitment that has defined our first 100 years.

Together, we will continue to shape the future of intellectual property for coming generations.