Villa Vigoni, Lake Como
Picture of Lake Como by Aconcagua
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2553547

The participants started with a short representation of the different court-systems and the prozedural law in trademarks proceedings in their Member States
Five questions arouse:
Is there a need for harmonizing:
1. Oral Hearings:
Result: Harmonization is necessary. Oral hearings are seen as useful.
2. Allow argueing on new grounds during the appeal proceeding:
Result: It should be distinguished between “new facts” and “new points of law”; refusal could be foreseen, if the parties could have brought the reasoning to the proceedings at an earlier stage.
3. Preliminary Procedure:
Result: It is already introduced in most of the courts dealing with infringements. There is no specific interest to focus on this point.
4. The bench with lay judges (as in Denmark):
Result: Lay judges even if they are experts are not seen as necessary as long as there is the possibility that the court may request for outside experts opinions.
5. The status of the trademark office as a regular party:
Result It is seen as useful and necessary that the trademark office should regularly take part in both procedures concerning registration and nullification, but not in cases of unfair competition.