Roberto Manno 
Roberto is the founding lawyer of the law firm WebLegal. Thanks to his extensive experience, published articles, and significant professional successes in complex fields such as internet law and the protection of intellectual property for new plant varieties, he is recognized among national and international experts in intellectual property.
Among the key milestones of his professional development are internships in Paris, where he deepened his knowledge of wine law and geographical indications, and in Brussels, where he specialized in competition and distribution law. As in-house counsel at Bid.it! Spa, a pioneer in the Internet industry around the 2000s, he tackled complex issues related to new technology law, documenting his expertise through numerous published articles as a columnist for the historic magazine “InterLex” on topics such as digital signatures, software patents, trademarks, and domain names.
By combining the international dimension of intellectual property law with an innovative vision of the potential of the Internet, Roberto made a bold and forward-thinking decision by founding his firm in the heart of Federico II’s Puglia, a land rich in history and tradition. Trani, the land of Moscato wine, was the birthplace in 1063 of the first legal framework for maritime law, the Ordinamenta et consuetudo maris.
This decision paid off and explains the name and DNA of WebLegal: an IP boutique inspired by the web that, since its foundation in 2006, has operated in a ‘glocal’ mode, integrating a global perspective with attention to local specifics, thus also positioning the firm at the service of a magnificent territory.
These are some of the core values of WebLegal, an internationally oriented practice-driven firm with an innovative vision, built on the idea of the “circularity of IP law,” which reflects the need to address intellectual property issues in an integrated and systematic manner. This method, which transcends national boundaries and embraces an international dimension, allows the firm to challenge the status quo and propose original and cutting-edge solutions. Thanks to this philosophy, WebLegal has established itself as a leading player in the international arena, boasting decades-long collaborations with clients worldwide.
Expertise
Backed by his knowledge of domain name protection, Roberto assists clients in the resolution of domain name disputes and works as an arbitrator for several dispute resolution service providers. He is also one of the few professionals to deal with new plant variety law, representing the interests of (inter alia) major US marketing companies, both in the registration and prosecution of titles before the EU Offices (EUIPO, CPVO), and in litigation before national courts and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
He heads the White List Team, a network of highly specialised professionals able to guarantee locally, in the main EU countries, an effective monitoring and enforcement activity in the field of intellectual property – with particular reference to patent rights on new plant varieties – as well as in the fight against counterfeiting activities in the agri-food sector.
Roberto regularly participates as a speaker in seminars and conferences and is also the author of numerous industry publications. Among his most significant contributions are:
- White Paper on Essential Derived Varieties (WebLegal, 2019).
- The development of the CJEU case law in plant variety rights (Stockholm Intellectual Property Law Review, Volume 1, Issue 3, June 2021, pp. 28-35).
- Trademarks and Territorial Marketing: Retrospective and Prospective Analyses of the trademark Prodotti di Qualità, (Santeramo, F. G., Manno, R., Tappi, M., & Lamonaca, E. (2022). Trademarks and Territorial Marketing: Retrospective and Prospective Analyses of the trademark Prodotti di Qualità. Economia Agro-Alimentare Food Economy – Open Access, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.3280/ecag2022oa12860).
- Il nome a dominio: oltre il marchio? (InterLex, 2003).
Education
- Admitted to practice law (2006)
- Degree in Law, thesis in European Union Law, University of Bari (1999)
Languages spoken
Italian, English and French
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Member of AIPPI – the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
- Member of the European Communities Trademark Association (ECTA)
Hobbies
Tango, SSC Napoli enthusiast, spearfishing, sailing, fooding
