SELS Messina on IP & Cultural Heritage Law
ELSA Messina is honoured to present its first edition of the Summer ELSA Law School Messina on IP & Cultural Heritage Law which will take place between August 25th - September 1st, 2025.
Messina is a vibrant harbour town and the third largest city in the island of Sicily, situated near the island's northeastern tip at the Strait of Messina. This historic gateway not only offers striking views of the Mediterranean but also serves as an essential access point to Italy’s Calabria region on the mainland. Its ancient Greek name "Zancle" — meaning "sickle" — hints at the curved shape of its natural harbour. The true charm of Messina reveals itself as you wander its lively streets on foot, where every turn offers a blend of breath-taking sceneries, rich history, and the tasty local cuisine.
Through a blend of lectures, interactive workshops, and institutional visits, this SELS programme will address the theme of Intellectual Property and Cultural Heritage Law, balancing both theoretical insights and practical applications. Over the course of the week, you will delve into our interdisciplinary approach, meeting professors, lawyers, archeologists and other experts on the matter of cultural property, with an either procedural or substantive point of view.
In addition to the academic sessions, our programme features an equally engaging social and cultural itinerary. Arrive in Messina with a warm welcome that includes Sicilian fast food and icebreakers, followed by a guided walk around the historic city. Enjoy vibrant evenings with experiences such as a traditional Messinese dinner, a pizza night by the beach, and a Gala Ball. Optional day-trip to the iconic site of Taormina, beach excursions, and lively social events like beer pong and Italian aperitivos ensure you experience the best of Sicilian culture.
New legal skills, breath-taking landscapes, nice weather and tasty food: these are the basis of our SELS experience.
So, what are you waiting for?
ELSA Member from a non-favoured country - 425€
Member of a Partner Organisation - 450€
ELSA Alumni - 450€
Non-member - 475€
Day-trip to Taormina - 40€
Goodie Bag (souvenirs, typical messinese sweets and water bottle) - 20€
SELS T-Shirt - 20€
Faculty of Law, University of Messina
Municipality of Messina
The rich Academic Programme for the SELS Messina will focus on Intellectual Property (IP) and Cultural Heritage Law. Through an agenda of lectures, panel discussions, and institutional visits, participants will explore key topics on the matter like human rights implications, museum artifact protection, international organizations, private international law, and trade secrets. Participants will also gain insights into international criminal law, copyright issues, AI-generated works, UNESCO’s World Heritage framework, and cultural property protection during conflicts and disasters.
Here is the draft Academic Programme of SELS Messina (subject to change):
- Monday
- None (Arrival – Social & Cultural Programme)
- Tuesday
- Intellectual Property and Cultural Heritage: legal frameworks, challenges, and future perspectives
- The relationship between Intellectual Property and Human Rights in the Cultural Heritage context
- Intellectual Property and Cultural Heritage Law: safeguarding museums’ archeological materials
- Institutional Visit to art exhibitions
- Wednesday
- IP & Cultural Heritage: The role of the International Government Organisations
- Cultural Property Protection in Private International Law
- Trade secrets and unfair Competition law as a protection of Cultural Heritage
- Thursday
- International Criminal Law and the Protection of Cultural Goods
- Copyright issues: from the Internet era to the AI-generated works of art
- The creation of a World Heritage: the UNESCO World Heritage Convention
- Cultural Heritage and disasters: the protection of Cultural Goods during times of war, historic shipwrecks and natural disasters
- Friday
- None (Cultural Programme)
- Saturday
- ADR, IP & Cultural Heritage: expanding horizons through Dispute Resolution Procedures
- Arbitration Workshop
- Discussion on Results
- Sunday
- Institutional Visit to the Museum of Messina
- Monday
- None (Departure)