The Regional Industrial Property Programme (RIPP) was launched in 1993 and has had a major impact on industrial property systems in central and eastern Europe. It is financed by the European Commission, under its PHARE Programme and implemented by the European Patent Office. The strategy of the programme is determined by the Commission, the European Patent Office and the national industrial property offices of central and eastern Europe. RIPP is intended to help these countries modernise their industrial property (IP) systems, bring their IP legislation into line with international standards, and thus assist the countries of Europe in moving from a divided past towards a prosperous common future.