The title of this chapter is demanding in many ways, as it points at so many layers and levels. The influence of unfair competition law on intellectual property protection has for years been identified as an interesting and crucial intersection between different areas of law. What makes it difficult is not least that it differs from one time to another, from one place to another and in practice. In this chapter I will first focus on the international framework of unfair competition law and its impact on national and European intellectual property law. Next, I will focus on the European legislation on unfair competition law, its interrelation with intellectual property lawand how it has been interpreted in EU case law. Finally, I will discuss the present European legal situation. I will give my own reflections on the system and its flaws, and some thoughts on a possible road ahead. The main focus will be on the relationship between unfair competition law and trade mark law.