UE - OHIM launches new e-filing system

The Office for Harmonization of the Internal Market (OHIM) will launch its new Community trade mark online filing system (so called "CTM e-filing system") on 2nd February 2009.
The system is designed to be quick and simple to use. Feedback from the agency's users was taken into account in its development (see news below). Its improved submission process will allow immediate confirmation, including the CTM application number and the generation of a receipt that the user can print or save. A short presentation and guidance for the new system are already available on the OHIM Web site so that the users can familiarise themselves with it

Diritto d'Autore - accordo SIAE-Nokia per la musica sul cellulare

La Società Italiana Autori Editori (SIAE) ha annunciato l'intervenuto accordo con il colosso mondiale della telefonia mobile NOKIA, per regolarizzare un servizio denominato "Nokia Comes with Music".

Si tratta di un nuovo ed innovativo sistema che permetterà agli utenti di fruire della musica direttamente dal proprio cellulare.

In altre termini, chi utilizzerà un cellulare Nokia "Comes With Music" potrà avere accesso a milioni di brani musicali per un periodo che varia da 12 a 18 mesi, rimanendo proprietario della musica alla scadenza dell’abbonamento.

Questo accordo segna un momento importante della tutela assicurata dalla SIAE alla musica italiana.

Per la prima volta, tutte le canzoni italiane offerte nei Paesi europei saranno direttamente amministrate dalla SIAE attraverso una speciale piattaforma tecnologica.

Il servizio Comes With Music gia’ attivo in Inghilterra dall’ottobre del 2008, dovrebbe essere lanciato da Nokia in Italia entro il 2009.

European Union. Rome II Regulation enters into force and introduces new conflict of law rules in the IP field

Regulation 864/2007 on the law applicable to non-contractual obligation (Rome II Regulation) entered into force on 11th January 2009.
The Regulation is particularly relevant for Intellectual Property law. The reason is that it establishes uniform conflict of law rules to be applied by the courts of the Member States to determine the law applicable to claims related to acts of unfair competition (Art. 6) and infringements of national intellectual property rights (Art. 8.1) and Community industrial property rights (Art. 8.2). Thanks to these new rules, companies will enjoy certainty and legal security in the protection of their intellectual property rights.
This Regulation is complemented by the Rome I Regulation. Once this second instrument enters into force (December 2009) the European Union will have uniform bodies of conflict-of-law rules in extracontractual obligations and contractual obligations.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Trandemark Strategy

Cristiano Ronaldo, has obtained a Portuguese trade mark for the trademark "CR9" fuelling speculation that Ronaldo will leave his current club Manchester United to play for Real Madrid. Ronaldo, who currently plays for Manchester United wearing a no. 7 shirt, has been promised the no. 9 shirt by the Spanish club Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo Dos Santos Aveirohas also filed for a Community Trade Mark for 'CR9' on 22 December 2008. Community trademark application no. 007486004 CR9 covering "services for providing food and drink; temporary and hotel accommodation".