EPO - Montenegro and the European Patent Office signed extension agreement

The European Patent Organisation (EPO) and Montenegro have signed an agreement on the extension of European patents to Montenegro.
The Agreement will enter into force later this year, depending on a mutual exchange of notes between the Government of Montenegro and the EPO.
Once the agreement enters into force, the number of countries for which one can seek patent protection for an invention through a single European patent application will rise to 39 countries.
Up to date, the 35 member countries include all 27 EU member states plus Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. Furthermore, the Organisation has extension agreements with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.

WIPO - International patent filing statistics in 2008

The World Intellectual Property Organization recently published the statistic of international patent filing in 2008.
Filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) grew by 2.4% in 2008. Despite the fact that this is the highest number of applications received in a single year, the increase was modest in comparison with the three previous years (9.3%). This might be seen as an effect of the global economic slowdown.
The largest number of applications came from companies from the United States (32.7%), followed by Japan (17.5%) and Germany (11.3%). It is worth mentioning that the highest grow rates in 2008 belong to South Korea, China and Sweden.

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".

EU - European customs have stopped millions of illegal medicines

The European Commission recently announced that the customs authorities of the 27 Member States have concentrated efforts over a two-month period under the coordinated "MEDI-FAKE" action, to stop millions of illegal medicines from entering the European Union. On the basis of a risk profile disseminated by the Commission, more than 34 million fake antibiotics, anti-cancer, anti-malaria and anti-cholesterol medicines, as well as painkillers, were successfully seized.
In addition to the intrinsic value for the effectiveness of customs controls, the coordination and co-operation between authorities and the legitimate expectations from legal business, the action is fundamental for protecting European citizens from security and safety threats.
The MEDI-FAKE action also highlighted areas of improvement for future actions in the fight against imports of illegal, dangerous or counterfeit goods, such as increasing cooperation with the interested industries

UE - The Board of Appeal has adopted a decision related to embryonic stem cell patents

The Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office recently adopted a ruling related to the so-called WARF/Thomson stem cell application.
This patent application describes a method to obtain embryonic stem cell cultures from primates, including humans, and was filed by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation in 1995.
The Board of Appela has decided that under the European Patent Convention it is not possible to grant a patent for an invention that requires the use and destruction of human embryos.

The Board stressed, however, that its decision does not concern the general question of human stem cell patentability.

EU - The European Commission publishes a report on the Pharmaceutical Sector Inquiry

The European Commission recently published the preliminary findings of the Pharmaceutical Sector Inquiry launched by the Commission at the beginning of the year. The findings examine the input provided by the pharmaceutical sector under EC competition rules and discuss issues with the use and efficiency of the patent system for the pharmaceutical market, among other topics.
Indeed, the report finds no flaws in the way the patent system works in Europe, although it acknowledges the setback caused by the absence of a Community patent and a centralised European patent judiciary. Moreover, the report examines the patent strategies of the originator companies who first patent and commercialise a pharmaceutical product and possible market barriers created for the generic companies that place generic versions of pharmaceutical products on the market.

Pubblicata la versione codificata della direttiva UE sui Marchi di Impresa

E' stata recentemente pubblicata una versione codificata della direttiva sul ravvicinamento delle legislazioni degli Stati membri in materia di marchi d’impresa. La direttiva 2008/95/CE del Parlamento europeo e del Consiglio del 22 ottobre 2008 è diretta ad armonizzare le legislazioni nazionali sui marchi d’impresa e sostituisce, senza apportarvi sostanziali modifiche, la direttiva del Consiglio 89/104/CEE del 21 dicembre 1988 già modificata dal Consiglio nel 1992

Nuova edizione della Classificazione di Locarno

A partire dal 1 Gennaio 2009 entrerà in vigore la nuova edizione della Classificazione dei modelli industriali altrimenti nota come Classificazione di Locarno.
L'UAMI comunica che applicherà questa nuova edizione della classificazione per tutte le domande di disegni e modelli comunitari registrati depositate a partire dalla predetta data.
Importante èprecisare che le domande in sospeso di disegni e modelli comunitari registrati o i disegni e modelli comunitari già registrati la cui data di deposito sia anteriore al 1° gennaio 2009 non saranno riclassificati ed i relativi richiedenti o titolari non potranno richiederne la riclassificazione, nemmeno al momento del rinnovo della registrazione.
Ecco le principali modifiche introdotte:
- introduzione della nuova classe 32-00 intitolata “Simboli grafici e loghi, motivi per superfici, ornamento” per prodotti come presentazione, disegni grafici, simboli grafici, loghi, ornamento e motivi per superfici;
- cancellazione della classe 99-00 e riclassificazione dei suoi prodotti in altre classi;
- introduzione di 99 nuovi prodotti.

Lego’s arguments collapse at CFI over three-dimensional mark

Bad news for Lego from the CFI that recently rejects Lego's appeal against OHIM's Board of Appeal's decision that the Lego brick shape is not registrable as a CTM.

The application for the CTM was filed in April 1, 1996 by Kirkbi A/S, the predecessor of Lego Juris A/S.

The trade mark was registered on October 19, 1999, but Ritvik Holdings Inc. started invalidity proceedings at OHIM.

With a decision of July 10, 2006 the Large Board of Appeal dismissed Lego's appeal because the sign could not be registered for board games.

OHIM argued that the CTMR is aimed at prohibiting the registration of shapes which essential features have only a technical function.

On November 12 2008 the CFI held in Lego Juris A/S v OHIM that Lego’s registration for goods in Class 28 (games and playthings) of the Nice Classification should be cancelled on the grounds that the shape of the brick was necessary to achieve a technical result; and a mark that was not permitted on the above basis could not be saved by acquired distinctiveness.

Lego has announced its intention to take the matter to the European Court of Justice.

Regione Lombardia - bando per il finanziamento di marchi e brevetti nel settore della moda

Nell'ambito del Programma delle iniziative dirette regionali a favore del settore produttivo della moda, con decreto n. 8558 del 1 agosto 2008 del Dirigente della Unità Organizzativa Sviluppo dell'imprenditorialità, è stato approvato il bando che disciplina le linee d'azione previste per l'Area d'intervento 2. Innovazione.
Tali linee sono finalizzate a:
- sostenere progetti di innovazione di alto livello sviluppati da ATI tra imprese
- sostenere progetti di innovazione sviluppati da imprese (singole o aggregate) del sistema moda
- sostenere l'innovazione di sistema promossa da ATI tra imprese e/o associazioni imprenditoriali del
sistema moda
- sostenere la realizzazione di campionari finalizzati a nuovi canali distributivi e/o nuovi mercati
- sostenere il trasferimento di innovazione tecnologica e il potenziamento di risorse di nuova conoscenza
previsti da accordi di programma
L'iniziativa si colloca nell'ambito dell'obiettivo finalizzato a sostenere e incentivare la competitività del sistema della moda italiana, come condizione fondamentale per garantire la crescita e il recupero di competitività di tutto il sistema economico Lombardo.
Termine per la presentazione: 30 ottobre 2008

Parlamento Europeo - il 2009 sarà l'anno europeo della creatività e dell'innovazione

Su proposta della Commissione Europea, il Parlamento europeo ha recentemente designato l'anno 2009 come “anno europeo della creatività e dell’innovazione”.
L’attenzione degli organismi comunitari sarà concentrata sull’innovazione delle imprese, sui diritti di proprietà industriale, sulle politiche regionali e su numerose attività formative e culturali.
La Commissione Europea ha già anticipato che intende rendere pubblica una nuova politica europea per i disegni e modelli nel corso del prossimo anno.
Tra le principali azioni da intraprendere nel campo dei diritti di proprietà industriale ha indicato:
la redazione di una “comunicazione della Commissione sui disegni e modelli”
l’intensificazione degli sforzi per costruire una base di conoscenza per le attività e le politiche in materia di disegni e modelli
il sostegno al dialogo sulla politica riguardante i disegni e modelli attraverso la creazione di un organismo permanente.

EU - The Commission outlines the main points of anew IP rights strategy for Europe

The European Commission recently adopted a communication in which it outlines the main points of a future strategy for industrial property rights in Europe. The content of this communication is particularly important since it will affect Community policies in the field for the years to come. The main objective of this new strategy is to strengthen the quality and efficiency of the industrial property rights system in Europe, but also to raise inventors' and businesses' awareness and use of the system.
At the centre of the Commission's strategy is the enforcement of industrial property rights and the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, the detrimental effect of which has been recognised on numerous occasions. Moreover, the strategy defines as a main priority the creation of a Community patent and an EU-wide jurisdiction for patents.
The Commission will also study the overall efficiency of patent and trade mark systems in Europe, including the Community trade mark, seeking ways to enhance their effectiveness for inventors and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Regarding in particular SMEs, the strategy includes specific measures to improve their awareness and effective utilisation of industrial property rights as part of their business.

Eco Patent Commons

Bosch, DuPont and Xerox Corporation have joined the Eco-Patent Commons, a first-of-its-kind business effort to help the environment by pledging environmentally-beneficial patents to the public domain. The three companies and founding member Sony pledge environmentally friendly patents to the public.
The newly pledged patents include:
A cutting edge, Xerox technology that significantly reduces the time and cost of removing hazardous waste from water and soil;
A technology developed by DuPont that converts certain non-recyclable plastics into beneficial fertilizer;
Automotive technologies from Bosch that help lower fuel consumption, reduce emissions, or convert waste heat from vehicles into useful energy;
Technologies developed by founding member Sony that focus on the recycling of optical discs.
The Eco-Patent Commons, launched by IBM, Nokia, Pitney Bowes and Sony in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in January 2008, provides a unique opportunity for global business to make a difference - sharing innovation in support of sustainable development. The objectives of the Eco-Patent Commons are to facilitate the use of existing technologies to protect the environment, and encourage collaboration between businesses that foster new innovations.

EU - A new web site for the OHIM

OHIM, the EU agency for the registration of Community trade marks and registered Community designs, has a new website since 1st of July.
Improved services in five languages for interested professionals are included in a specific area. Access to databases and all filings forms has also been facilitated to users.
Newcomers are welcomed with a number of new services to facilitate understanding and access to key information. Users may for example subscribe to e-mail alerts or interact directly with the agency via online discussions and polls.

Steiffel is quitting China due to quality problems

German cult-brand of soft bear toys Steiffel is to pull back from its outsourcing of the manufacture of its products from China, citing quality problems which could be detrimental to its brand image.The company's managing director Martin Frechen is quoted as saying that Chinese production lines had saved Steiff money on salaries but cost the company its reputation: "For prime quality products, you can't count on China." German analysts suggest Steiff's return could mark the beginning of an exodus from China of foreign companies initially beguiled by savings but ultimately disappointed by quality.

ICANN decision on Top Level Domains

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers' (ICANN) recently decided regarding rules on new Top-Level Domains. The decision will allow companies to register their brands as generic top-level domain names (TLDs). For instance, Microsoft could apply to have a TLD such as '.msn', Apple apply for '.mac', and Google for '.goog'.

Switzerland - Shape of Panton chair is distinctive

The Swiss Federal Administrative Court has held that the shape of the Panton chair could be registered as a trademark (Case B-6050/2007, February 20 2008).

The Panton chair is a world-famous design classic created by Danish designer Verner Panton in 1967. The chair is undoubtedly a work of art under copyright law.

Panton's heirs filed an application for the registration of the shape of the Panton chair as a trademark for goods in Class 20 of the Nice Classification. The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE) rejected the application (Case AM-AA 09/03). On appeal, the Swiss Federal Administrative Court reversed the decision of the IGE.

With regard to the issue of distinctiveness (Article (2)(a) the Trademark Act), the court considered whether the shape of the Panton chair differed from shapes that are "customary or expected by the public" for the relevant goods. The court found that the shape of the Panton chair differed from customary or expected shapes, and was thus distinctive. In addition, the court briefly considered whether the shape of the chair had a purely functional purpose (Article 2(b) of the act), and found that this was not the case. Therefore, the court concluded that the three-dimensional shape of the chair could be registered as a trademark. The decision has now been appealed.

The notion of "shapes that are customary or expected by the public" is not expressly contained in the act, but has been used by the Swiss Federal Court to decide whether the shape of a product falls within the public domain under Article (2)(a) of the act.

It will be interesting to see how the Swiss Federal Court will rule on the case on appeal. Until now, the IGE and the Federal Administrative Court have tried to avoid having to interpret Article 2(b) of the act. In the present case, the interpretation of the notion of 'nature of the goods' is likely to be decisive.

The phrase "the shape which gives substantial value to the goods", which is contained in Article 3(1)(e) of the First Trademarks Directive (89/104/EEC) and Article 7(1)(e) of the Community Trademark Regulation (40/94), is not included in the Swiss Trademark Act. However, in an earlier decision, the Swiss Federal Court seemed to treat aesthetic and functional features in the same way. Such interpretation would allow the inclusion of both aesthetic and functional characteristics in the notion of 'nature of the goods', thus avoiding an (unintended) discrepancy between EU and Swiss law. In Benetton (Case C-371/06, September 20 2007), the European Court of Justice had held that the shape of a product which gives substantial value to that product cannot be registered as a trademark regardless of whether it has acquired distinctiveness through extended use.