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via Antica Zecca, 6 • 48100 Ravenna
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©
2004 – 2015
University of CataniaJean Monnet Chair in Internationational Business
for European Union (IB4EU)December, 3-4, 2015 - Catania
Essentials onestablishmentand exploitationof IPRs - II
IPR
IPR is the acronym forINTELLECTUALPROPERTY RIGHTS
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IPR
Intellectual property is anexpansive and rapidly changingarea of the law which deals withthe formulation, usage andcommercial exploitation oforiginal creative works.
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A majority of the issues thatarise within this area revolvearound the boundary lines ofintangible property rights andwhich of those rights areafforded legal protection.
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IPR
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unregistered signs
IPR - Who
Individuals and organizationsare allowed to fileapplications to get their assetregistered.
The problem is if seeking fora registration is really of usefor them.
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IPR - Who
Jump into IntellectualProperty is very challengingand very often changesone’s own scenario verydeeply.
Benefit from IPR needsentrepreneurial attitude,challenging approach toproblems, being curious.
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IPR – What
Patents, trademarks anddesigns are registered assets.
They are grantable at the endof a formal procedure beforeIntellectual Property National orRegional Offices that starts withthe filing of an application.
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IPR – What
An examiner verifies if the object ofthe application fulfils determinedrequirements.
The basic requirements areestablished by the “ParisConvention”.
Each State or Regional Authoritiesrules the matter through a lawsystem and its jurisprudence.
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IPR – What
Each grant can be revoked incase it is possible to prove thatthe examiner misinterpretedthe “position” of the object ofthe application within the priorart and the fulfilment of therequirements established bythe law.
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IPR – WhatIn certain systems, an administrativeprocedure called opposition might belaunched before the IntellectualProperty State Agency to limit or get agranted-to-be/a just granted IPRcancelled.
Oppositions might be manageddirectly without the assistance of alawyer, at a limited cost.
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IPR – WhatLocal/ regional Courts can alwaysmanage limitation or nullity actions ofgranted IPRs after the definitive conclusionof their administrative procedure (whenIPRs are fully enforceable rights).
Notably, only lawyers are admitted toCourts. This usually makes the proceduremore structured and the costs usuallymuch higher.
Additionally, time to goal is surely longerand decisions are not always morestraightforward.
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IPR – What – Patents
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A patent is a registered title ofproperty related to a solution of atechnical problem.
It grants the owner (or a licensee)the exclusive right to exploit thereferred invention in a determinedterritory.
A patent can be granted only if itsapplication clearly describes theinvention, so that anyone feelacquainted with the matter at the endof reading the wording.
However, only after the expiry (of thepatent) the invention becomes freelyexploitable by anybody.
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IPR – What – Patents
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Requisites of a patentableinvention
Novelty
Inventive step
Industrial feasibility
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IPR – What – Patents
Inventions are novel if theirteachings are not comprised inthe “prior art” for the skilledpersons (at the filing date of therelative patent applications).
Novelty does not matter withbeing smart or ingenious (theinvention!).
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Novelty
Prior art matters with (i.e.):
written and/or oral publications:
national and foreign patents,
articles, books, catalogues,theses, dissertations orpublications on websites,
lectures, workshops,presentations and conferences.
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IPR – What – Patents
IP Codes usually defineInventive Step in the negativeform.
It is usually stated that it ariseswhen the invention is notobvious, meaning that itperforms a surprising effect fora man skilled in the art.
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Inventive Step
IPR WHAT
PATENTS
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IPR – What – Trademarks
Signs are suitable to becometrademarks if they are noveland capable to createdistinguishability for determinedproduct/service in a relevantterritory.
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At least 1 class with determinedcategories according to the
Nice Classification45 classes: 1-34 goods, 35-45 services
Sign
+
+
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District
IPR – What – Trademarks
IPR – What – Trademarks
A registered trademark is asign for which an establishedauthority granted an exclusivityright, with the aim to let theowner collecting the publicinterest on products/services bymaking their origin clearlydistinguishable.
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Trademarks limit:
the likelihood of confusion
among products/services of the
same nature; and
the risk of association among
producers of similar
products/services.
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IPR – What – Trademarks
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Ease the choice of aproduct or of a serviceprovider.
Identify the origin ofproducts/services indetermined fields;
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IPR – What – Trademarks
Novelty has to beassessed by making acomparison with validprior trademarks from averbal, conceptual andphonetical point of view.
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IPR – What – Trademarks
Distinguishability occurswhen the names andlogos are fancy, withoutany reference/link to theproduct / service to bedistinguished.
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IPR – What – Trademarks
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The choice of a weak trademarkimposes to accept coexistencewith very similar trademarks.
Simple variations of the wording orimmaterial changes to thegraphical representation make asimilar trademark novel withreference to prior weak trademarkrights.
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IPR – What – Trademarks
IPR – What – Designs
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Designs are registered IPRs whichrelate to the aspect of a product, or ofone of its own part if this aspect ischaracterized by:
lines, contours, colors, shape, texture,materials of the product itself,decoration of the goods, on conditionthat this aspect is new and presentsindividual character.
A design is new for adetermined kind of products
If it differs from the priordesign concepts or from theshapes of alreadydivulged/traded products.
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IPR – What – Designs
IPR - Where
Practically worldwide: the ParisConvention is ratified in 176Contracting Parties/States.
Focusing on a determined Stateor through a unitary procedurerelative to a Region, if possible.
Depending on the nature and onstrategy of the company withregard to the object of the IPR.
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IPR - Where
Community RegisteredDesigns, CommunityTrademarks are availablewithin UE, whereas UnitaryPatent is not currentlyfeasible, probably within bythe end of 2016.
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IPR - Why
Create a monopoly
Origins financial benefits
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IPR - Why
Each IPR is a monopoly:
grants a privileged position
conditions the competitors'strategy
facilitates the management ofone's know-how and networking
eases the restoration of infringedrights by simplifying the relatedlegal activity.
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IPR - Why
«Freezes» the companyknowledge and know-how.
Bans competitors to freely operatein a determined area of business.
Forces competitors to makeadditional effort in devoloppingnew concepts to maintain theirturnover and profits.
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IPR - Why
A robust and mixed IPRcompany portfolio makesthe company far moreattractive to investors:
M&A opportunities
lower company tax rate(i.e. Patent Box)
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IPRs
Additionally, IPRs are a sort ofguarantee for the investments inR&D and foster innovation.
Particularly, granted patentscommunicate that the firm is incondition to increase its profitsand to reduce its risk margin.
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Steep increase of mobilityof managers andemployees towards morewealthy competitors orpromising business areas.
Loss of territorial control ofknowledge distribution.
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Spread of knowledge
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IPR WHAT
Trademarks
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The sign must be arbitrary,imaginative, “capricious" in relationto the product service to bedistinguished.
Adding a graphical representation isoften not enough to lead to the grantof the exclusive right.
Small verbal or graphical changesare sufficient to prevent fromcounterfeiting of a weak mark.
Capability of distinguishingDistance between sign and product/service
Naming a soap
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Sign Type Comment
Soap General Descriptive
Clean dishes Descriptive of theeffect
Weak
Wash up Descripive of thetrade sector
Weak
Tide Imaginative Ok
Aquos Imaginative Ok
No matter Sharp gave thesame name to a television –Different classes of goods
“Secondary meaning”
Distinguishable /Strong legalprotection
Time
Patronymicname
Imaginativenames
Generic names
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Designating the class/es
Nice Classification: as of 1957, it isrevisited about every 4 years.
The 10th is now effective.
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http://www.wipo.int/classifications/nice/en/
ExamplesClass 9: spectacles, software, hardware, scientific instruments,compasses.Class 18: leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of thesematerials and not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunksand travelling bags; umbrellas and parasols; walking sticks; whips,harness and saddlery.Class 25: clothing, footwear, headgear,Class 28: Treadmill, exercise machine, toys.
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Allow evaluation of
characteristics of a
product/service even
before buying it.
Trademarks additionalpurpose (1/3)
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A trademark may derive
actractive power through
the association to already
known and appreciated
elements, explicitly or
implicitly reminded.
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Trademarks additionalpurpose (2/3)
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Trademarks boosted
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A trademark:
summarizes corporate values: quality,image, reliability, creativity, type oftarget, ruggedness, organization,management, sales network
produces extra-profit bycommunicating values.
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Trademarks additionalpurpose (3/3)
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At leat 5 trademark applications!
How many TrademarkApplications?
word marklogo and text inspecial characters
logoshapeSpecialcharacters
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Therefore, a trademark (1/2):
aroused the interest of thepublic;
makes the product moreattractive to customers;
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collects value that can beobjectively appraised.
generates a privilegedposition;
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Therefore, a trademark (2/2):
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Deadlines
t dep.
6 m
Priorityright
0
Extension oftrademark
application savingpriority right
OK!
Duration: 10 years, always renewable
5 years from registration™ ®
If ΔT > 0 validation!ΔT
Effective use?
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UIBM – Opposition totrademark registration
Internal procedure admitted against:
Italian trademark applicationspublished in the UIBM Bullettin;
International registrations designatingItaly and published in the WIPO Bullettinof International Trademarks
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UIBM – Opposable Trademarks
Identity with an already registered trademarkfor identical products or services;
identity o similarity with a trademark alreadyregistered for identical or similar products orservices if likelihood of confusion between onthe part of the public may arise, which mayalso consist in the likelihood of associationbetween the two signs;
Lack of consent to registration from the ownerof rights on names of persons, signs used inthe field of art, literature, science, politics andsports, etc.
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All the conditions admitted by UIBM;
unregistered trade marks or other signs used inbusiness (domain names, company names) andvalid in anyone of the UE States;
unregistered trademarks well known in a MemberState of the Paris Convention (CUP) under art. 6a;
registered trademarks or National applicationsthat enjoy reputation for dissimilar products /services.
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OHIM – Opposable Trademarks
IPR WHAT
Design
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How to get theprotection:
through registration, by meansof administrative procedure.through prior use (IT & UE).
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Advantages of theregistration:
Originates the exclusive right;
Shifts the the burden of proofto the alleged infringer;
Ease the trasfer of ownershipand use rights.
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Community UnregisteredDesign Right
It is protected only by a copy of adesign regularly disclosed by theowner.
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But … it is not regarded asderiving from a copy of a CUDthe independent creation madeby an author who could notreasonably know the CUD.
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Community UnregisteredDesign Right
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Complex Product
Product made of multiplecomponents assembledtogether, which can bereplaced allowing disassemblyand re-assembly (of itscomponents).
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Novelty occurs for acertain design if noidentical shape has beenmade available before thedate of its prior disclosure.
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Novelty
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Grace Period allows to ignore adisclosure of a design modeloccurred before the applicationdate of its design patent.
GP lasts 12 months and startsfrom the date of the firstdisclosure of the object of theapplication.
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Grace Period
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Disegn models are identicalwhen their owncharacteristics differ only forirrelevant details.
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IDENTITY
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When applying for registration?(IT&OHIM)
t dep. 6
t1dep. est.<6
Priority
[months]
0
IT, RCD
X
OK!
Grace period
- 12
tdep.- tdivul. < 12
Duration of the registration = 5 years renewable 5 fivetimes, up to 25 years of validity.
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Publication of the application = after filing. Admitteddeferred publication up to 30 months from theapplication date.
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Multiplicity
Ok for OHIM and UIBM oncondition that all the designsgrouped together in the sameapplication share the sameclass of the LocarnoClassification.
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Images/drawings
It is advisable that the filingdocuments of a designapplication comprises imagesthat allow a precise interpretationof the object.
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UIBM
Any kind of image isaccepted (photo, drawing,sketch).
Example: Borse testoBorse figure
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OHIM
Almost as for UIBM, butsome guidelines have to befollowed with regard to theimage format if theapplication is filed on-line.
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Descriprion of thedesign
It is optional both forCommunity and Italiandesign applications.
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Deferment of publication
The applicant (for a registeredCommunity design) may requestthat the publication of theregistered Community design bedeferred for a period of 30 monthsfrom the date of filing theapplication or from the date ofpriority.
How? By the application form.
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Attenzione!
Mancanza di uniformità nellavalutazione di requisiti delladescrizione e dei modelli;
Tendenza allo schematismonell’interpretazionedell’oggetto della domanda.
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Quando registrare? (IT & RCD)
t dep. 6
t1dep. est.<6
Priorità
[mesi]
0
IT, RCD
X
OK!
Anno di grazia(per divulgazione anticipata)
- 12
tdep.- tdivul. < 12
Durata registrazione = 5 anni rinnovabile ogni 5anni fino a 25 anni totali
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Accessibilità della domanda = dopo laregistrazione a meno di differimento fino a 30mesi da data deposito o data di priorità.
Differimento = max 30 mesi
© R & A 2004 - 2015
USA
Alto rischio di Azioni ufficiali performalità (spesso pretestuose).
Impostazione e qualità deidisegni: spessore delle linee,ombreggiature.
ESEMPI:
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TGM_USD557758S1.pdf.lnk
TGM_Citterio_USD586410S1.pdf.lnk
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USA - Modelli multipli
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Accettati a discrezione dell’esaminatore.Normalmente richiesta elezione di unsottogruppo o anche di un solo modello
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Obbligatoria sintetica descrizione.
No forme linee tratteggiate.
No ombreggiature.
Prodotti raggruppabili in un unicomodello a condizione di:
appartenere ad una stessa sottoclasse
essere venduti assieme
essere impiegati nello stesso tempo
presentare lo stesso concetto progettuale
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Cina
Cina – Modelli multipli
OK!
No!
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Solo sevendutiassieme!
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Alto rischio di Azioniufficiali per formalità, acausa di problemiinterpretativi della nuovanormativa.
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Cina
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Russia
È necessario accompagnare le tavolecon una descrizione sintetica cheelenchi le caratteristiche essenziali delmodello.
La registrabilità del modello ècondizionata dalla combinazionedelle caratteristiche indicate comeessenziali nella descrizione e nondall’impressione generale suggeritadalle tavole.
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LIST OF ESSENTIAL FEATURES
Running machine, characterized by:
- make-up of composition elements: a casing, an upper horizontalpanel, a display block, a lower horizontal panel, and a running surface;
- arrangement of the upper horizontal panel between the upperportions of the lateral components of the casing;
- arrangement of the display block on the upper horizontal panel;
- arrangement of the running surface between the lower portions ofthe lateral components of the casing behind the lower horizontal panel;
distinguished by:
- implementation of the lateral components of the casing of inverted-like form in profile with rearwardly and upwardly inclined front portion;
- arrangement of the lower horizontal panel between the front parts ofthe lower portions of the lateral components of the casing.
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Russiaesempio di descrizione sintetica
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Russia
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http://www.wipo.int/hague/en
Modelli Internazionali secondol’Accordo dell’Aja
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Non designabili: Canada,USA,Cina,Giappone,Australia,Nuova Zelanda,India, Emirati Arabi
http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/treaties/en/documents/pdf/hague.pdf
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Design ortrademark?
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http://rallynote.com/index.php/it/
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Community Trademark: 8732811
Registered Community Design:001645946-0001/00005
Design model ortrademark?
http://rallynote.com/index.php/it/
Trademarks: Average Consumer
Designs: Informed User
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Reference for the comparison
“Abbracci ®”(Hugs)
Warning!
The concept of individual character ofdesign models has very much incommon with the concept ofdistinctiveness of marks.
According to some interpretations, theminimum distance between the shapesof two distinct designs which avoidsconterfeiting is lower than the distancecommonly admitted when comparingtwo distinct marks.
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Warning!
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Warning!
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Thank you for your kind attention!
Awareness Provider®
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