Communication from the commission on setting out the EU approach to standard essential patents
From the press release "The interplay between patents and standards is important for innovation and growth. Standards ensure that interoperable and safe technologies are widely disseminated among companies and consumers. Patents provide R&D with incentives and enable innovative companies to receive an adequate …
moreA-G CJEU: General Court was entitled to find that EUIPO had to examine evidence of national law ex officio
Trade mark law - Case C-478/16 P. EUIPO v Group OOD. Opinion AG Campos Sánchez-Bordana. Appeal against the decision of the EU General Court of 29 June 2016. Group OOD opposed the application for an EU trade mark (see left) on the basis of a corresponding non-registered trade mark with only national significance, …
moreIt is not possible to obtain a SPC based on an end-of-procedure message
Patent law - Article 3 (b) of the SPC Regulation is to be interpreted as meaning that an end-of-procedure notice drawn up before the expiry of the basic patent can not be equated with an marketing authorisation and, on the basis of an end of procedure message, no SPC can be obtained. The fact that no marketing …
moreRequest for a preliminary ruling about the use of figurative signs to illustrate protected designations of origin
Geographical indications - Case C-614/17 Fundación Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Protegida Queso Manchego. Preliminary ruling. Tribunal Supremo (Spain).
Taken from the summary at minbuza.nl: "The applicant (Fundación Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Protegida Queso Manchego) …
moreA supplier of luxury goods can prohibit authorised distributors from selling those goods on third-party internet platforms
Competition - A selective distribution system for luxury goods designed, primarily, to preserve the luxury image of those goods complies with article 101(1) TFEU to the extent that resellers are chosen on the basis of objective criteria of a qualitative nature that are laid down uniformly for all potential resellers …
moreEU reaches agreement to end unjustified geoblocking
From the press release: “The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission have delivered on commitments made during September's Digital Summit in Tallinn by ending unjustified geoblocking, one of the EU priority files for 2017.
The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission reached a political …
moreAG Sharpston on discretion to consider evidence for Cancellation Division EUIPO when the Board of Appeal remits a case
Trade Mark Law - Case C-418/16: mobile.de v EUIPO. Opinion AG Sharpston. In this appeal, mobile.de challenges the judgment of the General Court of 12 May 2016 in which mobile.de contested two decisions of the First Board of Appeal of the EUIPO. The General Court rejected mobile.de's case in its entirety. Mobile.de …
moreEuropean Commission presents measures to ensure protection IP rights
From the press release: "The Commission today presents measures to ensure that intellectual property rights are well protected, thereby encouraging European companies, in particular SMEs and start-ups, to invest in innovation and creativity.
Today's initiatives will make it easier to act efficiently against breaches …
moreService providing possibility for private copies in the cloud is in violation of Copyright Directive
Copyright - National legislation which permits, without the copyright holders’ consent, an online recording service for television programmes which are freely accessible in the territory of the Member State, where it is the provider of the service, and not its users, that receives and records the broadcasting …
moreTommy Hilfiger is looking for a Legal Director IP
“Are you looking to join a dynamic team that is involved in all aspects of our business?
We are currently looking for a Legal Director-IP to head the IP and Brand Protection function within our team. The Legal Director-IP reports to the VP Legal Affairs who is end-responsible for all legal aspects of our business …
moreRequest for a preliminary ruling about exclusive distribution right with regard to goods stored in a warehouse
Copyright Law -“Defendant owned a shop in Stockholm, where he sold clothing and accessorises with rock music designs. The sale of different (acquired by piracy) goods resulted in trademark and copyright infringement of several plaintiffs rights. The goods were discovered both in the shop as in a warehouse …
moreRequest for a preliminary ruling regarding conditions for the application of a colour mark
Trade Mark Law - “Applicant (Oy Hartwall Ab) has submitted an application to the defendant (a national patent- and registration office) for a sign as a colour mark for goods of class 32: mineral waters. In response to a provisional decision, applicant has explained that she request registration of the filed …
moreNational law applicable to an ownership claim regarding an EU trade mark provided that the situation concerned does not fall within those covered by Article 18 CTR
Trade Mark Law - National law applicable to an ownership claim regarding an EU trade mark provided that the situation concerned does not fall within those covered by Article 18 of the EU Trade Mark Regulation.
moreIndirect infringement of Swiss-type claims is possible
Patent Law - The mere circumstance of a carve-out not sufficient to rule out direct infringement of the second medical indication. Distinction drawn by the Appellate Court in the scope of protection of ‘classic second medical indication’ and ‘sub-group indication’ is incorrect. Direct infringement of …
moreCJEU annuls revision decision of Lisbon Agreement
European Administrative law: Council Decision 8512/15 authorising the Commission to open negotiations, together with member states, regarding the revision of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, annulled because it falls under the exclusive competence of the Union.
moreActivision accused of taking advantage of goodwill and reputation of Humvee trade marks in Call of Duty games
Reuters: "The maker of Humvee military vehicles filed a lawsuit accusing Activision Blizzard Inc of reaping billions of dollars of revenue by incorporating its trademarks without permission in its flagship “Call of Duty” video game franchise.
In a complaint filed on Tuesday night in U.S. District Court in …
moreOpinion A-G in Doceram on technical determination that excludes protection when functionality is the only factor determining the design
Design law - C-395/16 Doceram. Preliminary questions. A-G H. Saugmandsgaard Øe. Preliminary questions:
‘(1) Does a technical function that precludes protection within the meaning of Article 8(1) of [Regulation No 6/2002] also exist if the design effect is of no significance for the product design, but the …
moreGeneral Court erred in law when it imposed the requirement on EUIPO to construct elements of earlier designs in assessing the novelty of a design
Design Law - Error in law in judgment of the General Court when it imposed the requirement on EUIPO to construct elements of earlier designs in assessing the novelty of a design. Rightly held that ‘sector concerned’ within meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Designs Regulation is not limited to that of the product …
moreCJEU on jurisdiction in simultaneous and successive civil actions on the basis of EU- and national trade marks
Trade Mark Law - Private International Law - The condition laid down in Article 109(1)(a) of the EU Trade Mark Regulation as to the existence of the ‘same cause of action’ applies only in so far as those actions relate to an alleged infringement of a national trade mark and an identical EU trade mark in the …
moreMitsui & Co Ltd and Novagraaf establish Strategic Alliance
Press release: Mitsui & Co Ltd. (‘’Mitsui’’) and European intellectual property (IP) group Novagraaf BV have established a partnership to offer greater choice to Japanese customers. The agreement, which includes an investment by Mitsui in Novagraaf, will support Novagraaf’s strategy to transform the way …
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