News: Uncategorized
EPO ignites hope for relaxed divisional window
By AWA Editor | Posted on June 13, 2013
In 2010, the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation amended Rule 36, EPC, relating to the filing of divisional applications. According to amended Rule 36, any divisional applications must be filed within a 24-month time limit triggered by the issuance of the first Office Action issued during substantive examination. The amended Rule 36 has...
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Brand owners applying for top level domain seek their own constituency group
By AWA Editor | Posted on June 13, 2013
Brand owners that have applied with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for their brand’s top level domain (TLD) are seeking to create their own constituency group. A third of the names applied for in the ongoing application process are brand TLDs. The brand owners have requested to get their own registry...
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China most active trademark nation according to 2012 report
By AWA Editor | Posted on June 13, 2013
In Thomson Reuters 2012 Trademark Report, the top trademark trends are explored, painting a picture of the evolving trademark landscape. Topics covered are for example; the importance brand owners place on brand protection, what are the leading countries in terms of trademark activity, and which class was the most active worldwide in 2012. China led...
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Conflicts regarding the new top level domains
By AWA Editor | Posted on April 11, 2013
Between January and April 2012 companies and organisations were given the opportunity to apply for their own unique top-level domain. ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which is administering the process, received around 1,900 applications for new top level domains; 93 applications have since passed the initial evaluation procedure. See http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/. For...
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Apple loses iPhone trademark in Brazil
By AWA Editor | Posted on March 18, 2013
On 13 February 2013 Brazilian law-makers ruled that Apple has lost exclusive rights to use the iPhone trademark in the country. Apple’s adversary is Gradiente Eletrônica, a local company that registered the name in 2000, six years before Apple did so. Gradiente Eletrônica launched its own Android-based iPhone on the Brazilian market in December 2012....
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New EU regulation to stop counterfeit goods
By AWA Editor | Posted on March 18, 2013
On 24 January 2013 the European Parliament’s standing committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, IMCO, gave its backing to a new regulation. The new regulation gives the customs authorities an increased mandate to tackle suspected counterfeit goods that make their way into the EU. The new regulation, Regulation 5129/2013/EC, will replace the previous regulation...
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Active efforts against illegal downloads give tailwind to the music industry
By AWA Editor | Posted on March 18, 2013
The global music industry is on the road to recovery, reports the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in a press release. The turnaround is partly due to an upswing in the demand for licensed digital music services and strong expansion in new markets. Income from digital music sales increased by nine per cent in...
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Signing of the Unified Patent Court agreement
By AWA Editor | Posted on February 21, 2013
The international agreement for establishing a Unified Patent Court (UPC) was signed on 19 February in Brussels. It will ensure the uniform applicability of patent law throughout the territories of the signatory countries. The new court will avoid the occurrence of multiple court cases with regard to the same patent in different member states. This...
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Record numbers of European patent filings in 2012
By AWA Editor | Posted on February 13, 2013
European patent filings reached record highs in 2012. Last year the European Patent Office (EPO) received around 258,600 applications – 5.7 % more than in the previous year. The number of patents granted also increased over the same period to 65,700. Patent applications received from Europe remain stable at a high level, while the US...
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Apple seeks to protect iPad trademark in China
By AWA Editor | Posted on February 13, 2013
China is Apple’s most important market, which has led to the company building support for unique Chinese functions and services into its iOS operative system. Now, Apple is making vigorous efforts to protect itself from copies and imitations. In November Apple settled a protracted trademark dispute with Proview – a company that considered it owned...
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