patent information

European Patent Office launches new Espacenet

The European Patent Office (EPO) has released the new Espacenet, which is a substantially revised and improved version of the Office’s patent information search tool. New Espacenet’s state-of-the-art features and enhanced functionality will make it even easier for users to conduct patent searches and access over 110 million patent documents from all over the world […]

ip laws

Belarus IP laws are being revised and updated

Recently, legislators in Belarus revised and updated national laws on patents, utility models, industrial designs, trademarks and service marks and the protection of topographies of integrated circuits.

Liechtenstein joins TMview search tool

Liechtenstein joins TMview search tool

The TMview search tool now contains trade mark data provided by the Bureau of Intellectual Property within the Office of Economic Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein (AVW).

DesignEuropa Awards

EUIPO announces the third edition of the DesignEuropa Awards

The DesignEuropa Awards, which celebrate excellence in design and design management, are now open for applications and nominations.

The General Court of the European Union Welcomed Additional Judges

The General Court of the European Union Welcomed Additional Judges

The entry into office of the additional judges will be the third stage of the reform of the judicial structure of the European Union.

Intellectual property rights strongly benefit the European economy, EPO-EUIPO study finds

Intellectual property rights strongly benefit the European economy, EPO-EUIPO study finds

In a joined  press release from 25 September European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) announced the results of an executed study done in a joint project between the European Patent Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office about the IPR-intensive industries and economic performance in the European Union.

back office

Enhanced back office system in Greece

New achievement of EUIPO’s European Cooperation projects – Greece has implemented an enhanced back office system.

IP rights

Enforcement of IP rights in the European Union

In 2012 the EUIPO created the Anti-Counterfeiting Intelligence Support Tool (ACIST). In 2013, following the mandate to its European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, the EUIPO made the ACIST database available to all law enforcement authorities in every EU Member State, thus launching the ‘ACIST community’.

search tool

Visual search for TMview extended to Croatia

TMview’s visual search facility, which allows users to search for trade marks in the world’s largest free, online trade mark database, has been extended to one more intellectual property office.

McDonalds

McDonald’s loses exclusive use of “Mc”

American fast food giant McDonald’s has suffered a fresh blow to its “Mc” trademark, losing its exclusive claim to the use of the prefix on a number of its products and services.

European patent office

Revised Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal

The revised Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal (RPBA) were adopted by the Boards of Appeal Committee of EPO on 4 April 2019 and were unanimously approved by the Administrative Council at its 160th meeting on 26 and 27 June 2019.

domaine de premier niveau .eu

RÈGLEMENT (UE) 2019/517 DU PARLEMENT EUROPÉEN ET DU CONSEIL

du 19 mars 2019 concernant la mise en œuvre et le fonctionnement du nom de domaine de premier niveau .eu, modifiant et abrogeant le règlement (CE) no 733/2002 et abrogeant le règlement (CE) no 874/2004 de la Commission (Texte présentant de l’intérêt pour l’EEE) LE PARLEMENT EUROPÉEN ET LE CONSEIL DE L’UNION EUROPÉENNE, vu le traité sur le fonctionnement de l’Union européenne, et notamment son article 172, vu la proposition de la Commission européenne, […]

guidelines for examination

EPO issues Guidelines for Examination concerning Artificial intelligence and machine learning

For the first time, the European Patent Office (EPO) has issued guidance on the patentability of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. The guidance will become valid on 1 November 2018. According to the Guidelines: Artificial intelligence and machine learning are based on computational models and algorithms for classification, clustering, regression and dimensionality reduction, such […]

types of mark

Notice to holders of and applicants for EU trademarks and designs

NOTICE TO HOLDERS OF AND APPLICANTS FOR EUROPEAN UNION TRADE MARKS PURSUANT TO REGULATION (EU) 2017/1001 ON THE EUROPEAN UNION TRADE MARK AND TO HOLDERS OF AND APPLICANTS FOR COMMUNITY DESIGNS PURSUANT TO REGULATION (EC) NO 6/2002 ON COMMUNITY DESIGNS The United Kingdom submitted on 29 March 2017 the notification of its intention to withdraw […]

Changes in the EUTM Law regarding certification marks

Changes in the EUTM Law regarding certification marks

Certification marks are a new kind of trade mark at EU level, although they have existed in certain national level systems in the EU for some years. The European Union certification mark is defined as a mark that is “capable of distinguishing goods or services which are certified by the proprietor of the mark in […]