A collective trademark is a distinctive sign that serves to distinguish products and/or services of more enterprises for example for their specific origin, nature, or quality.
The use of a collective trademark is governed by a regulation that may set penalties against non-compliant use of the collective trademark.
In Italy Legislative Decree, February 20, 2019 n. 15 introduced important changes to the discipline of collective trademark, now divided into collective mark and certification mark. In particular, by December 31, 2020 the owners of a collective trademark, registered on the basis of the previous legislation, doesn’t matter the expiring date of the title, should inform the Italian Patent and Trademark Office, under penalty of forfeiture of the trademark, if they intend to opt for its classification as a collective mark as specified in the new discipline, or as a certification mark.
For more information on the new legislation relating to the collective and certification marks, please contact us at: info@metroconsult.it