We are pleased to welcome Michele Fattori, Italian and European patent and design attorney, who recently joined the Metroconsult's Team. Having worked for over 20 years, with roles of increasing responsibility, within the Intellectual Property department of well-known multinational companies such as Tetra Pak, LyondellBasell and Snap-on, Michele has gained significant experience in all aspects [...]
€60 million to protect intellectual property of EU SMEs The European Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) recently launched the new 2023 EU SME Fund, which offers intellectual property vouchers for EU-based SMEs. To scale up and attract investment, SMEs need to protect their intangible assets. The 2023 SME Fund will support [...]
New administrative proceedings for the invalidity and revocation of Italian trademarks have been available since December 29, 2022, following a Decree of the Ministry of Economic Development dated July 19, 2022, No. 180, that was published on November 29, 2022. These proceedings are expected to be a cheaper and quicker alternative to those before the [...]
From January 1, 2022, a NEW VERSION of the NICE CLASSIFICATION of goods and services for the registration of trademarks and of the INTERNATIONAL PATENT CLASSIFICATION (IPC) for patents and utility models based on technological areas is in force. The new classifications are available at the following links: 2022 Nice Classification https://www.wipo.int/classifications/en/news/nice/2021/news_0002.html 2022 International Patent [...]
On January 19th, 2022 Austria deposited its instrument of ratification of the Protocol for the Provisional Application of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) with the European Council. Preparation for the Unified Patent Court can officially start. For additional info
WIPO’s World Intellectual Property Indicators Report (WIPI) also shows that worldwide trademark-filing activity boomed in 2020, defying a global economic downturn and signaling vibrant entrepreneurship and the introduction of new goods and services in response to the pandemic. Also patent and industrial designs filing activity rebounded. The report shows how innovators, designers and [...]
Supporting SMEs to succeed with Open Innovation “Building stronger Intellectual Property strategy capabilities: Supporting SMEs to succeed with Open Innovation” is a European Commission study, which analyses SMEs and the relationship between Intellectual Property (IP) and Open Innovation (OI). Many SMEs pioneer new technologies, products, services and software and they are more frequently engage in [...]
Following spectacular growth over last years, e‑commerce is becoming a key platform for consumers. However, seizures of counterfeits from e‑commerce purchases represent the majority of all counterfeit seizures. 56% of custom seizures at EU borders involve e-commerce. COVID‑19 has intensified the problem with criminal networks reacting very quickly to the crisis and adapting their strategies [...]
Concurrences – January 2018 Author: Roberto Dini, Fondatore di Metroconsult The ECJ decision ruled on two competing companies (Huawei and ZTE), manufacturing the patented technology and selling the related products into the market. The principle aim of the ruling is to avoid that a company abuses its position of being a patent owner and thereby [...]
ECTA Bullettion – October 2015 Carmela Rotundo Zocco, Metroconsult Milano The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) offers a mediation service for inter partes proceedings during the appeal phase, thus allowing the parties to reach an amicable settlement. The role of the mediator consists of assisting the parties in finding common grounds to [...]
