The IP Translator case concerned the use of class headings when filing applications to register trade marks. In 2003, the Community Trade Marks Office decided that an application to register a trade mark in a particular class could cover all of the goods or services in that class by reciting the Nice Classification heading (Communication [...]
Community Trade Marks It is clear that any company which intends to trade in the European Union should consider the possibility of obtaining a Community Trade Mark (CTM) registration. CTMs are unitary in character and a single registration covers all the member States of the European Union. Pre- filing Searches While a valid prior national [...]
On 19th February 2013, 22 member states of the European Union sealed the deal to create the court structure for the new Community Patent. Once the new Community Patent system begins, it will be possible for applicants to file a single application resulting in a patent extending to all countries of the European Union except [...]
The America Invents Act (AIA) entered into force on 16th March 2013. This act replaces the “first-to-invent” system with a “first-inventor-to-file” system that is more consistent with the rest of the world. It expands the definition of prior art used in determining patentability both geographically and in relation to publication date, eliminates interference proceedings and allows [...]