Prosecution

The European Commission has issued a press release on the April 21st that details changes that have the goal of modernising the EU trademark system, adapting it to the Digital Era and promoting its use by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

On 2nd September 2004, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has notified WIPO (notification no. 220) of the deposit by the Government of the State of Kuwait of its instrument of accession to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of March 20, 1883. The Convention has entered in force on 2nd December 2014 and now Kuwaiti PTO announced that priority claims will be available for trademark applications starting 1 January 2015 and applicants may claim priority within the six months from the earlier application date.

The Industrial Property Act 2014 in the Seychelles entry into force on March 1, 2015.

The key contributions of the new Act include:

Trademarks:

Algeria implemented new rules concerning renewal of trademark applications. According to the new regulations issued by the Algerian PTO, renewal of trademark applications shall be accompanied by proof of use from in the year preceding the renewal deadline.

Sriracha is a well-known chili-based hot sauce that was made popular in the US by Huy Fong Foods Company, achieving greater consumer success due to its distinctive red bottles with a green cap, its rooster logo and of course…its flavor.

Lionel Messi is currently battling another Portuguese. This time, however, Cristiano Ronaldo is not in the picture, given that this time, Messi is facing a Portuguese wine company, which is unwilling to allow Messi to sell his wine “Leo” in Europe.

In 2010, Leonel Messi has joined the Argentine wine company Bianchi, which union lead to the commercialization of the wine “Leo”. However, upon attempting to sale the wine in Europe, Casa Ermelinda de Freitas stepped in to prevent this situation.

On December the 18th 2014, the Act that governed Industrial Property in Morocco (Act No. 17/97) was amended by the new Industrial Property Law No. 23-13. This new Law came into full force on January the 15th 2015. This transition enhanced Industrial Property rights in Morocco in order to meet current international standards.

The main adjustments introduced into this new law include:

On February 13, 2015, USA and Japan deposited official instruments at WIPO headquarters in Geneva bringing the number of memberships of Hague System to 64. This Agreement came into effect on May 13, 2015.

The Hague System is an international registration system that facilitates the process of obtaining design protection in multiple countries by means of a single international application filed with the International Bureau of The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) either electronically or on paper.

On December 17th, 2010, an agreement to enable European patents to be validated in Morocco was signed between European Patent Office (EPO) and Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office (OMPIC). The Moroccan industrial property law has been revised and amended in order to be compatible with this agreement that will finally enter into force on March 15th, 2015.

After consultation with the Trademark Public Advisory Committee and authorization by the Leahy-Smith American Invents Act, the United States Patent and Trademark Office proceeded to reduce the official fees required to register trademarks in the US, as of January 17, 2015.