Prosecution

Supported by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission, the creation of a European fund for European SMEs has been announced. With a global value of 20 million euros, this SME fund, inserted in the framework of the EUIPO “Ideas Powered for Business” initiatives, is designed to help small and medium-sized companies in developing their IP strategies and protection of their rights at national, regional or EU level. Applications open on 11 January 2021.

Counterfeit is a world spread phenomenon in which the product of someone, company or individual, is imitated to reproduce the original, although often made with materials and components of reduced quality and illegally bearing a trademark or a copyright of another without their permission.

Background

In an era where millions of content creators are uploading their works online, copyright infringement has become very easy, being as simple as uploading a TikTok video or making an Instagram Story.

In 2019, China became the world leader in international patent applications, according to the annual report of the World Intellectual Property Organization, presented in Geneva, having overtaken the United States of America and ended a period of leadership that had lasted since the creation of the WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) in 1978.

It is manifest the growing interest of mankind in disruptive themes as Artificial Intelligence (AI). As we have been analyzing, this theme has increased its significance as the inventions reach new and inspiring outcomes. This article intends to analyze if there have been a growing tendency on patent applications related to AI in the European Patents Office or if, besides all the euphoria, we are still far away from a technological boom particulary inventive.

The city of Guangdong hosted the 2019 IP EXPO, an event dedicated to the international Intellectual Property (IP) community that focused on this region’s potential.

The event was focused on the construction of scientific and technological innovation center with global influence, and further build a Guangdong - Hong Kong – Macao bay area brand featured by internationalization, high-end level and large scale.

The real impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the various fields of Law is still largely unknown. However, as stated in the European Parliament resolution of 16 February 2017 with recommendations to the Commission on Civil Law Rules on Robotics (2015/2103(INL))  (v. 015/2103(INL)), no one doubts that this industrial revolution “is likely to leave no stratum of society untouched”, which is why is “vitally important for the legislature to consider its legal and ethical implications and effects, without stifling innovation” (vid. p. 3, B).

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has just opened its sixth External Office. Located in Algeria this is the organization’s first of two representations planned for the African Continent, has it is foreseen the opening of another WIPO representation in Nigeria.

World Trademark Review (WTR) has just announced its WTR 1000 - The World's Leading Trademark Professionals. In this year’s edition, of this important worldwide rank, Inventa International is recommended as a top Intellectual Property firm.