IP Portfolio Management

With the end of the transition period, on December 31, 2020, it is important to review the actual changes concerning Industrial Property assets filed in the European Union.

We have elaborated briefly some relevant points:
 

Registrations granted until 31.12.2020

Every financial year, applicants settle a budget for their trademark portfolio, which involves examining expenses for new applications and maintaining existing rights, prosecution, litigation, and disbursements, among other things. With the covid-19 pandemic, many rights holders are facing unprecedented financial difficulties, which makes them more conscious of costs. This in turn is leading to a more considered analysis of assets that are deemed to be crucial and worth keeping.

Below are some tips to minimise trademark portfolio costs in Sao Tome and Príncipe.

Ended the initial phase of the registration process of the industrial property assets, that is to say, the filing of the applications in I.A.P.I. (Angolan Institute of Industrial Property) and subsequent phases (bulletin publication, opposition period, formal and substantial examination, granting fees payment and granting of the rights), holders shall be aware of the necessity to proceed with the payment of the maintenance fees of their rights.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of East Timor notified the General Director of WIPO regarding its accession to the Convention establishing WIPO, by depositing its instruments of accession on September 12 of 2017.  The same will enter into force on December 12 of 2017.
This is a fundamental step to East Timor’s integration in the global circuit of IP protection.

The South African National Treasury announced, on 22 February 2017, the intention to eliminate the current regimen’s restriction to the Intellectual Property assets’ transaction, by liberalizing the transactions in this area. These are good news for entrepreneurs and investors.

Founded in 2010 by the entrepreneur Lei Jun, Xiaomi is one of China’s largest mobile brands, just recently announced a licensing deal of around 1,500 patents from the software-giant Microsoft. Pundits suggest this move is an effort to expand from China into western markets.

With its 17 March 2016 decision (case C-99/15), the European Court of Justice (hereinafter “ECJ”) has taken an important step towards European IP law harmonization, clearing all the doubts that were raised among scholars and European national courts.

The new European Union Regulation no. 2015/2424 (article 28) that is introducing a new set of rules for community trademarks, including its own renaming (to European Union Trademark), is allowing owners of community trademarks applied for before 22 June 2012 to change (boost) the list of goods or services, without requiring the payment of an additional official fee.

Past 5th of August, Portugal has signed the Geneva Act, which amends the Lisbon Agreement and that protects Designations of Origin and Geographical Indications.