Alicante News
Our newsletter provides information on all aspects of trade mark and design law and administration.
Alicante News is also the forum for news and debate on wider issues of intellectual property development in your area and worldwide.
Our trade mark and design sections carry monthly articles on current EUIPO practice. Our case-law section provides a monthly run-down of cases brought before the Boards of Appeal at the EUIPO and the courts in Luxembourg.
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Alicante News latest edition
Cultural heritage through the IP lens
When you travel to France, the Eiffel Tower in Paris will be one of the key sites to visit; when you think of Italy, one of that country’s symbols is Michelangelo’s David...
DecemberShow Hide |
A lawyer in the kitchen: food and IP law English author Virginia Woolf famously stated: ‘One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.’ |
NovemberShow Hide |
IP and the metaverse: new problems, new rules? What if one day it became possible for us to live and interact in a single, virtual world that was just like our physical one, save for it being – indeed – immaterial? |
OctoberShow Hide |
Community designs: a world of cult designs, litigation… and new challenges What do the Lady Dior handbag, Cindy lamps and the Bratz dolls have in common? Well, they’re all registered designs in the European Union! |
SeptemberShow Hide |
GIs for craft and industrial products: Is the finish line in sight? When you think of Perpignan (France), your thoughts turn immediately to its stunning jewellery, which is the result of a well-established tradition of excellence. Similarly, when you go to Solingen (Germany) and see the famous cutlery on display in local shops, you soon realise that those objects embody centuries of craftmanship. |
JulyShow Hide |
The missing link: How blockchain technology can help protect IP owners and consumers The VHS, the CD, the internet, e-commerce, virtual assistants, cryptocurrencies… every few years, new technologies revolutionise our lives and make them more interconnected across territories and countries. |
JuneShow Hide |
From food and wine to… textiles and crafts: a short history of GIs When you buy some Prosciutto di Parma at your local deli or order a glass of Alentejo at your favourite restaurant, you probably know that you are getting a product that reflects a longstanding tradition of expertise, quality, and craftmanship. |
MayShow Hide |
Young (IP) love: why and how IP matters for youth In ancient Greek mythology, the goddess of youth and the youngest of all divinities was Hebe. The daughter of Zeus and Hera, Hebe was the cupbearer for the goddesses and gods... |
AprilShow Hide |
Women making and shaping IP: creators, inventors, designers, advocates… and more In her seminal 1929 essay A Room of One’s Own, Virginia Woolf submitted that, for women to be able to create, they needed financial independence and a private space... |
MarchShow Hide |
Past meets present: how AI is helping shape the future of IP (and vice versa) Intellectual property (IP) has technology in its DNA. Throughout history, IP concepts have been continuously challenged by the latest technological advancements. Just think, as examples, of the invention of the printing press, computer programs, recording devices, the internet, and all their implications for IP law. |
FebruaryShow Hide |
Innovation and IP Innovation is an essential driver of economic growth, and economic growth benefits consumers, businesses and the economy as a whole. |
JanuaryShow Hide |
Green with… IP Over the past several years, attention towards and concerns relating to the respect and protection of the environment and the sustainability of production and consumption processes have increased. Related policy initiatives to safeguard the environment and tackle climate change have also intensified globally. |
DecemberShow Hide |
How unconventional is ‘unconventional’ IP? When we think of the different intellectual property (IP) rights and what each of them protects, we usually refer to – for example – words and logos for trade marks, books and art for copyright, a piece of furniture or a fashion creation for design rights, a pharmaceutical drug or a machine for patents. |
NovemberShow Hide |
DesignEuropa Awards: And the winners are… The lights are on, seats are occupied and red carpets are rolled out once more around the world to welcome the return of events and award ceremonies. A certain excitement fills the air as life, in some aspects, is slowly reawakening. |
OctoberShow Hide |
10 years of the EU Intellectual Property Network The European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN) celebrates its tenth anniversary this year marking a decade of significant achievement that has helped modernise the two-tier EU trade mark and design systems and make them more userfriendly and accessible. |
AugustShow Hide |
The Blockchain revolution: What role will it play in the IP industry? Blockchain and related technologies have been a hot topic for some time now, with multiple industries exploring their possibilities and new use cases emerging practically every day. |
JuneShow Hide |
Designing the future Good design is one of the unique selling points of EU industry, and will be a major driver for our economic recovery |
MayShow Hide |
TMview expands to Chinese market The EUIPO’s flagship search tool, TMview, has expanded to include trade mark data from the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), taking the total number of trade marks available in the tool from 62 million to over 90 million |
AprilShow Hide |
The eRegister goes live as the EUTM celebrates 25 years After months of testing and feedback from users, the EUIPO’s new eRegister tool is now live, providing comprehensive access to historical records of EU trade marks and designs. But what can eRegister do for you? |
MarchShow Hide |
Moving towards mediation The EUIPO has recently hosted the IP Mediation Conference, a two-day virtual event that gathered more than 600 participants from 61 different countries, including leading experts from national and international institutions, private practice, accreditation providers, academia, and Member State and EU bodies. |
FebruaryShow Hide |
New EUIPO Examination Guidelines enter into force The EUIPO has revised its Examination Guidelines for European Union Trade Marks (EUTM) and Registered Community Designs (RCD). The new edition enters into force on 1 March 2021, following the approval of the Executive Director by means of Decision EX-21-1. |
JanuaryShow Hide |
EasyFiling – the start of a journey The EUIPO’s new EasyFiling tool, designed for direct filers of EU trade marks, was successfully launched in mid-January and is now regularly serving customers including the SMEs for which it is primarily intended. |
DecemberShow Hide |
Supporting SMEs in the EU Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the EU’s economy. There are approximately 25 million SMEs in the EU, which together support two out of every three jobs here. |
NovemberShow Hide |
Enter GIview Looking at a list of Europe’s geographical indications is like taking a deep dive into the history and heritage of our continent. |
OctoberShow Hide |
Use of IPR bundles by EU firms A new study from the EUIPO investigates how EU firms simultaneously use different types of intellectual property rights (IPRs) for the same products. |
SeptemberShow Hide |
The EUIPO Academy Learning Portal In our knowledge economy, intellectual property is fundamental. For businesses of whatever shape and size, for creators and innovators across a variety of disciplines, for students – the creators and innovators of tomorrow – intellectual property plays a fundamental role |
JulyShow Hide |
Effective Dispute Resolution for SMEs at the EUIPO Europe’s economy depends on SMEs. They make upover 99% of all EU businesses, generated EUR 4.3 billion worth of value in 2019 and account for two thirds of overall employment. |
JuneShow Hide |
EUIPO’s Strategic Plan 2025 The launch this month of our Strategic Plan 2025 is another milestone for us, and one which we reach at a very challenging time for many businesses across Europe and beyond. |
MayShow Hide |
COVID-19 – Guidance Note on time limits after end of extension period As a response to the exceptional circumstances created by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Executive Director of the EUIPO issued Decision No EX-20-3 and the consequent Decision No EX-20-4, both of which concern extension of time limits in proceedings before the Office. |
AprilShow Hide |
Supporting users: by the Executive Director of the EUIPO At this difficult time, when we face a global health and economic crisis, the EUIPO would like to assure our customers and users that we are ready to help. |
MarchShow Hide |
Extension of time limits COVID-19 In order to provide users with further guidance on Decision No EX-20-3 extending time limits expiring between 9 March 2020 and 30 April 2020 in the context of the coronavirus outbreak, the following clarification has been issued about the time limits affected by the extension, the nature of the extension and the measures to adapt communications sent to users. |
FebruaryShow Hide |
Decision of ECJ Case C 371/18, Sky and Others The EUIPO has welcomed the decision of the Court of Justice of 29 January 2020, in Case C 371/18, Sky and Others, in the context of a request for a preliminary ruling. |
January Show Hide |
Impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU: EUTMs and RCDs - updated information In accordance with the Withdrawal Agreement concluded between the EU and the UK (read the latest news here), the UK left the EU on 1 February 2020. |
December Show Hide |
Consultation on CP12 – Evidence in Trade Mark Appeal Proceedings The draft Common Practice of the project CP12 ‘Evidence in Trade Mark Appeal Proceedings: filing, structure and presentation of evidence, and the treatment of confidential evidence’ has been made available in English for comments. |
November Show Hide |
EUIPO Strategic Plan 2025 approved by Management Board On 20 November 2019 the new Strategic Plan 2025 (SP2025) of EUIPO was approved by the Management Board of the Office with the unanimous support of the member states and the Commission and will therefore begin its implementation period on 1 July 2020. |
October Show Hide |
DesignEuropa Awards 2020 The application and nomination period for the DesignEuropa Awards is now open, and runs until 20 April 2020. |
September Show Hide |
Improved TMview version launched in beta In November 2009, TMview took its first steps into the digital world. |
July Show Hide |
Looking to the IP Horizon On 26 and 27 September 2019, the EUIPO will host the ‘IP Horizon 5.0 Conference: Mapping opportunities and challenges in a globalised economy’ at its premises in Alicante, Spain. |
June Show Hide |
New eAppeal Version 2: new improvements for users The eAppeal tool, which allows users to fle an appeal online, has been improved to make it quicker and easier than ever to use. |
May Show Hide |
IP Horizon 5.0 On 26 and 27 September, the EUIPO, in association with the McCarthy Institute at Golden Gate University, San Francisco, hosts the IP Horizon 5.0 conference, the first such event of its kind ever organised by the Office. |
April Show Hide |
Mediation at EUIPO On May 30-31, the EUIPO will hold the Ofce’s second ever mediation conference, reflecting both the interest in and the popularity of mediation as a growing discipline within intellectual property. |
March Show Hide |
The New Generation Guidelines The New Generation Guidelines were published in the EUIPO webpage on the 4th March 2019. |
February Show Hide |
The Anti-Counterfeiting Blockathon Forum The EUIPO has launched a new forum designed to encourage the development of cutting edge technological solutions to combat counterfeiting. |
January Show Hide |
Evaluation of EU legislation on design protection Public consultation |
December Show Hide |
Stakeholder Consultation: Strategic Plan 2025 The EUIPO is calling upon all stakeholders to help guide the Ofce’s strategic priorities up until 2025 |
November Show Hide |
DesignEuropa Awards 2018: winners revealed Two outstanding European designs have been honoured at the DesignEuropa Awards in Warsaw. |
October Show Hide |
DesignEuropa Awards 2018 finalists and Lifetime Achievement Award Winner announced The names of the DesignEuropa Award finalists and Lifetime Achievement Award winner have been revealed. |
September Show Hide |
Change of EUIPO bank account: closure of BBVA account On 17 February 2018, one of the two bank accounts used by EUIPO to which users can transfer fees, current account replenishments and charges changed |
July Show Hide |
Trade marks and geographical indications: future perspectives conference at EUIPO The EUIPO, together with the Directorate General of Agriculture and Rural Development at the European Commission (DG AGRI) is jointly organising a major conference on trade marks and geographical indications, to take place in EUIPO’s headquarters in Alicante on 3-4 October |
June Show Hide |
EUTMs and RCDs in focus: 2010-2017 For the frst time, EUIPO has commissioned two reports, one on trade marks and the other on designs, showing the full evolution of growth of both unitary intellectual property rights since the start of the decade. |
May Show Hide |
Anti-Scam Network meeting at EUIPO Misleading invoices have long been a problem for intellectual property ofces worldwide, and their users. |
April Show Hide |
Reminder: Change of Bank Account at EUIPO On 17 February 2018, one of the two bank accounts used by the Ofce changed. The BBVA bank account was replaced by one with Banco Santander |
March Show Hide |
DesignEuropa Awards: apply today! Applications and nominations for the second edition of the DesignEuropa Awards (organised by EUIPO), can be submitted until 15 May. |
February Show Hide |
DesignEuropa Awards: Apply or nominate before 15 May! Building on the success of the first edition held in Milan in 2016, the call for entries for the second edition of the DesignEuropa Awards is well underway. |
January Show Hide |
Powering ahead: international cooperation at EUIPO Embedded in the core business of the Office under the amended trade mark Regulation and spanning nearly every continent and region in the world, international cooperation is gearing up for another intense year of activity at EUIPO. |
December Show Hide |
Common Communication on the representation of new types of trade marks The elimination of the graphical representation requirement from the definition of EU and national trade marks is one of the key changes brought by Directive (EU) 2015/2436. |
November Show Hide |
EUIPO announces the second edition of the DesignEuropa Awards Following on from the highly successful first edition, the DesignEuropa Awards are now open for nominations and applications. |
October Show Hide |
20 years of the Boards of Appeal at EUIPO In 1997, the year in which the Boards of Appeal took their first decision, just 20 appeals were filed. |
September Show Hide |
Second phase Legislative Reform On Sunday 1 October 2017, the second phase of the Legislative Reform process entered into force. |
July Show Hide |
Key User Programme for advanced IP management The Key User Programme, launched in 2017, supports users to become more efficient by offering advanced IP management solutions. |
June Show Hide |
The countdown is on The publication of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the European Union trade mark, codifying Council Regulation (EC) 207/2009 (EUTMR), in the Official Journal of the European Union was yet another milestone in the next wave of changes brought about the legislative reform process. |
May Show Hide |
TMview: the international expansion With a database that stretches across the globe, and more than 44 million trade marks, TMview is now the world’s largest, free, online trade mark search engine. |
April Show Hide |
New eAppeal: File an appeal online! The new eAppeal, available since 10th April, allows users to file an appeal online. eAppeal is designed to make filing an appeal as efficient as possible, and is part of the Office’s commitment to providing high quality electronic services to its users. |
March Show Hide |
Second phase of legislative changes: 1 October 2017 On 23 March 2016, the first wave of changes brought about by the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2015/2424 (the Amending Regulation) came into force. However, some parts of the Amending Regulation will only apply from 1 October 2017. |
February Show Hide |
Anti-Fraud Network meeting at EUIPO A year on from the publication of the first ever Common Practice on designs, the second European design convergence initiative reaches completion... |
January Show Hide |
DesignClass Phase II goes live A year on from the publication of the first ever Common Practice on designs, the second European design convergence initiative reaches completion... |
December Show Hide |
The revised Guidelines for Examination of EU Trade Marks and Registered Community Designs On 12 December 2016, the Executive Director of the EUIPO signed the Decision adopting the first part of the revised Office Guidelines... |
November Show Hide |
The DesignEuropa Awards – winners announced! On November 30, the DesignEuropa Awards winners were announced at a ceremony in Milan... |
October Show Hide |
DesignEuropa Award finalists and Lifetime Achievement Award winner announced The DesignEuropa Awards finalists in the Industry and Small and Emerging Companies categories are revealed today, along with the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award... |
September Show Hide |
European Cooperation at EUIPO On September 12-15, the first round of working groups attached to the European Cooperation projects, the successor projects to the Cooperation Fund and the Convergence Programme, met in EUIPO’s headquarters in Alicante.... |
July Show Hide |
Declarations under Article 28(8) On March 23, 2016, the EU trade mark regulation (EUTMR) amended by Regulation (EU) 2015/2424 of the European Parliament and the Council amending the Community trade mark regulation entered into force... |
June Show Hide |
DesignEuropa Awards – last chance to nominate or apply! On July 15, the entry period for the DesignEuropa Awards closes. But with two weeks left to go before the deadline, there is still time to send an application or nomination through the DesignEuropa Awards section in the EUIPO website... |
May Show Hide |
Apply or nominate for the DesignEuropa Awards Three categories, three winners – and only six weeks left to apply or nominate. .... |
April Show Hide |
The DesignEuropa Awards - nominate or apply before July 15 The importance of design to the EU economy was underlined by the 2013 EUIPO/EPO study on "Intellectual Property Rights Intensive Industries: contribution to economic performance and employment," which showed that design-intensive industries generate 12% of all jobs in the European Union and almost 13% of its GDP.... |
March Show Hide |
We are EUIPO On March 23, 2016, Regulation (EU) 2015/2424 entered into force and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) became the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).... |
February Show Hide |
March 23, 2016 – from OHIM to EUIPO The countdown to the changes brought about by the entry into force of the amending EU trade mark Regulation is well underway... |
January Show Hide |
IP Case Law Conference at OHIM The world of IP case law is a vibrant and constantly moving one... |
December Show Hide |
EU trade mark legislation published The legislation which introduces a new EU Trade Mark Directive and amends the existing EU Trade Mark Regulation was published in the Official Journal... |
November Show Hide |
Five years of the Cooperation Fund When it began, five years ago, the Cooperation Fund was the biggest single programme in OHIM's history... |
October Show Hide |
ASEAN IP tools and cooperation On August 25, 2015, the worldwide network of TMclass and Designview got bigger... |
September Show Hide |
New online design application form On September 28 OHIM released an improved version of the online design application form. The new form is aligned with the structure and features of the current trade mark application process... |
July Show Hide |
Updated Guidelines enter into force This month's edition of Alicante News contains summaries of the second set of OHIM's updated Guidelines, which provide users with an overview of the modifications that the Office has implemented... |
June Show Hide |
INTA TMAP meeting at OHIM At the International Trademark Association (INTA), we recognize the value and importance of trademark administrators (TMAs)... |
May Show Hide |
IP Mediation Open Day at OHIM On June 15, 2015, OHIM will hold its first ever IP Mediation Open Day... |
April Show Hide |
Five years of TMview In April 2015, TMview marked its fifth year of existence. When it began, in 2010, it had around 4 million trade marks and data from eight EU national and regional IP offices, plus OHIM and WIPO... |
March Show Hide |
The economic impact of counterfeiting and piracy in the cosmetics and personal care sector Sales of counterfeit perfume, makeup and personal care items like sunscreen and shampoo throughout the EU mean that legitimate manufacturers, retailers and distributors lose €4.7 billion of revenue each year... |
February Show Hide |
OHIM's digital journey January 2015 marked the first full year of OHIM's new website; a site which is designed with four key objectives in mind... |
January Show Hide |
Public consultation on the OHIM Strategic Plan 2020 As the OHIM Strategic Plan 2011-2015 is drawing to an end, the time has come to further the work that has been done and develop a strategy for the future... |
December Show Hide |
CF300 – a milestone for the Cooperation Fund On December 16, 2014, the Cooperation Fund marked 300 implementations by national and regional IP offices of its tools and services... |
November Show Hide |
The start of a new life for Creative Works A new database for "orphan works" has just been launched by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM)... |
October Show Hide |
Community trade mark applications will now only be examined after they are paid for We are changing our examination workflow to increase efficiency. |
September Show Hide |
OHIM User Satisfaction Survey to be launched during October OHIM is committed to providing the highest quality standards to its users and has been incrementally stepping up its efforts to achieve maximum satisfaction in all areas... |
July Show Hide |
The Enforcement Database – linking business and enforcement The idea behind the Enforcement Database (EDB) is very simple. It provides a secure channel for businesses to exchange information with enforcement officials – information that could be vital in tracking down counterfeit products... |
June Show Hide |
Anti-Fraud Network meets at OHIM On June 16, the first meeting of the Anti-Fraud Network was held in OHIM's premises in Alicante. It gathered together delegates from EU national and regional offices, user associations and international IP organisations to discuss the problem of misleading invoices and to formulate ways to combat it... |
May Show Hide |
OHIM Guidelines for Examination On August 1, the OHIM Manual will be phased out and all of OHIM's practice will be contained in its Guidelines. It will be the final step in a process which has involved OHIM legal experts, EU national and regional IP offices and user associations, in order to ensure that OHIM's practice rules are fully up to date... |
April Show Hide |
HIM at INTA: Hong Kong The INTA Annual Meeting is a key date in the annual international IP calendar. It gathers together IP professionals from all over the world for discussion, debate and networking – and has become a fixture on the world IP circuit... |
March Show Hide |
Twenty years of the CTM0 Twenty years ago, the CTM system was set up. The CTM Regulation entered into force on 15 March 1994 and ushered in a system which has since become a true success story for the EU and the internal market ... |
February Show Hide |
Alicante News, February edition Twenty years ago, the CTM system began. On 15 March 1994 the CTM Regulation entered into force and ushered in the system ... |
January Show Hide |
Alicante News, January edition As we reported in the last edition of Alicante News, a number of technical issues overshadowed somewhat the launch of the Office's new website.e.. |
December Show Hide |
Alicante News, December edition From its earliest days, OHIM has embraced the rapidly evolving world of technology, and was one of the very first international IP offices to launch a website, back in 1998, with the very first iteration of what would become the hugely popular OAMI Online... |
November Show Hide |
Alicante News, November edition OHIM´s new website brings a new online look and feel to the Office. The site has been developed in collaboration with users, who have tested its functionalities and provided valuable feedback through the development process... |
October Show Hide |
Alicante News, October edition Two years ago staff from OHIM and the EPO started work on a major study to settle the question of how important IPR-intensive industries are to jobs, GDP and trade in the EU.. |
September Show Hide |
Alicante News, September edition Two years ago staff from OHIM and the EPO started work on a major study to settle the question of how important IPR-intensive industries are to jobs, GDP and trade in the EU.. |
July Show Hide |
Alicante News, July edition With the summer vacation period now upon us, it time for Alicante News' traditional summer rundown of OHIM's activities during the first half of 2013. |
June Show Hide |
Alicante News, June edition The month of June has seen significant activity at OHIM in the field of the Office's Cooperation Fund and Convergence Programme initiatives, with a number of meetings in different areas over the course of the month. |
May Show Hide |
Alicante News, May edition The Administrative Board and Budget Committee members, together with Commission representatives, as well as observers from WIPO, EPO, Croatia, the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP) and several users associations attended the sessions of the Administrative Board, Budget Committee and a Joint meeting. |
April Show Hide |
Alicante News, April edition For over a decade, the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market has been a regular visitor to the Annual Meetings of the International Trade Mark Association (INTA). |
March Show Hide |
Alicante News, March edition After months of painstaking preparations and organisation, the long-awaited tenth birthday celebrations of the Community design system are just around the corner, as Alicante gets ready to host the biggest EU design event of the year. |
February Show Hide |
Alicante News, February edition The European Observatory on Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights is now well embedded into OHIM, and is preparing to show results on several of its key projects in 2013. |
January Show Hide |
Alicante News, January edition On 1 April 2003, the first registered Community design (RCD) applications began to arrive at OHIM's Alicante headquarters. By the end of that very first year, the Office had received and processed almost 40 500 design applications. |