Today’s News Roundup—July 17, 2024

Call for Study Proposal for INTA’s 2025 Research Agenda

INTA’s advocacy, resources, and communications initiatives are strengthened by accurate and up-to-date data. The Association’s growing body of research is also enabling INTA to become a thought leader and go-to source of data within the global intellectual property (IP) community. Many of INTA’s published and upcoming studies originated from ideas and proposals from INTA members and committees. As leaders in the trademark field and other related areas, the input of members on research topics is highly valued.

With preparations for the 2025 research agenda underway, the Association wants to hear from the IP community about potential research topics that would be beneficial to the Association through this formal Call for Study Proposals. We encourage those with ideas for study topics to share them via this Study Intake Request Form. It will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. It is important to note that the submission of a study proposal form does not guarantee that a study will be initiated. Completed Study Intake Request Forms are due by August 12, 2024.

~ Helena Rother, Senior Associate, Research: Communications and Research, INTA, USA

Input to EU Commission DG Trade Vietnam IP Dialogue

INTA provided the EU Commission DG Trade with recommendations for topics to be discussed prior to its intellectual property (IP) dialogue with Vietnam on June 19. The comments focused on two key issues:

1. IP Prosecution: INTA specifically pointed to the long grant times (average of between three to five years) for IP cases, which is one of the longest wait times in Asia.
2. Unfair Competition: The Association recommends organizing knowledge-sharing sessions with officials and courts to create best practices.

~ Fernando Diaz, Senior Policy Officer, INTA, Belgium

INTA Participates in the ECTA Annual Conference in Antwerp, Belgium

INTA Senior Policy Officer Fernando Diaz represented the Association at the 42nd Annual Conference of the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) in Antwerp, Belgium, on June 19. Titled “Many Facets of IP,” the event was a forum for fruitful discussions on a wide range of topics, including the latest trends in intellectual property (IP) protection, AI, sustainability and trademarks, the role of IP in the food industry, copycats, and more.

~ Fernando Diaz, Senior Policy Officer, INTA, Belgium

INTA Provides Comments to UKIPO on Design Practice Notice 01/24

INTA has provided input to the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) General Comments on Design Practice Notice (DPN) 1/24: “Practice in respect of the examination of a product consisting of multiple components.”

INTA considers that the DPN aligns with design registration practices in several jurisdictions, including Australia, the European Union, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and the United States. Terminology varies, with “kits or sets” in Australia and “sets of articles” elsewhere. Aesthetic and functional complementarity are commonly required, and items must be sold or used together as a single product. The United States differs by requiring only the collective appearance of the multi-article product.

INTA supports the UKIPO’s alignment with these practices but notes confusion in the DPN’s examples, particularly regarding the registration of cutlery sets with different packaging types. INTA suggests the DPN clarify how to determine if packaging and product together form a unitary product and recognizes the importance of packaging design in branding. Finally, the Association recommends allowing designs that include both product and packaging when they are designed to complement each other and suggests clarifying permissible environmental views in design registrations.

~ Fernando Diaz, Senior Policy Officer, INTA, Belgium

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.

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