TURKEYINHORIZON2020ALTUN/HORIZ/TR2012/0740.14-2/SER/005

“Intellectual Property & Horizon 2020: How to deal with your intellectual Assets”

IntellectualPropertyinEuropeandTurkey

VeroniqueChappelartIPRExpert

Istanbul,2/2/2016

WhatisIntellectualPropertyinEurope?

Intellectualpropertyconsistsofproducts,workorprocessesthatyouhavecreatedandwhichgiveyouacompetitiveadvantage.Thereare3subcategories:

• Industrialproperty:inventions(patents),trademarks,industrialdesigns,newvarietiesofplantsandgeographicindicationsoforigin

• Artisticworkprotectedbycopyright:originalliteraryandartisticworks,music,televisionbroadcasting,software,databases,architecturaldesigns,advertisingcreationsandmultimedia

• Commercialstrategies:tradesecrets,know-how,confidentialityagreements,orrapidproduction.

WhatisWIPO?Youcanprotectyourintellectual propertybymeansoftheintellectual propertyrights(IPR)laiddownbytheWorldIntellectual PropertyOrganisation(WIPO)

WhatisWIPO?

WIPOistheglobalforumforIntellectual propertyservices, policy,informationandcooperation.

WIPOisaselffundingagencyoftheUnitedNations,with188members.

TurkeyjoinedWIPOin1976,therefore,Turkeyfulfilstheconditionstobeamember ofWIPO.TheWIPOConventionprovidesthatmembershipisopentoanystatethatis:

• AmemberoftheParisUnionfortheprotectionofIndustrialProperty(ParisConvention)

• memberoftheBerneUnionfortheProtectionofLiteraryandArtisticWorks;or

• amemberoftheUnitednations,orofanyoftheUnitedNations’Specialised Agencies,oroftheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgency,orthat ispartytotheStatueoftheInternationalCourtofJustice, or

• InvitedbytheWIPOGeneralAssemblytobecome amemberstateoftheOrganisation

TurkeywhojoinedWIPOin1976 wasatthattimeamember oftheParisUnion(since1925)andoftheBerneUnion(accession in1951,entryintoforcein1952)

IPTypes

• TheformofprotectiondependsonthetypeofIP:• trademarks - protectthenameofyourproductby

preventingotherbusinessfromsellingaproductunderthesamename

• patents - allowyoutostopthirdpartiesfrommaking,usingorsellingyourinventionforacertainperioddependingonthetypeofinvention,ingeneralminimum20years

• copyright - informsothersthatyou(astheauthor)intendtocontroltheproduction,distribution,displayorperformanceofyourwork.Copyrightisgrantedautomatically,withnoneedforformalregistration.Youcanstartusingthecopyrightsymbolimmediately.

ANationalmatter

IPRsarestillchieflyprotectedbynationalratherthanEUlaws.• DefendingthemineachindividualEUcountrycan

becomplicatedandcostly.YoucansavetimeandmoneybyprotectingyourintellectualpropertyatEUlevel.• Thiswillmakesurethatyourinnovationsand

creationsareprotectedacrosstheEU,andthatyouarerewardedforthem.

1.Trademark

AtrademarkcanbeprotectedatEUlevelthroughwithanEUtrademark(ETM).

Why?

• Ifyoudobusiness inmorethanoneEUcountry,anEUtrademark(ETM)offersyouprotection throughout theEU.

• ETMsareregisteredinAlicante(Spain), attheOfficeforHarmonizationintheInternalMarket(OHIM).

• Undertheprovisionsofthe 2015amending Regulation(REGULATION(EU)2015/2424OFTHEEUROPEANPARLIAMENTANDOFTHECOUNCILof16December2015), thenameoftheOfficewillchangetotheEuropeanUnionIntellectualPropertyOffice.

• Thischangewillcomeintoeffecton23March2016,whenthelegislationentersintoforce.

EuropeanTradeMark

• AETMgivestheownerprotectionforallEUMemberStatesinonesingleregistration.

• TheETMisanall-or-nothingdeal:eitheryougetitforalltheMemberStates,oryoudonotgetaETMatall.

• IfyoudobusinessinonlyoneEUcountry,youcanregisteryourtrademarkatanationalofficeandgetprotectionforyourbrandandallthevalueitentailswhereyouneedit.

OHIM/EuropeanUnionIntellectualPropertyOffice?

WhatistheEuropeanUnionIntellectualPropertyOffice(OHIM)?

• OHIM/EuropeanUnionIntellectualPropertyOffice istheEuropeanUnionagency

responsibleformanagingtwoimportantvehiclesfortheprotectionofcreativityand

innovation– theCommunitytrademarkandtheregisteredCommunitydesign.

• BasedinAlicante(Spain).

• TheregulationestablishingOHIMwasadoptedbytheCounciloftheEuropeanUnionin

December1993andrevisedin2009.

• ItcreatedtheCommunitytrademarkasalegalinstrumentinCommunitylawand

establishedOHIMasaCommunitybodywith legal,administrativeandfinancial

autonomy.

• CouncilRegulation(EC)No6of2002createdtheregisteredCommunitydesign.

SubmitforanEUTradeMark

• AnonlineETMapplicationcosts€900andisfiledinjustonelanguage.Thefeeforapaperformis€1050

• WhenOHIMreceivesaETMapplication,OHIMchecksitandprocessesit.

• Onceregistered,yourETMcanberenewedindefinitelyeverytenyears.

• Thesameprinciplesapplytodesigns.

HowcanyouprotectyourIPinEurope?

Conclusionontheadvantages

• ThemajoradvantageoftheEUtrademarksystemisthatit

makespossibletheuniformidentificationofproductsand

servicesbyenterprisesthroughouttheEuropeanUnion

(EU).

• AuniqueprocedureappliedbytheOfficefor

HarmonisationintheInternalMarket (OHIM)allowsthem

toregistertrademarkswhichwillbenefitfromunitary

protectionandbefullyapplicable ineverypartoftheEU.

RightsbyETM

• TherightsconferredbytheETMREGULATION(EU)2015/2424OFTHEEUROPEANPARLIAMENTAND

OFTHECOUNCILof16December2015

• AEUtrademarkconfersonitsproprietor exclusiverights.Theproprietorisentitledtoprohibitall

thirdpartiesfromusinginthecourseoftrade,inrelationtogoodsorservices,anysignwhere:

• (a) thesignisidenticalwiththeEUtrademarkandisusedinrelationtogoodsorserviceswhichare

identicalwiththoseforwhichtheEUtrademarkisregistered;

• (b) thesignisidenticalwith,orsimilarto,theEUtrademarkandisusedinrelationtogoodsorservices

whichareidenticalwith,orsimilarto,thegoodsorservicesforwhich theEUtrademarkisregistered,if

thereexistsalikelihoodofconfusiononthepartofthepublic;thelikelihoodofconfusionincludesthe

likelihoodofassociationbetweenthesignandthetrademark;

• (c) thesignisidenticalwith,orsimilarto,theEUtrademarkirrespectiveofwhether itisusedinrelationto

goodsorserviceswhichareidenticalwith,similartoornot similartothoseforwhich theEUtrademarkis

registered,wherethelatterhasareputationintheUnionandwhereuseofthatsignwithoutduecause

takesunfairadvantageof,orisdetrimentalto,thedistinctivecharacterorthereputeoftheEUtrademark.

Regulationexamples

TheRegulationsetexamplesofwhatcanbeprohibited,butthelistisnot

exhaustive:

(a)affixing thesigntothegoodsortothepackaging thereof;

(b)offering thegoods,puttingthemonthemarket,orstockingthemforthose

purposesunderthesign,orofferingorsupplyingservicesthereunder;

(c)importingorexportingthegoodsunder thesign;

(d)using thesignasatradeorcompanynameorpartofatradeorcompanyname;

(e)usingthesignonbusinesspapersandinadvertising;

(f)usingthesignincomparativeadvertising inamanner thatiscontrarytoDirective

2006/114/ECoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncil(*).

Righttoprohibitpreparatoryacts

• TheRegulationevengrantstherighttoprohibitpreparatoryactsinrelationto

theuseofpackagingorothermeans,wheretheriskexiststhatthepackaging,

labels,tags,securityorauthenticityfeaturesordevicesoranyothermeansto

whichthemarkisaffixedcouldbeusedinrelationtogoodsorservicesandsuch

usewouldconstituteaninfringementoftherightsoftheproprietorofanEU

trademark.

• TherightsconferredbyanEUtrademarkshallprevailagainst thirdpartiesfrom

thedateofpublicationoftheregistrationofthetrademark.

LimitationsofEUTradeMarkeffects

LimitationoftheeffectsofanEUtrademark.

• AnEUtrademarkshallnotentitletheproprietortoprohibitathird

partyfromusing,inthecourseoftrade:

• (a)thenameoraddressofthethirdparty,where thatthirdpartyisanaturalperson;

• (b) signsorindicationswhicharenotdistinctiveorwhichconcernthekind,quality,

quantity,intendedpurpose,value,geographicalorigin,thetimeofproductionofgoods

orofrenderingoftheservice,orothercharacteristicsofthegoodsorservices;

• (c) theEUtrademarkforthepurposeofidentifyingorreferring togoodsorservicesas

thoseoftheproprietorofthattrademark,inparticular,wheretheuseofthattrade

markisnecessarytoindicatetheintendedpurposeofaproductorservice,inparticular

asaccessoriesorspareparts.

ImportantArticlesonREGULATION2015/2424

TheRegulationgoesintodeepdetailsregardingnewissues:

• Interveningrightoftheproprietorofalaterregisteredtrademarkasa

defenceininfringementproceedings(Article13a)

• Transferofatrademarkregisteredinthenameofanagent(Article18)

• ProcedureforenteringlicencesandotherrightsintheRegister(Article

22a)

• ProcedureforcancellingormodifyingtheentryintheRegisterof

licencesandotherrights(Article24a)

PleaseseetheRegulationformoredetails.

HowtoregisteraETM?

• OnlineontheOHIMWebsiteApplicationonline.

• AETMregistrationlastsfor10yearsbutcanbe

renewedindefinitely.

• Every10yearsyouwillbefacedwiththequestion:

doIwanttorenewmytrademark?

• Theanswerdependsonyourbrandstrategy.

Whathappensaftertheapplication?

• Receiptofapplication

• Examination

• Publicationoftheapplication

• Oppositionperiod

• Registration

• Publicationoftheregisteredmark

Videoonwhathappensaftertheapplication

Videoonenforcingyourtrademark

2.Patents

• Youcanapplyforanationalpatentatapatentofficeinyour

owncountryorforaEuropeanpatentthroughthe

EuropeanPatentOffice.

• BasedinMunich, theEuropeanPatentOffice(EPO)offers

inventorsauniformapplicationprocedurewhichenables

themtoseekpatentprotectioninupto40European

countries.

• TheOfficeistheexecutivebodyoftheEuropeanPatent

organisation.

TheEuropeanPatentOrganisation(EPO)

• TheEuropeanPatentOrganisation isanintergovernmental

organisationthatwassetupon7October1977onthebasis

oftheEuropeanPatentConvention(EPC)signedinMunich

in1973.

• Ithastwobodies,theEuropeanPatentOfficeandthe

AdministrativeCouncil,whichsupervisestheOffice's

activities.

• TheOrganisationcurrentlyhas38MemberStates.

• TurkeybecameaMemberStateon1November2000

EPOMemberStates

EuropeanPatents

• However,aEuropeanpatentneedstobevalidatedbythe

nationalpatentofficeineachcountrywhereprotectionis

required.

• Dependingonthecountry’slaw,youmayhavetoprovide

translationsorpayfeesbyacertainperiod.

• Whydoesthistranslationrequirementexists?Becauseof

the3languagesusedinEPO.

HowtoapplyforaEuropeanPatent?

BeforeapplyingforaEuropeanpatent

1.Itisimportanttoknowwhatinventionsandpatentsare.

2.Application:

• TheEuropeanPatentOfficeacceptsapplicationsunderthe

EuropeanEuropeanPatentConvention(EPC)andthePatent

CooperationTreaty(PCT).

• Ifyouareseekingprotectioninonlyafewcountries,itmaybe

besttoapplydirectforanational patenttoeachofthenational

offices.

PartsofaEuropeanPatent

AEuropeanpatentapplicationconsistsof:

1. arequestforgrant

2. adescriptionoftheinvention

3. claims

4. drawings(ifany)

5. anabstract.

ApplicationscanbefiledattheEPOinanylanguage. However,theofficiallanguages

oftheEPOareEnglish,FrenchandGerman.

Iftheapplication isnotfiledinoneoftheselanguages, atranslationhastobe

submitted.

FillingandFormalitiesexamination

ThefirststepintheEuropeanpatentgrantingprocedureistheexaminationonfiling.Thisinvolvescheckingwhetherallthenecessaryinformationanddocumentationhasbeenprovided, sothattheapplicationcanbeaccordedafilingdate.Thefollowingarerequired:

1. anindicationthataEuropeanpatentissought

2. particularsidentifyingtheapplicant

3. adescriptionoftheinventionor

4. areferencetoapreviouslyfiledapplication.

Ifnoclaimsarefiled,theyneedtobesubmittedwithintwomonths.

Thisisfollowedbyaformalitiesexaminationrelatingtocertainformalaspectsoftheapplication, including theformandcontentoftherequestforgrant,drawingsandabstract,thedesignationoftheinventor,theappointmentofaprofessionalrepresentative,thenecessarytranslationsandthefeesdue.

Howtosearchforapatent?

• Whiletheformalitiesexaminationisbeingcarriedout,aEuropean

searchreportisdrawnup,listingallthedocumentsavailabletothe

Officethatmayberelevanttoassessingnoveltyandinventivestep.

• Thesearchreportisbasedonthepatentclaimsbutalsotakesinto

accountthedescriptionandanydrawings.

• Afterithasbeendrawnup,thesearchreportissenttotheapplicant

togetherwithacopyofanyciteddocumentsandaninitial opinion asto

whethertheclaimedinventionandtheapplicationmeetthe

requirementsoftheEuropeanPatentConvention

PublicationoftheApplication

• Theapplicationispublished- normallytogetherwiththesearchreport- 18monthsafter

thedateoffilingor,ifprioritywasclaimed,theprioritydate.

• Applicantsthenhave6monthstodecidewhetherornottopursuetheirapplicationby

requestingsubstantiveexamination.

• Alternatively,anapplicantwhohasrequestedexaminationalreadywillbeinvitedto

confirmwhethertheapplicationshouldproceed.

• Withinthesametimelimittheapplicantmustpaytheappropriatedesignationfeeand,if

applicable,theextensionfees.

• Fromthedateofpublication,aEuropeanpatentapplicationconfersprovisionalprotection

onthe inventioninthestatesdesignatedintheapplication.

• However,dependingontherelevantnationallaw,itmaybenecessarytofileatranslation

oftheclaimswiththepatentofficeinquestionandhavethistranslationpublished.

SubstantiveExamination

• Aftertherequestforexaminationhasbeenmade,theEuropeanPatent

OfficeexamineswhethertheEuropeanpatentapplication andthe

inventionmeettherequirementsoftheEuropeanPatentConvention

andwhetherapatentcanbegranted.

Grantofapatent

• Iftheexaminingdivisiondecidesthatapatentcanbegranted,itissuesa

decisiontothateffect.

• Amentionofthegrantispublished intheEuropeanPatentBulletinonce

thetranslationsoftheclaimshavebeenfiledandthefeeforgrantand

publicationhavebeenpaid.

• Thedecisiontogranttakeseffectonthedateofpublication. The

grantedEuropeanpatentisa"bundle"ofindividual nationalpatents.

Validation

• Oncethementionofthegrantispublished, thepatenthastobe

validatedineachofthedesignatedstateswithinaspecifictimelimitto

retainitsprotectiveeffectandbeenforceableagainstinfringers.

• Inanumberofcontractingstates,thepatentownermayhavetofilea

translationofthespecificationinanofficial languageofthenational

patentoffice.

• AccordingtotheEuropeanPatentConvention(Article2),Turkeyhasto

provideatranslationofthecompletepatentspecification

• Dependingontherelevantnational law,theapplicantmayalsohaveto

payfeesbyacertaindate.

Opposition

• AftertheEuropeanpatenthasbeengranted,itmaybe

opposedbythirdparties– usuallytheapplicant’s

competitors– iftheybelievethatitshouldnothavebeen

granted.

• Noticeofoppositioncanonlybefiledwithin9monthsof

thegrantbeingmentionedintheEuropeanPatentBulletin.

• Oppositionsaredealtwithbyoppositiondivisions

Limitation/Revocation

• Thisstagemayalsoconsistofrevocationorlimitation

proceedingsinitiatedbythepatentproprietorhimself.

• Atanytimeafterthegrantofthepatent,thepatent

proprietormayrequesttherevocationorlimitationofhis

patent.

• ThedecisiontolimitortorevoketheEuropeanpatenttakes

effectonthedateonwhichitispublished intheEuropean

PatentBulletinandappliesabinitiotoallcontractingstates

inrespectofwhichthepatentwasgranted.

Appeal

• DecisionsoftheEuropeanPatentOffice– refusingan

applicationorinoppositioncases,forexample– areopento

appeal.

• Decisionsonappealsaretakenbytheindependentboards

ofappeal

RoutetoapplyforEuropeanPatent

Fillingoptions

• Onlinefiling:severaloptionsEPOnewonlinefiling(CMS)ortheEPOwebformfiling.• Fillingonpaperorfax:applications forEuropeanpatentscanbefiledbypost,fax(excludingauthorisationsandprioritydocuments)orbyhandattheEPO'sheadquarters inMunich,itsbranchinTheHagueanditsBerlinsub-office.

Seeonlinefilingoptions.

NationalRouteonPatent

• IfyouintendtoapplyforapatentinjustafewEuropeancountries,it

maybebettertochoosethenationalrouteandfileyourapplicationat

theIPofficesinthecountriesforwhichyouareseekingprotection.

• PatentlawintheEPOmemberstateshasbeenextensivelyharmonised

withtheEuropeanPatentConvention(EPC) intermsofpatentability

requirements.However,thenational routegenerallyleadstonational

rightswhichconferprotectionofdifferingextent.

• FurtherinformationontheIPOfficeinTurkey

http://www.tpe.gov.tr/TurkPatentEnstitusu/

WhatnextinEurope?

• ThefutureUnitaryPatentandtheUnifiedPatentCourt

• Whatistheunitarypatent- or"Europeanpatentwithunitaryeffect"?

• ItisaEuropeanpatent,grantedbytheEPOundertherulesandproceduresofthe

EuropeanPatentConvention,towhich,uponrequestofthepatentproprietor,

unitaryeffectisgivenfortheterritoryofthe25MemberStatesparticipatingin

theunitarypatentscheme(Croatia,PolandandSpainarenotpartofthe

scheme).

• Theunitarypatentwillco-existwithnationalpatentsandwithclassicalEuropean

patents.

• Patentproprietorswillinfuturebeabletochoosebetweenvariouscombinations

ofclassicalEuropeanpatentsandunitarypatents.

HowcanyouprotectyourIPinEurope?

• Forexample:

• aunitarypatentforthe25MemberStatesoftheEuropeanUnionwhich

participateintheunitarypatentscheme;

• togetherwithaclassicalEuropeanpatenttakingeffectinoneormoreEPC

ContractingStateswhichdonotparticipateinthescheme,suchasSpain,Italy,

Switzerland,Turkey,Norway,Iceland,etc.

• On11December2012theEuropeanParliamentvotedpositivelyinafirstreading

ontheEUCouncil'scompromiseproposalsfortwodraftEUregulationsona

unitarypatentforEurope.

• Findoutmore:http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/intellectual-

property/patents/unitary-patent/index_en.htm

WhyaUnifiedPatentCourt?

• Currently,national courtsandauthoritiesofthecontractingstatesof

theEuropeanPatentConventionarecompetenttodecideonthe

infringementandvalidityofEuropeanpatents.

• Inpractice,thisgivesrisetoanumberofdifficulties:highcosts,riskof

divergingdecisionsandlackoflegalcertainty.

• Forumshopping isalsoinevitable.

AgreementonUnifiedPatent

• TheAgreementontheUnifiedPatentCourtaddressestheseproblemsby

creatingaspecialisedpatentcourt("UnifiedPatentCourt",orUPC)with

exclusivejurisdictionforlitigationrelatingtoEuropeanpatentsandEuropean

patentswithunitaryeffect(unitarypatents).

• TheUPCwillcompriseaCourtofFirstInstance,aCourtofAppealanda

Registry.TheCourtofFirstInstancewillbecomposedofacentraldivision(with

seatinParisand twosectionsinLondonandMunich)andbyseverallocaland

regionaldivisionsintheContractingMemberStatestotheAgreement.The

CourtofAppealwillbelocatedinLuxembourg.

• TheAgreementwassignedby25EUMemberStateson19February2013.It

willneedtoberatifiedbyatleast13states,includingFrance,Germanyandthe

UnitedKingdomtoenterintoforce(seestatusofratification).

Copyright

• Informsothersthatyou(astheauthor)intendtocontrolthe

production,distribution,displayorperformanceofyourwork.

• Copyrightisgrantedautomatically,withnoneedforformalregistration.

• Youcanstartusingthecopyrightsymbolimmediately.

ProtectionagainstCounterfeiting

• Counterfeiting☛ unauthorised imitationofabrandedgood

• Piracy☛ unauthorisedcopyingofanitemcoveredbyan

intellectualpropertyright

• DependingonthelawintheEUcountryinquestionandthe

sourceofcounterfeitgoods,theauthoritiestoturntoare:

• customs,marketsurveillance(tradingstandards),thepolice

orthepatentandtrademarkoffices

Thankyouforyourattention