INTERNATIONALLY

GRUR 2013

The largest German IP event in 2013 is the annual conference of the German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property which gathered over 700 professionals from more than 30 states. The conference gathered various participants from academia and institutions (such as the German Patent and Trademark Office, the German Federal Court of Justice, the German Ministry of Justice, the European Commission and the European Observatory), to lawyers and authorised representatives for patents and trademarks.

The meeting also introduced WIPO Green – The Sustainable Technology Marketplace, a new online platform which seeks to accelerate the adaptation, adoption and development of green technologies.

The conference was attended by Karanovic & Niklic IP practice group members Relja Mirkov and Tanja Glisic, giving them the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and knowledge.

Novelties in the MGS online application

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) updated the Madrid Goods and Services Manager (MGS) online application on September 1st 2013. This application serves to assist trademark applicants and their representatives in compiling lists of goods and services which are needed to submit when filing national or international applications.

SERBIA

Regional Seminar- Stronger Measures against Piracy and Counterfeiting

In cooperation with the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Serbia and the WIPO, a two-day regional seminar focused on the infringement of IP rights, in piracy and counterfeiting was held in Belgrade. Topics covered included piracy and counterfeiting, international standards in IPR enforcement, border measures, the application of the third chapter of the TRIPS agreement, criminal procedures in relation to piracy and counterfeiting, IPR enforcement in a digital environment and the role of IPR holders.

Karanovic & Nikolic took active role in participation at this seminar.

SLOVENIA

Harmonisation of the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office

The Slovenian Intellectual Property Office is now part of the Common Harmonised Database on Classification of Goods and Services. As a result the complete set of Slovenian translations of the Common Harmonised Database is now available to all users through the TMclass application.

KOSOVO

Problems regarding piracy and counterfeiting

The task force established by Kosovo's government to stop the sale of counterfeit goods is showing results and joining a trend of regional governments in aggressively targeting pirated materials. Authorities have confiscated thousands of counterfeit CDs and DVDs in the first week after the government's announcement in August that they will have a zero-tolerance policy on piracy. In the first raid, the Market Inspectorate seized 10,000 copies of CDs of foreign music, movies and computer software. Additionally, the Kosovo police cybercrime unit, which is part of the task force, is investigating more than 200 internet addresses that are reported by copyright owners allegedly producing counterfeit materials causing multi-million euros worth of damage to the budget.

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