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On 19th February 2013, Mexico joined the 88 contracting parties of the Madrid System by signing the Madrid Protocol. The Madrid system for the International Registration of marks established in 1891 functions under the Madrid Agreement (1891), and the Madrid Protocol (1989). It is administered by the International Bureau of WIPO located in Geneva, Switzerland. The Madrid system enables the international registration of trademarks with one application only. More information about Mexico joining the Madrid Protocol can be found here.

In order to improve the multilanguage access to the content of patent documents EPA improved the free-of-charges translation service Patent Translate by adding Danish, Finnish, Greek, Dutch, Norvegian, Polish and Hungarian. Thereby, 13 languages are available now altogether for translation into English and from English. By the end of the year 2014 the translation service shall comprise all 28 languages of the member states of the EPO and the most important non-European languages in the patent world, such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Russian.

The European Parliament has voted for a new regulation for creating a unitary patent protection in Europe. In 2014 we expect the regulation to be in force. It shall provide protection by a unitary Community Patent in 25 of 27 countries of the European Union (excluding Spain and Italy) whereby validation of the patent in individual countries is not necessary anymore. Thereby, considerable cost savings of up to 80% will be achieved. Expensive formal acts such as appointing representatives and providing translations can be omitted. An official communication of the European Parliament can be found here.

Please note the following information redarding the Granted Patent Report:

http://www.weisse-patent.de/en/Downloads/g06gpr/

Only recently, one of our clients again received a request for payment from a very dubious enterprise. In the present case, this enterprise was called DMV Deutsche Markenverlängerung GmbbH. Applicants of Intellectual Property whose application or registration is published very often receive such letters. We urge you not to pay such invoices and not to reply in any way. If you have any doubts, please fax the invoice to one of our offices and we will check it for you free of charge.

Only recently, one of our clients again received a request for payment from a very dubious enterprise. In the present case, this enterprise was called Euro IP Register. Applicants of Intellectual Property whose application or registration is published very often receive such letters. We urge you not to pay such invoices and not to reply in any way. If you have any doubts, please fax the invoice to one of our offices and we will check it for you free of charge.

From 1. January 2012 Spain leaves the System for carrying out searches provided for by Article 38 of the Regulation on the Community Trade Mark (CTMR). Such searches are carried out by participating countries and posted to the applicants. There are no immediate legal effects of such searches. The number of searching countries is now reduced to 10, i.e. Romania, Denmark, Greece, Lithuania, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Finland, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) will provide searches for Community Trademarks with a filing date up to the end of 2011 and no searches thereafter. Accordingly, the official fees will be reduced.

If you are interested in substantive searches please contact us. We will be pleased to provide you with a customized offer for your trademark.

Only recently, one of our clients again received a request for payment from a very dubious enterprise. In the present case, this enterprise was called “Patentregister AG”. Applicants of Intellectual Property whose application or registration is published very often receive such letters. We urge you not to pay such invoices and not to reply in any way. If you have any doubts, please fax the invoice to one of our offices and we will check it for you free of charge.

Only recently, one of our clients again received a request for payment from a very dubious enterprise. In the present case, this enterprise was called IBIP (international Bureau for Intellectual Property). Applicants of Intellectual Property whose application or registration is published very often receive such letters. We urge you not to pay such invoices and not to reply in any way. If you have any doubts, please fax the invoice to one of our offices and we will check it for you free of charge.

Source: www.epo.org

Finnland became member state of the London Agreement with effect from 1. November 2011. This means, that from that date on Finnish translations of a European Patent Specification must not be filed anymore in order to validate a European Patent if the patent was granted in English language or if an English translation is filed before the Finnish Patent Office. Please note, however, that a Finnish translation of the claims must still be filed in any case. You can find a current list of the member states here.

Source: Kammerrundschreiben 5/11

In September 2010 Israel and Kazakhstan became members of the Madrid Protocol for International Registration of Marks. It is now possible to register international marks in English language and on the basis of a trademark application rather than a registered trademark. Please find a complete list of the member states here.