Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - roma@sib.it Innovation can be more than a patent An introduction to Trademarks and Industrial Designs, National, Regional and International Approach by Fabrizio de Benedetti Roma, March 27, 2006
Beyond the protection of patents Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it Beyond the protection of patents Designs + Copyright Trademarks Domain names Geographical Indications Unfair competition – Anti-competitive practices
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it TRIPs Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 15 April 1994
Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it TRIPs … taking into account the need to promote effective and adequate protection of intellectual property rights… …recognizing that intellectual property rights are private rights… …patents shall be available for any inventions…in all fields of technology…without discrimination as to the place of invention, the field of technology…
IPR Expansion Process Topographies of Integrated Circuits Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it IPR Expansion Process Topographies of Integrated Circuits Plant varieties Biotech Digital inventions Trademarks having a reputation Business identifiers (Domain names) Geographical indications Unregistered Designs (+ Copyright) Data compilation / Databases Know-how: Undisclosed information and trade secrets
Globalization of IPR TRIPs PCT – EPC Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it Globalization of IPR TRIPs PCT – EPC Madrid Agreement – Madrid Protocol CTMR CDR The Hague Agreement on Industrial Designs
Protection connections Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it Protection connections Patents Know-How Trade secrets Designs Trademarks Domain names, etc.
Filing strategies Costs Time Risks Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it Filing strategies Costs Time Risks
Costs IP rights are often a company’s most valuable asset. Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it IP rights are often a company’s most valuable asset. The management of these rights is extremely complex, interacting with an increasingly difficult business environment rapidly changing under the pressure of new technologies and market globalization. Look for saving but not at the expenses of quality Good protection in key geographical territories vs. protection worldwide Saving at the filing stage could entail additional costs later
Time What are the needs? Immediate protection Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it Time What are the needs? Immediate protection Postponement of the examination
Risks Convention or regional systems: all or nothing Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it Risks Convention or regional systems: all or nothing National systems: more expensive, but if a country is vital… Language problem
Global protection possible Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it Conclusion Global protection possible IPR regions / countries Targeted protection suitable
Thank you! Fabrizio de Benedetti Società Italiana Brevetti – Roma www.sib.it - debenedetti@sib.it Thank you!