{"id":9167,"date":"2019-03-19T09:11:51","date_gmt":"2019-03-19T09:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sib.it\/?p=9167"},"modified":"2019-04-10T14:13:22","modified_gmt":"2019-04-10T14:13:22","slug":"normativa-sui-marchi-importanti-modifiche-arrivo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/","title":{"rendered":"Italy’s new trademark rules in a nutshell"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Implementation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Italian provisions implementing EU Trademark Directive 2015\/2436 came into force on 23 March 2019; the most noteworthy changes essentially strengthen the rights of trademark owners vis-\u00e0-vis later trademark applications and registrations in Italy.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Italian Government has recently approved the legislative decree implementing EU Trademark Directive 2015\/2436<\/a>. The new provisions came into force on 23 March 2019.<\/p>\n

The most noteworthy changes, listed and explained below, essentially enhance the rights of trademark owners with respect to later trademark applications\/registrations in Italy.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n

    Relative grounds for refusal or invalidity<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Grounds for opposition against Italian applications now include marks enjoying a reputation, well-known trademarks ex art. 6-bis of the Paris Convention, and designation of origin or geographical indications.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \n

      Opposition proceedings<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      The date to be taken into consideration to determine if evidence of use of the prior mark can be requested is now the date of filing or of priority of the opposed application<\/strong> and not the date of its publication.<\/p>\n

      Some minor amendments concern procedural rules, mainly in connection with suspension and termination of proceedings, as well as the filing of the POA, which must be done within two months from the date of filing of the opposition.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        \u201cOwn name defense\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        The so called \u201cown name\u201d defense is now limited to natural persons<\/strong>, who become the only subjects who can rely on the fact that they are using their own name or address in accordance with honest business practices as a defense vis-\u00e0-vis infringement claims.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          Goods in transit<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          \u00a0<\/strong>The implementing law also provides for the possibility to apply customs procedures for the seizure of counterfeit goods in mere transit<\/strong>, unless the trademark owner is not entitled to prevent the marketing of the goods under the law of the country of final destination.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \n

            Right to object to preparatory acts of infringement<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            It is now possible for the owner of the prior trademark to object to the use of identical or similar marks in packaging, labels, tags or authenticity devices when there is the risk that they will be used for violating the trademark rights.<\/p>\n

             <\/p>\n

            Other changes include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

            Non-graphical representation<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            As the trademark is no longer required to be graphically represented<\/strong>, applications for registration of non-traditional signs such as sounds, holograms, animations, motion and multimedia content may be filed in digital formats such as .mp3 and .mp4.<\/p>\n

            Absolute grounds for Refusal or Invalidity<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            The absolute ground of refusal of signs consisting of the shape which results from the nature of the goods or is necessary to achieve a technical result, or which gives substantial value to the goods, has been extended to include \u201cother characteristics<\/strong>\u201d; this absolute ground still cannot be overcome by relying on evidence of acquired distinctiveness.<\/p>\n

            The following grounds have also been added as absolute grounds for refusal: designations of origin, geographical indications, traditional terms for wine, traditional specialties guaranteed and plant varieties. Third parties\u2019 observations drawing to the Examiner\u2019s attention the conflict with geographical indications are now expressly allowed during examination by the Italian Patent and Trademark Office (IPTO).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Collective and Certification trademarks<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            Before the implementation of the Directive, the Italian Industrial Property Code only provided for Collective marks; the reform has introduced the Certification marks, which will thus no longer need to be filed as Collective marks. In parallel, Collective marks have been redefined so as to avoid any overlapping with Certification marks.<\/p>\n

            According to the implementing law, the owners of Collective marks registered\/filed under the previous law must convert them into the newly defined Collective marks or into Certification marks within one year<\/strong>, failing which the marks will be deemed as abandoned<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

            Licensees\u2019 faculties <\/strong><\/h3>\n

            The reform now expressly allows the non-exclusive licensee to take action against the infringement of the licensed trademark, albeit only with the trademark owner\u2019s consent, while the exclusive licensee may initiate such proceedings also autonomously, if the owner of the trademark has not started the action despite having been requested to do so. The licensee may, in any case, intervene in the infringement action initiated by the trademark owner to obtain compensation for the damage suffered.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

            Nullity\/revocation actions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            It will be possible to institute actions before the IPTO for nullity or revocation of trademark registrations \u2013 but this will require a further decree to be enacted; the deadline set by the European Directive for implementation of these procedures is 14 January 2023.<\/p>\n

            Board of Appeals proceedings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

            The reform has introduced the possibility to bring a cross-appeal<\/strong> against the administrative decisions of the IPTO. Now, the partially losing party in opposition proceedings may therefore appeal the unfavorable part of the decision in the same proceedings initiated by the other side, without having to start a separate appeal.<\/p>\n

            Moreover, the law now provides for the possibility to start, under certain conditions, revocation proceedings<\/strong> against the decisions issued by the Board of Appeal, in addition to the traditional appeal before the Italian Supreme Court.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            \u00a0 Italian provisions implementing EU Trademark Directive 2015\/2436 came into force on 23 March 2019; the most noteworthy changes essentially strengthen the rights of trademark owners vis-\u00e0-vis later trademark applications and registrations in Italy. The Italian Government has recently approved the legislative decree implementing EU Trademark Directive 2015\/2436. The new provisions came into force on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNormativa sui marchi, modifiche importanti in arrivo<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Importanti modifiche alla normativa sui marchi in vigore dal 23 marzo 2019 con l'attuazione della riforma marchio UE (direttiva UE 2015\/243).\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Normativa sui marchi, modifiche importanti in arrivo\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Importanti modifiche alla normativa sui marchi in vigore dal 23 marzo 2019 con l'attuazione della riforma marchio UE (direttiva UE 2015\/243).\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-03-19T09:11:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2019-04-10T14:13:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SIBp_mar_19_cop..jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"650\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"445\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Laura Ercoli\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/\",\"name\":\"\",\"description\":\"Intellectual Property since 1882\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SIBp_mar_19_cop..jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SIBp_mar_19_cop..jpg\",\"width\":650,\"height\":445,\"caption\":\"commercial illustrator\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/\",\"name\":\"Normativa sui marchi, modifiche importanti in arrivo\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2019-03-19T09:11:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-04-10T14:13:22+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#\/schema\/person\/3988cde84153da4b745510f0712d395b\"},\"description\":\"Importanti modifiche alla normativa sui marchi in vigore dal 23 marzo 2019 con l'attuazione della riforma marchio UE (direttiva UE 2015\/243).\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Italy’s new trademark rules in a nutshell\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#\/schema\/person\/3988cde84153da4b745510f0712d395b\",\"name\":\"Laura Ercoli\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/40352aead1e319e41371a554b61ab9b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/40352aead1e319e41371a554b61ab9b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Laura Ercoli\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/author\/lercoli\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Normativa sui marchi, modifiche importanti in arrivo","description":"Importanti modifiche alla normativa sui marchi in vigore dal 23 marzo 2019 con l'attuazione della riforma marchio UE (direttiva UE 2015\/243).","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Normativa sui marchi, modifiche importanti in arrivo","og_description":"Importanti modifiche alla normativa sui marchi in vigore dal 23 marzo 2019 con l'attuazione della riforma marchio UE (direttiva UE 2015\/243).","og_url":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/","article_published_time":"2019-03-19T09:11:51+00:00","article_modified_time":"2019-04-10T14:13:22+00:00","og_image":[{"width":650,"height":445,"url":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SIBp_mar_19_cop..jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Laura Ercoli","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/","name":"","description":"Intellectual Property since 1882","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SIBp_mar_19_cop..jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/SIBp_mar_19_cop..jpg","width":650,"height":445,"caption":"commercial illustrator"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/","name":"Normativa sui marchi, modifiche importanti in arrivo","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2019-03-19T09:11:51+00:00","dateModified":"2019-04-10T14:13:22+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#\/schema\/person\/3988cde84153da4b745510f0712d395b"},"description":"Importanti modifiche alla normativa sui marchi in vigore dal 23 marzo 2019 con l'attuazione della riforma marchio UE (direttiva UE 2015\/243).","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/flash-news\/implementation-eu-trademark-directive-in-italy\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Italy’s new trademark rules in a nutshell"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#\/schema\/person\/3988cde84153da4b745510f0712d395b","name":"Laura Ercoli","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/40352aead1e319e41371a554b61ab9b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/40352aead1e319e41371a554b61ab9b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Laura Ercoli"},"url":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/author\/lercoli\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9167"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9167"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9494,"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9167\/revisions\/9494"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sib.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}