Durán-Corretjer SLP

On May 31, took place the event "Geographical Indications: the International point of view in the light of the Geneva Act" organized by AMPPI together with the EUIPO's IPKey Latin America program.

In this event, Ada Torras participated as a speaker providing some insight on current and future key aspects of the Geneva Act in relation to the European Union.

On February 18, 19, 25 and 26, 2021 the XXXVI Study Sessions on Industrial and Intellectual Property took place, in which current issues in the sector were discussed.

Among the different sessions that were organized, highlight the one related to the Round Table on Updates on Brexit and IP, in which Christian Durán had the opportunity to participate as a speaker.

On September 14, 2020, the European Union and China signed a bilateral agreement for the protection of Geographical Indications in both countries. In this way and by virtue of it, both countries recognize the protection of 100 Geographical Indications originating from each country in the other reciprocally.

This agreement, the purpose of which is to prevent the imitation and usurpation of Geographical Indications of said countries in the other, will entail commercial benefits as well as the introduction of quality standards for consumers in both countries.

Since last September 15, 2020, economic operators in the EU must make use of the so-called EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification) in all information exchange procedures with EU customs authorities.

The introduction of the EORI number will allow the unique identification of the holders of intellectual property rights in a secure manner, as well as compliance with the regulations on data protection.

The most far-reaching effect is the obligation to include the EORI number in requests for customs intervention in procedures to determine whether intellectual property rights have been infringed.

We are proud to inform that, once again, our firm has been selected as a leader firm in Spain for Patents in 2020 and included in the Who's Who Legal Patents list after the worldwide consultation with the opinions of law firms, clients and patent experts around the world conducted by the British publisher Law Business Research, Ltd.

On May 15, 2020, the Government of the Republic of Mozambique deposited its Instrument of Accession to the Banjul Protocol on Trademarks with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).

The Banjul Protocol allows applying for single trademark application covering the following countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Mozambique will be eligible for designation under de Banjul Protocol as from 15 August 2020.

Please be informed that the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) will not extend time limits beyond the 18th May 2020. Therefore, all time limits due between March 9th 2020 and May 18th 2020 will be considered as finalized on May 18th 2020.
On the other hand, the European Patent Office (EPO) will extend further all time limits due on or after March 15th 2020 until June 2nd 2020.
Finally, as from June 1st 2020 all deadlines vis-à-vis the Spanish Patent & Trade Mark Office (SPTO) due on or after March 14th 2020 will be resumed and recalculated by adding the equivalent period of time for which they were suspended.

Despite the ongoing situation created by the worldwide expansion of the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting as well in Europe and also in Spain, our firm has taken all the appropriate measures in order to ensure that we can maintain operating our business as usual, monitoring all the procedures with the different Offices, complying with all due dates and providing a quick, efficient and high quality services to our clients.

On February 17 and 18, INTA’s European annual conference entitled Brands, Sports, and Esports: A Brand (R)evolution took place in Madrid, in which more than 250 professionals of the sector from more than 40 countries around the world discussed the current issues in the sports and e-sports sector related to brands and intellectual property.

Among the different sessions that were organized, highlight the one related to best practice for effective sponsorship agreements and related legal issues, such as the prevention of ambush marketing and its mitigation, in which Christian Durán had the opportunity to participate as a speaker.

On February 6 and 7, 2020, the AIPPI Annual Conference on Industrial and Intellectual Property was held in Madrid in which various topics were discussed such as the recent jurisprudence regarding designs and trade marks, the proof of use within administrative and judicial procedures, the patentability of computer simulations or the conflicts between trademarks and designations of origin.

On the other hand, it should also be noted that the AIPPI General Meeting elected Mr. Christian Durán as new Board Member of the Spanish Group of AIPPI, thereby terminating his previous duties as Secretary-Accountant of the Spanish Group of AIPPI.