enforcing quality new methods of strengthening the ip-systems in europe peter r. slowinski, mediator...
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The dilemma of weak IP-rights (II) Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition and Tax Law 3 Weak IP-rights hinder innovation and creativity Weak IP-rights are especially a threat to SMEs Weak rights do not contribute (sufficiently) to economical and technological development Weak IP-rights are a threat to the concept of intellectual property as such A solution to the dilemma of weak rights is requiredTRANSCRIPT
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Enforcing QualityNew methods of strengthening the IP-Systems in Europe
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM)Max-Planck-Institute for Intellectual Property, Competition and Tax Law, Munich
Geneva, 26th – 28th May 2010
WIPO SeminarIntellectual Property Reforms – International and Comparative Perspectives
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The dilemma of weak IP-rights (I)
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law2
• What are „weak“ IP-rights? Rights that should not have been granted Rights that do not deserve full protection
• Rise of low-quality IP-rights (Trash) Patents Trademarks Designs / Copyright
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The dilemma of weak IP-rights (II)
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law3
• Weak IP-rights hinder innovation and creativity
• Weak IP-rights are especially a threat to SMEs
• Weak rights do not contribute (sufficiently) to economical and technological development
• Weak IP-rights are a threat to the concept of intellectual property as such
A solution to the dilemma of weak rights is required
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The traditional approach
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law4
Raising the bar
Change of requirements forObtaining IP-rights
The idea behind:
The more difficult it is to obtain a right, the better thequality of this right must be
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The flaw in the idea
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law5
• Weak rights are a relatively new phenomenon
• Weak rights are strongly related to new areas of economy
• The – written – law did not lower the bar
Therefore:
The question to ask is: „What are the reasons for weak rights?“
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What are the reasons?
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law6
• There is a work overload in the offices
• New technologies are more complex and develop more quickly
• There are not enough incentives for offices, applicants and third parties to improve the quality of rights
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What can be done?
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law7
• More personal and money for the offices?
• More training for the officials?
• Involve third parties in the granting-process
• Incentives for applicants, offices and third parties
However, a lot of weak rights already have been grantedand
we will never be able to prevent weak rightsaltogether.
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IP - rights
The idea: the enforcement of IP-rights
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law8
Three ways of enforcement
The action for infringement
The negativedeclaratory actions
Actions for declarationof invalidity
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Incentives to challenge weak rights
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law9
Are there sufficient incentives for competitors to challengeweak IP-rights?
How can the system be improved?
• The competitor bears der risk alone
• The competitor bears the costs alone
• The competitor has to share the fruits of his/her victory
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Possible ways to create incentives
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law10
• A head-start for the brave.
• Reducing the costs of legal proceedings
• Reducing the risks of legal proceedings
Problem: A situation contrary to the law is perpetuated by the law.
However, it is a limited situation compared to a (indefinitely) ongoing situation.
High risk of misuse of thelegal proceedings
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The idea: the enforcement of IP-rights
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law11
Three ways of enforcement
The actions for infringement
IP - rights
Actions for declarationof invalidity
The negativedeclaratory actions
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Improving Enforcement
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law12
• One specialized judicial branch for IP
• Create a more efficient court system
• No separation between actions concerned with infringement and validity
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The idea: the enforcement of IP-rights
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law13
Three ways of enforcement
The actions for infringement
IP - rights
Actions for declarationof invalidity
The negativedeclaratory actions
![Page 14: Enforcing Quality New methods of strengthening the IP-Systems in Europe Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) Max-Planck-Institute for Intellectual Property,](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022052917/5a4d1b857f8b9ab0599bc863/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Limitation of Enforcement
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law14
FRAND Fair use Ebay vs. MercExchange„Equity“ / Misuse
Art. 82 ECdiscrimination
„fair“ ? unfair conduct weak rights
? ? ?
1. Limitation of IP-rights is not contrary to the idea of intellectual property
2. There already are limitations to the enforcement of IP-rights
The use of every kind of property can be limited in the public interest
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How to limit the enforcement?
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law15
1. What are weak rights?
3. How can we measure the strength of an IP right?
2. Who shall measure the strength?
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How do we measure quality?
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law16
Patents
Inventive step
Trade Marks
OriginalityIndividual characterDistinctiveness
Design Copyright
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Summary
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law17
Limitations to weak rights
Incentivesto challenge weak rights
Granting procedure
Quality of IP-rights
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Result: Stronger IP rights system
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM) – MPI for Intellectual Property, Competition
and Tax Law18
• Stronger IP-rights support innovation and creativity
• Stronger IP-rights help SMEs
• A smaller number of stronger rights does contribute more to economical and technological development
• Stronger IP-rights contribute to the concept of intellectual property as such
A solution to the dilemma of weak rights is possible
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Thank you for your attention.
Peter R. Slowinski, Mediator (CVM)Max-Planck-Institute for Intellectual Property, Competition and Tax Law