Weekly Design Update – Dec 2021 (1 of 3)

“Because of the current coronavirus situation in the Helsinki area, we are closing our customer service point in Helsinki from 1 December 2021 until 31 January 2022 as a work and customer safety measure.
Our online services and telephone services will be running normally.

Our customer service number 029 509 5030 is open Mon–Fri until 30 November at 9.00–16.15 and from 1 December at 9.00–15.00.
You can send paper notifications by post or leave them in our mailbox on the wall of our office building at Sörnäisten rantatie 13 B, Helsinki. We recommend that you use our online filing service. It is quicker and cheaper than using paper forms.

Our online services and information services are available at the prh.fi website.
Email us for more information:

Finnish Trade Register
Advice: neuvonta.kaupparekisteri@prh.fi

Trademarks
Advice: neuvonta.tavaramerkki@prh.fi
Advice relating to trademark classification: luokitusneuvonta@prh.fi
Email your office action response, or any additional submissions, to: tmposti@prh.fi

Patents
Advice: advice.patents@prh.fi

Design rights
Advice: neuvonta.malli@prh.fi

Associations
Advice: neuvonta.yhdistysasiat@prh.fi
We are prepared to carry out our duties as an authority despite the coronavirus outbreak. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

For more information, please contact:
PRH Customer Service
Tel. 029 509 5030
until 30 November Mon–Fri at 9.00–16.15
from 1 December Mon–Fri at 9.00–15.00″

“As an outcome of the ninth session of the Committee on WIPO Standards (CWS), the following new and revised WIPO Standards have been published in English, French, and Spanish on the WIPO website.

New standards:

• ST.91: Recommendations on digital three-dimensional (3D) models and 3D images

Revised standards:

• ST.26: Presentation of nucleotide and amino acid sequence listings using XML
• ST.27: Exchange of patent legal status data
• ST.37: Authority File of Published Patent Documents
• ST.88: Electronic representation of industrial designs

These updates reflect much dedication and effort from the CWS task forces involved, and the ongoing collaboration and goodwill of all CWS participants.”

“The new February 2021 edition of the Hague System’s Common Regulations is now available. Recent amendments – in force as of February 1, 2021 – establish a new requirement to provide WIPO with an email address when:

• filing an international application;
• requesting a change in ownership of an international registration; and
• appointing a representative

…in order for customers to benefit from Hague electronic communications.

Download Regulations | Find out more in Hague Information Notice 41/2020“

“This page provides practical information to help you make the most of your IP when doing business in ASEAN.

This page provides practical information to help you make the most of your IP when doing business in the area covered by the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN).

The Member States are Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and VietNam.

While there is no regional IP office, there is a considerable amount of effort is placed on aligning standards and there are number of regional programmes businesses can use.

Trade marks

ASEAN TMview is a searchable online database of trade mark registrations and applications filed in participating ASEAN countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

This database means business can do an initial search and understand what trade marks are available in participating countries. It is recommended to also do secondary searches on national databases before submitting an trade mark application.

Patents

The ASEAN Patent Examination Co-operation (ASPEC) is a regional patent work-sharing programme amongst participating ASEAN countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

ASPEC means businesses can use the search and examination reports from participating offices to accelerate the patent registration process in one of the other participating offices.

ASEAN Patentscope is a regional database businesses can use to search for registered patents in participating ASEAN countries.

Designs

ASEAN Designview is an online database of design registrations in participating ASEAN countries: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The database means businesses can do an initial search and understand what designs are available in participating countries. It is advisable to do secondary searches on national databases before submitting any design application.

Enforcing your rights

The enforcement environment varies across the ASEAN member states. The IPO have specific enforcement guides for ASEAN countries. These manuals provide a picture of the IP enforcement environment in country however the businesses are advised to take legal advice on specific IP cases.”

“The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) presents his compliments and has the honor to notify the deposit by the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, on November 17, 2021, of its instrument of accession to the WIPO Copyright Treaty, adopted at Geneva on December 20, 1996.

The WIPO Copyright Treaty will enter into force, with respect to the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, on February 17, 2022.”

“Good news! Starting January 1, 2022, the Hague System will provide you with greater flexibility and control in timing the publication of your international registrations to suit your business needs.

What will change for applicants?

First, we will be increasing the default “standard publication” time of international registrations from six to twelve months after the date of registration. This will give you more time to plan your marketing strategy whilst keeping your designs confidential. You may alternatively continue to select “immediate publication” (i.e., shortly after recording of your international registration).

Important! This applies to applications filed on or after January 1, 2022.

Second, we will be adding a new option – “publication at a chosen time” (counted in months from the filing date). This will enable you to indicate a time earlier than “standard publication”. You will still be able to defer publication beyond the standard publication period – up to 30 months from the filing date, or if you have claimed priority from an earlier filing, from the priority date.

Important! The available deferment period varies according to the domestic laws of the individual contracting parties that you designate in your international application. For full details, refer to Information Notice 10/2021

What will change if you’ve already filed your application?

As of January 1, 2022, you will be able to request earlier publication – at any time before the expiration of the publication period initially specified in the international application.”

“The launch of Next Generation of Digital Post is postponed to first quarter of 2022. This means that the digital communication with the Danish Patent and Trademark Office will not, as previously annouced, close in the period 26-29 November 2021.

You can therefore, as normal, use digital post to communicate with us.

Read more about the background for the postponement on the website of the Danish Agency for Digitalisation (information available in Danish).

“Our office will be closing for Christmas at 5.00 pm AEDT on Friday, 24 December 2021. We will re-open at 9.00 am AEDT on Tuesday, 4 January 2021. Our call centre will also be closed during this time.

While you won’t be able to speak to us on the phone during the break, our online services will still be available. This means you will still be able to file new applications and manage your existing rights online.

We wish you all a safe and enjoyable festive season and a happy new year.”