It focuses on the intellectual property protection for designs in the US and compares the system of design protection in the European Union, discussing the Community Design Regulation in the EU, as well as the process for seeking design protection in countries via the
Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs.
Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea, with 1,132 designs, displaced Swatch AG of Switzerland (511 designs) to become the largest user of the
Hague System (international design applications).
Samsung Federal Circuit decision and the United States becoming a member of the
Hague System," said Adams and Wood.
The
Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs offers a practical business solution for registering up to 100 designs in more than 64 territories through filing one single international application.
Particularly, applications for traditional knowledge - 1, innovation proposals - 18, brand names - 15, trademarks under the national system - 538, trademarks under the Madrid System - 1,839, protected designation of origin - 7, design inventions under the national system - 29, design inventions under the
Hague system - 162, utility models - 7, inventions - 118 were received.
At the international level, the Convention completes the
Hague system regarding family law already in place concerning child abduction, parental responsibility and international adoption.
By adopting a report by Michel Rocard (PES, France) on 17 May, MEPs expressed their support for EU citizens and businesses being able to register their designs and models under the international system known as the
Hague system'.
Under the WIPO process (called The
Hague System), manufacturers merely have to file a single application in one language and using one currency (Swiss Francs) to register a design throughout all the participating countries.
The U.S recent adoption of the
Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs has paved way for companies to obtain protection for their design patents in multiple jurisdictions.
On May 13, 2015, the United States and Japan became contracting parties to the
Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs.