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In a decision of the Romanian State Office for Inventions and Trademarks (SOIT) in July 2015, the examiners found that, in the opposition case Pro TV v Adrian Sarbu, there is likelihood of confusion between the earlier trade marks invoked by the opponent, oriented around the particle(s) "Pro"and "Sport", and the subsequent sign applied for (depicted in figure 1).

Pacogi Netherlands filed a Benelux trade mark application for the mark shown in figure 1. Balenciaga was not happy about it and filed a formal opposition with the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP). The opposition was based on the prior rights in the wordmark Balenciaga and the device mark (figure 2).

In recent times we became aware of some requests for advice as to whether a statement of excuse for the non-working of a patented invention in Mexico should be filed with the Patent Office (IMPI).

The implementation of the amendments to Canada’s Trademark Act is now not expected before 2018, with IP practitioners suggesting some strategic issues trade mark owners should consider now

The Indonesian IP Office will soon accept electronic filing for new trade mark applications, trade mark renewal applications, patent applications and industrial design applications. The Indonesian IP Office is expecting to launch the electronic filing by the end of this year. Several post-registration services, such as recordation of assignment rights, change of name and address, as well as change of trade mark attorney, are scheduled to be launched in 2016.

According to the Greek Law on Trade Marks, civil courts have jurisdiction to rule in trade mark infringement cases, whereas administrative courts have jurisdiction on a trade mark's registrability.

On May 22 2015, the Japanese Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) rendered a decision granting orders for a surcharge to four cathode-ray tube (CRT) manufacturers in southeast Asia based on the Japanese Antimonopoly Act. The total surcharges amounted to about ¥3.2 billion ($26 million). The companies subject to the order are MT Picture Display Indonesia, MT Picture Display Malaysia, MT Picture Display Thailand, belonging to Panasonic group, and Samsung SDI Malaysia, belonging to Samsung group. The CRT manufacturers in southeast Asia and their parent companies were found to have formed a price cartel in selling CRTs to TV manufacturers in southeast Asia.

3D printing technology has been in the market for several decades and was originally invented in the 1980s. The recent development however which affects IP and other legal issues is that 3D printers are now accessible to consumers and retail for as low as $1,000, while industrial 3D printers can print highly intricate and complex objects which are fully assembled, complete with moving parts or hinges.

In order to facilitate access for small business entities and startups to the patent protection of their inventions, the French Patent Office recently presented a draft of an amendment to the French Patent Law introducing a provisional patent application (PPA) and a 10-year utility patent.

In a decision (BGH X ZB 4/14, "Verdickerpolymer II"), the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has resolved the question of third party interventions to ex parte proceedings. The BGH found that there is no legal basis for third party interventions to ex parte proceedings of the patent proprietor requesting reinstatement even when the third party is sued for infringement of the patent in suit.