On Friday the 14 June 2013 we participated in a seminar arranged by the Danish PTO in corporation with the Confederation of Danish Industry on the topic “IP infringements online”.
The seminar aimed at discussing how to protect against infringement of one’s IP-rights on the Internet, and moreover a discussion of counterfeit, its extent and the seriousness about being aware of it. Several interesting speakers gave their view on the different issues under this topic.
The first speaker was David Shore, Director of Global Security EMEA at Pfizer. He gave a very interesting speak on counterfeit in relation to medicines, and the danger and consequences of buying such. He gave several examples from Pfizer, and their strategy in discovering and unraveling of some parts of the major counterfeit business within medicines.
Nikolai Bisgaard from GNResound also shared his experiences as Vice President of IPR & Industry Relations. He described a specific case, where GN Resound discovered that someone was copying one of their products. The case ended with court proceedings in China, and Nikolai Bisgaard explained the many challenges and immense formalities faced by GN Resound in the process of this lawsuit. Moreover he highlighted the importance of registering trademark rights in all countries where these are used, as trademark rights are “easier” to defend, as there is well developed practice within the trademark area in contrast to the unregulated Internet.
Erling Vestergaard, Vice Public Prosecutor, also gave a speak on the criminal fight against IP infringements on the Internet. He explained about the scanty practice within this area in Denmark. He only highlighted copyright cases, as this is the only area within IP where Denmark actually has practice regarding IP infringements on the Internet. He stressed the fact that the Danish legislation is not accommodated to the Internet. According to Mr. Vestergaard our laws have simply not developed in pace with the Internet and the extent of it.
What stood out as a main point from this seminar was that the global reach, openness, versatility and unregulated character of the Internet creates both a great place for marketing and easy access to consumers, but it also creates an obvious place for trademark abuse. In other words, the Internet has a very dark side as well. The non-material damage an infringement can cause a trademark is often much worse than the loss in turnover. Sale of counterfeit goods under a trademark can lead to the dilution of this through a false association of the trademark and goods not originating from the owner of this trademark. Therefore is it crucial to protect these rights.
There were several questions from the attendees. One of the start-up companies asked David Shore and Nikolai Bisgaard as being representatives from established companies, what they would recommend in order to prevent infringements on the Internet. Without any doubt the speakers answered that registered trademark rights formed the best basis to prevent infringements.
Based on our experience, we fully agree with the reply from the speakers and therefore take this opportunity to stress the importance of having registered trademark rights in all the countries where you intend to use your trademarks. This gives you a right that is recognized, and a right which can be enforced. Moreover, we at Awapatent can assist you in navigating through this complex web of rules, and by forming an online trademark protection strategy. We can assist you in monitoring and surveilling your trademarks through our knowledge and access to specialized online trademark monitoring services.
As something new Awapatent also offers registration and monitoring of trademarks in Trademark Clearinghouse in relation to the new top level domains (TLD). Read more about this service here.
Henriette Vængesgaard Rasch, Attorney at law
Maria Dam Jensen, Associate
