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Another “brick” in Lego’s modular systems design protection

The IPKat

By decision of 24 January 2024 ( T-537/22 ), the General Court of the European Union (GC) confirmed the validity of the Registered Community Design (RCD) by Lego A/S (Lego) “Building blocks from a toy building set” by stating that an RCD is invalid only if all its features are excluded from protection. On 2 February 2010 Lego obtained RCD No.

Designs 70
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CJEU confirms that partial designs may be protected as unregistered designs (but conditions apply)

The IPKat

In it, the CJEU confirmed that an Unregistered Community Design under Regulation 6/2002 may vest in a partial design (which the CJEU defines as “a section of the ‘whole’ that is the product”). In August, Advocate General (AG) Øe advised the Court to answer that partial designs may indeed be protected under UCD rights.

Designs 145
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Coffee capsules, reels and vacuum cleaner bags:  Can you protect the industrial design of components?

Garrigues Blog

Whether or not these types of products or components can be protected as industrial designs must be addressed case by case. The legal protection of industrial designs mainly covers aesthetics, the specific shape or aesthetic configuration of a product. of Regulation 6/2002. of Regulation 6/2002). Article 4.3

Designs 90
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Intersection of Intellectual Property Law and Competition Law with respect to Cross Licensing Agreements

IIPRD

Hence, the concept of cross licensing agreement has originated with the intent to help various organizations in sharing patent licenses along with their rights and liabilities leading to their easier access to masses and reduction of monopolistic market tendencies. Cross-licensing agreements can both restrain and advance competition.

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When is a design dictated by its technical function?

The IPKat

Designs are meant to protect the appearance of a product or a part thereof. 6/2002 (‘Design Regulation’) stipulates:-- A Community design shall not subsist in features of appearance of a product which are solely dictated by its technical function. The existence of other design alternatives was considered irrelevant.

Designs 86
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How original is a cat litter tray?

The IPKat

This Kat’s attention has recently been drawn to a Kat-focused ruling: that of design and copyright protection of a cat litter tray. Resolved by the first instance Community design court in Brussels, this case tackled issues such as forum shopping and cumulation of rights in a work of applied art (case A/22/02872 ). Pursuant to Arts.

Art 70
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How to prove disclosure of earlier designs?

The IPKat

A Registered Community Design (‘RCD’) enjoys protection only if it is new and has individual character vis-à-vis designs disclosed prior to its filing or priority date ( Art. 4(1), 7 of Regulation 6/2002 , ‘Design Regulation’). 7(1) Design Regulation ). 7(1) Design Regulation ). 6 of Directive 2005/29/EC.

Designs 76