Title of initiative

Twinning Light Project: Intellectual Property Awareness, Training and Enforcement

1. General presentation

1.1 Overview

This was a Twinning Light project financed by the European Commission (Twinning Contract Number MT04-IP-OT-06) between the Maltese Industrial Property Registrations Directorate, Commerce Division and the Danish Patent and Trademark Office aiming to map out and implement a holistic strategy for enforcement, training and awareness in the area of Intellectual Property Rights. The project outlined three main deliverables :

• Development of a comprehensive strategy on the fight against piracy involving all the national administrative actors (namely the Police, Customs, the Attorney General and the Commerce Division) and formulation of an Action Plan for its implementation.
• Creation of an Intellectual Property Training and Awareness Dissemination Unit at the Commerce Division and training of staff in mounting effective awareness campaigns.
• Training of Customs officers and Police officials to better fulfil their duties in the area of enforcement.

According to the project’s final report, all of these deliverables were achieved.

The project, which was implemented between 3 June 2005 and 31 March 2006, included training seminars and an awareness campaign.

There are continuing benefits from all the three areas in the project. The establishment of an “IPR alliance” between the Commerce Division, Attorney General, Police and Customs will be a vital centre for the protection and enhancement of IPRs in Malta. The Alliance will meet at top level twice a year and be able to concentrate and coordinate the effort in the area, including incorporating the judiciary and rightsholders in the work. The Commerce Division has assumed the ownership of this process and a powerful basis for future training and awareness activities has been established there . The training of the Police and Customs officers will provide added value in the operational and investigative enforcement of IPRs.

According to the project’s final report, the Maltese Government administration is today better equipped to protect Intellectual Property Rights.

1.2 Sector focus

Sector:

No specific sector

1.3 Institution (managing initiative)

Industrial Property Registrations Directorate, Commerce Division

2. Detailed Information

2.1 Start date

3 June 2005

2.2 End date

31 March 2006

2.3 Budget

-

2.4 Type of initiative

Initial Information & Signposting

Dedicated Information Provision

Dedicated Services

Professional Advice

Training

International Liaison & Actions by Business Organisations

Funding & Evaluation

Public Access & Co-ordination Measures

Other (specify):

2.5 Type of IPR

All IPR

Industrial Property

Inventions :

Patents

Utility Models

Plant Varieties

Topographies of Semiconductor Products

Distinctive Signs :

Trade Marks

Trade Names

Geographical Indications, Designations of Origin

Aesthetic Creations:

Designs (industrial design)

Intellectual Property

Literary, Scientific, Artistic Creations :

Copyright

Neighbouring Rights

Rights in Common Law, Tort, Competition Law etc.

Trade Secrets, Licensing & Confidentiality Agreements

2.6 Stage in Enforcement Process

All Stages

Registration

Business Planning / Strategy

Investigations

Administrative Procedures

Litigation

Other (specify):

3. Evaluation of Initiative

3.1 Overall appraisal

‘All [initiative]…deliverables were achieved…[and]…the Maltese government administration is as a result better equipped to protect Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)’ – Twinning Light Project Final Report dated 30 June 2006.

4. Further Information

4.1 Document References

Twinning Light Project Final Report dated 30 June 2006 (MT04-IP-OT-06)

4.2 Web Site

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4.3 Contacts

Michelle Bonello

Director Industrial Property Registration

Commerce Division Lascaris

Valletta

Tel 00356 25690306

e-mail michelle.bonello@gov.mt

4.4 Information Source

IPR Enforcement Support Expert Group