Enforcement Best Practices
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Summary:
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IPO SR activities for SMEs |
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1. General presentation |
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1.1 Overview |
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The Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic (IPO SR) is the central body for implementing and enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) in Slovakia. The IPO SR has developed no special initiative on counterfeiting, but elements of this issue are contained in some more general activities developed by the IPO SR: a) The IPO SR regularly advises the broader public on issues relating to intellectual property rights. In 2006 the IPO SR created a special (sub)-webpage for SMEs describing IPO SR activities aimed at SMEs, such as opportunities for IPR advice and courses for entrepreneurs. b) In 2006, the IPO SR completed building a network of 13 regional information and advice points on innovation – ‘The Innoinfo network’. The network is aimed at providing services to SMEs in the field of innovations and IPR management and enforcement. The Innoinfo points are established in business incubators, regional advice and information centres, Universities and regional offices of the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The project includes distribution of professional literature on IPR and ad-hoc advice and seminars for entrepreneurs on IPR management. c) The IPO SR also manages a network of 10 Information and Contact Points, of which 4 provide patent information. The Points work with the major Slovak libraries and provide information on patent issues for SMEs. |
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1.2 Sector focus |
Sector: No specific sector |
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1.3 Institution (managing initiative) |
The Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic |
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2. Detailed Information |
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2.1 Start date |
April 2006 |
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2.2 End date |
- |
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2.3 Budget |
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2.4 Type of initiative
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Initial Information & Signposting Dedicated Information Provision: Special IPR website for SMEs Dedicated Services Professional Advice Training: IPR management seminars for entrepreneurs International Liaison & Actions by Business Organisations Funding & Evaluation Public Access & Co-ordination Measures: Regional co-ordination of IPR issues Other (specify): |
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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 |
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2.6 Stage in Enforcement Process |
All Stages Registration Business Planning / Strategy Investigations Administrative Procedures Litigation Other (specify): Not specified |
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3. Evaluation of Initiative |
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3.1 Overall appraisal |
Technopolis appraisal: 4 (1 = very unsatisfactory , 5 = very successful) Some results of the project have already appeared. Thus, 2006 witnessed a 100% increase in numbers of patents granted compared to 2004. Numbers of national industrial designs and trademarks have also increased significantly. There is a tendency on the market in Slovakia towards increasing the share of branded products that guarantee a certain quality level and a clear trend towards diminishing shares of non-branded and/or counterfeited products. Numbers of national patents registered in Slovakia are very low by international standards. In 2003, Slovakia produced some 0.3 patents per million population (EU25 = 32.7 patents). In 2006, the number of the Community trademarks per million population were 10.8 in Slovakia, while 100.7 in EU25. In the same year, Slovakia produced 17.3 Community industrial designs per million population, while EU25 average was 110.9 designs. Low production of IPR products was related to destruction of R&D system after 1989. Any initiative aimed at improving IPR system, is therefore extremely important in Slovakia. |
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4. Further Information |
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4.1 Document References |
IPO SR 2006 Annual Report: Správa o činnosti Úradu priemyselného vlastníctva Slovenskej republiky za rok 2006 (in Slovak): http://www.rokovania.gov.sk/appl/material.nsf/0/D111408DF27D5AC4C12572920042BE71?OpenDocument |
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4.2 Web Site |
Website for the initiative: http://www.indprop.gov.sk/index2.php?lang=en&idd=30&idd2=3006 |
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4.3 Contacts
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Ingrid Maruniakova Head of the Legal Department Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic ul. Jána Švermu 43 974 04 Banská Bystrica 4 Slovak Republic Phone: +421 48/4300 131 |
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4.4 Information Source |
Technopolis report: “Effects of counterfeiting on EU SMEs and a review of various public and private IPR enforcement initiatives and resources” |
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Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights |
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1. General presentation |
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1.1 Overview |
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The project - which in particular consists of training and an online database supported by an information campaign - will provide the basics for a more effective and targeted enforcement of intellectual property rights in Slovakia. The project is related to the implementation of Directive 2004/48/EC of 29 th April 2004 on the enforcement of intellectual property rights. The transposition of the Directive into national law was finished in the first part of 2007 – by Act No. 84/2007 Col. which came into force on March 1 st 2007. Training is seen as a main element of the enforcement of intellectual property rights within the Community framework. Basic training of national judges is considered particular necessary in respect of preliminary rulings of the EU Court of Justice. The training should cover the new Directive 2004/48/EC in general, stressing the proper application in respect of ratio legis . During the training special attention will be paid to issues such as relationship between exceptions and limitations and technical protection measures, the right to fair compensation, the principle of EC exhaustion, etc. The specific objectives of the different instruments are as follows: - Development of the integrated database would enhance relevant rulings/orders of national courts as well as the decisions of some national administrative authorities - the IPO and district authorities. It should promote more consistency in ruling in similar intellectual property cases. - The campaign will be aimed at the general public and stakeholders directly involved in IPR issues, such as law companies, rights holders etc. Type of media used: radio, Internet, printed media and probably also television depending upon agreement with broadcasters. The impact of the information campaign will be evaluated by counting the number of visits to the database before and after the campaign. - Workshops and training contributing to successful application of IPR enforcement tools in compliance with national legislation being fully harmonized with EU law. |
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1.2 Sector focus |
Sector: No specific sector |
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1.3 Institution (managing initiative) |
Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic Media, Audiovisual and Copyright Department |
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2. Detailed Information |
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2.1 Start date |
2008 |
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2.2 End date |
- |
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2.3 Budget |
Financed through the Transition Facility 2005 |
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2.4 Type of initiative
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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): |
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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 |
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2.6 Stage in Enforcement Process |
All Stages Registration Business Planning / Strategy Investigations Administrative Procedures Litigation Other (specify): N/A |
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3. Evaluation of Initiative |
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3.1 Overall appraisal |
N/A |
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4. Further Information |
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4.1 Document References |
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4.2 Web Site |
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4.3 Contacts
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Veronika Striežencová Tel: +4212 59391232, Fax: +4212 29391174 veronika.striezencova@culture.gov.sk Anton Škreko Tel: +4212/59391604, Fax: +4212/29391174 |
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4.4 Information Source |
IPR Enforcement Support Expert Group |
