BRUSSELS - The European Commission adopted, on July 24, 2007, two regulations which are necessary to give effect to the accession of the European Community (EC) to the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.
According to a press release by EUROPA, the adoption follows the Council's approval of the EC accession to the international design registration system of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on December 18, 2006. The EC accession will allow European Union (EU) companies, with a single application, to obtain protection of a design not only throughout the EU with the Community design, but also in the countries which are members of the Geneva Act.
The first text amends Regulation No. 2245/2002 implementing Council Regulation No. 6/2002 on Community designs. The modifications relate to the examination for registration and for renewals, to the means of communication with the International Bureau and to publicity relating to international registrations designating the Community. In addition, some modifications have been included to simplify the administration of the designs proceedings by the Office for the Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), which is in charge of handling the administration of the registered Community designs.
The second text amends Regulation No. 2246/2002 concerning the fees payable to the OHIM. The modifications relate to the administration of individual fees for international registration designating the EC.
The regulations will enter into force once the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement is applied to the EC which is expected to be January 1, 2008.