EU Customs, IP Enforcement Regulation Provides Major Benefits to Rights Holders

摘要

The European Council and Parliament have published proposed text of a new regulation dealing with customs and intellectual property enforcement, to replace Regulation 1383/2003. It brings in an important, welcomed new procedure in relation to small consignments, but otherwise makes only relatively minor changes to the existing regime. Most debate is likely to concentrate on aspects of the existing regulation which have not been significantly changed, in particular regarding goods in transit. The new regulation was subject to a vote in the IMCO Committee of the EU Parliament on January 24, and to a further plenary vote in April. It is scheduled to apply from January 1, 2014. The main provisions are summarised in the following.