The European Commission (the “Commission”) has released a report which sets out a future strategy for the creation of a single market for intellectual property (“IP”) rights in Europe. It is envisaged a single IP market will promote European economic growth, innovation, competitiveness and high quality job creation. The Commission further proposes that a unified IP market will help overcome fragmentation and regulatory problems which currently exist in the European IP market. One of the central aims of the Commission’s report is to develop a European system for managing IP that adequately addresses current developments in technology.

It its report, the Commission outlines a number of key policy reforms and initiatives in all areas of IP. One such recommendation is the streamlining and modernisation of the trade mark system at both national and EU levels through the formation of a more simplified and effective registration procedure, suitable to the digital age. The Commission also recommends enhancing legal certainty in relation to trade marks by clearly defining the scope of trade mark protection. Other Commission recommendations include the creation of unitary patent protection and litigation and the creation of a multi-territorial, comprehensive system of copyright management in Europe. The Commission also discusses the protection of other intangible assets such as trade secrets and the issues of IP piracy and counterfeiting.

While many of the proposals set out in the report are not clearly defined, the Commission will refer back to other European institutions such as the Parliament and the Council over the next year, outlining the development of these initiatives.

Contributed by Carol Plunkett.