With the entry into force of the new Patent Act (Official Gazette No. 16/2020), it is possible to protect a new form of intellectual property in the Republic of Croatia; the utility model. The aim of ...this paper is to investigate the characteristics of that institute, especially its scope of protection and in this regard to analyse the similarities and differences of the newly introduced institute in relation to similar industrial property rights that exist in comparative law. Furthermore, the paper will attempt to demonstrate the similarities and the differences between the protection of the utility model and the consensual patent that existed in the Republic of Croatia before the adoption of the new Act.
Uspoređuju se oznake zemljopisnog podrijetla kao posebna prava industrijskog vlasništva čija je zaštita uspostavljena u Europskoj uniji i žigovi. Sagledavaju se sličnosti i razlike u odnosu na ...teritorijalnost, trajanje zaštite i razinu inventivnosti koja se traži za priznavanje zaštite. Prikazuju se razlike u pogledu ovlaštenika tih prava te same funkcije tih prava. Razmatra se odnos oznaka zemljopisnog podrijetla kao posebnih prava industrijskog vlasništva u Europskoj uniji i žigova prema generičnosti te se uspoređuju propisani uvjeti za registraciju i postupci registracije tih prava. Naposljetku, objašnjava se različit opseg zaštite tih prava. Pritom se rasprava o razlikama u osnovnim obilježjima dovodi u vezu s različitim pristupom i načinima na koji države štite oznake zemljopisnog podrijetla te tako ispituje osnova sukoba na međunarodnom planu između država koje im pružaju zaštitu isključivo u okviru žigovnog prava i onih koji zagovaraju njihovu proširenu zaštitu kao posebnih prava industrijskog vlasništva.
Legal context
Domain names are primarily Internet addresses but also serve as business identifiers. There is still no common standpoint on the legal nature of domain names.
Key points
Are domain ...names property or just relative rights that result from the contractual relationship between the registrar and the person registering the domain name? Neither national legislations nor the international agreements address this issue. The idea of domain as property has over time become more significant and more or less prevailed. Given the fact that there is no legislation recognizing domain names as property or regulating the scope of such a right in a domain name, and that the case law on whether domain names are considered property is different from country to country, the legal nature of domain names depends mainly on the applicable law in question.
Practical significance
If we consider them property then the fact that they are intangible and represent a right to a domain name means that they are very similar to intellectual property rights. However the scope of such property right cannot be defined by applying old rules and there are more fields in which the recognition of domain names as property would have impact. Perhaps in the future, legislation will recognize domain names as a sui generic intellectual property right defining its scope of protection as to protect its function as a business identifier.
Pojmovno se definiraju poslovne tajne i objašnjavaju karakteristike i
specifičnosti njihove zaštite. Poslovne se tajne razmatraju u kontekstu
intelektualnog vlasništva, te ih se uspoređuje s drugim, ...formalnim pravima
intelektualnog vlasništva. Sagledava se kako je zaštita poslovnih tajni uređena
na međunarodnom planu te se analiziraju odredbe Direktive EU 2016/943 o zaštiti
neotkrivenih znanja i iskustva te poslovnih informacija (poslovne tajne) od
nezakonitog pribavljanja, korištenja i otkrivanja, kao i razlozi za njezino
donošenje. Govori se o važnosti njihove zaštite za poslovanje, osobito za
poticanje inovacija. Prikazuje se na koji je način spomenuta Direktiva
implementirana i kako je uspostavljen sustav zaštite poslovnih tajni kao oblika
intelektualnog vlasništva u Republici Hrvatskoj donošenjem Zakona o zaštiti
neobjavljenih informacija s tržišnom vrijednosti. Naposljetku, razmatra se primjena
Direktive o provedbi prava intelektualnog vlasništva na povrede poslovnih
tajni. Ukazuje se da je važnost Direktive EU 2016/943 prije svega u
harmonizaciji pravila građanskopravnog postupka, dok će u tumačenju opsega
zaštite poslovnih tajnivi predviđenih iznimaka značajnu ulogu imati sudska
praksa.
Concept of trade secrets is defined and the characteristics and
specifics of trade secrets protection are explained. Trade secrets are
considered in the context of intellectual property, and are compared to other,
formal intellectual property rights. Protection of trade secrets on the
international level is presented and the provisions of Directive /EU) 2016/943
on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business
information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure
are analysed as well as the reasons for its adoption. Importance of trade
secrets protection for business, especially to foster innovation is
highlighted. It is reviewed how the mentioned Directive was implemented in the
Republic of Croatia and how the system of protection of trade secrets as a form
of intellectual property was established by adopting the Act on the Protection
of Undisclosed Information with Market Value. Finally, the application of the
Directive on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in cases of unlawful
acquisition, use and disclosure of trade secrets is investigated. It is
indicated that the significance of the EU Directive 2016/943 is primarily in
the harmonization of the rules of civil procedure, while the jurisprudence will
have an important role in the interpretation of the scope of protection of
trade secrets and the application of foreseen exceptions.
Posljednjih desetljeća, diljem svijeta, u inim industrijama, može se uočiti sve veća uporaba tradicijskih imena i simbola na komercijalnim proizvodima. Osobito često dolazi do korištenja urođeničkih ...imena i simbola na komercijalnim proizvodima neurođenika u državama u kojima su veće urođeničke zajednice kao što su SAD, Kanada, Australija i Novi Zeland. Takva praksa urođenicima nije prihvatljiva - ili zbog toga što je uvredljiva ili što iskorištava, a katkad i narušava njihov ugled. Osobito neprihvatljivom praksom urođenici smatraju kad neurođenici prisvajaju urođeničke oznake. Cilj je rada ispitati obuhvaća li konvencionalni sustav žigovnoga prava mehanizme čijom se primjenom može osigurati zaštita od neprimjerne uporabe tradicijskih oznaka. Radi ostvarenja navedenoga cilja, analiziraju se međunarodni i europski izvori iz područja žigovnoga prava, ali i specifična nacionalna rješenja. Istraživanje je pokazalo kako konvencionalni sustavi žigovnoga prava samo u iznimnim situacijama tradicionalnim oznakama mogu osigurati zaštitu od zloupotreba. Zbog toga pojedine države (u kojima su urođeničke zajednice brojnije, a javne politike usmjerene na zaštitu urođenika) različitim intervencijama u konvencionalne sustave žigovnoga prava nastoje povećati učinkovitost u borbi protiv uvredljive uporabe urođeničkih oznaka. Prikazuje se kako je na Novom Zelandu uveden koncept kulturološke uvrede kao apsolutnoga razloga za odbijanje registracije žiga, dok su u Kanadi uvedene, tzv. službene oznake kao posebne vrste žiga, te se razmatra doseg takvih intervencija i mogu li takvi primjeri biti relevantni za Europsku uniju. Analizira se kakve se slične intervencije u konvencionalni sustav žigovnoga prava primjenjuju u Europskoj uniji kako bi se osigurala zaštita od neprimjerene uporabe europskih autohtonih i tradicijskih oznaka.
Since few decades ago, the use of traditional insignias on commercial products has been increasing, across the globe. In particular, the use of indigenous insignias on commercial products of non-indigenous origin is often in countries such as USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand where there are larger indigenous communities. Either as offensive or exploitative the respective practice is unacceptable for indigenous people. Appropriation of traditional insignias by non-indigenous people - i.e. registering indigenous names and symbols as trademarks for commercial products of non-indigenous origin has been considered as particularly unacceptable practice. The aim of the paper is to assess whether the conventional trademark law system contains mechanisms that can combat inappropriate use of traditional insignias. In order to achieve respective goal, international and European sources in the field of trademark law, as well as specific national solutions, are analyzed. Research has revealed that conventional trademark law systems provide protection against misuse of traditional insignias only in exceptional occasions. Therefore, certain countries, where there are larger indigenous communities and public policies are focused on the prevention of offensive use of indigenous insignias, have introduced minor or larger intervention in their conventional trademark law systems to increase effectiveness when it comes to combating offensive uses of indigenous insignias. It is shown how in New Zealand the concept of cultural offense as an absolute ground for trademark refusal is introduced while in Canada official insignia as a special type of trademark is introduced. The impact of those interventions is considered and whether these could be relevant for the European union. Similar interventions applicable in the conventional European trademark law for the protection against inappropriate use of European indigenous and traditionalindications are analyzed.
Since few decades ago, the use of traditional insignias on commercial products has been increasing, across the globe. In particular, the use of indigenous insignias on commercial products of ...non-indigenous origin is often in countries such as USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand where there are larger indigenous communities. Either as offensive or exploitative the respective practice is unacceptable for indigenous people. Appropriation of traditional insignias by non-indigenous people - i.e. registering indigenous names and symbols as trademarks for commercial products of non-indigenous origin has been considered as particularly unacceptable practice. The aim of the paper is to assess whether the conventional trademark law system contains mechanisms that can combat inappropriate use of traditional insignias. In order to achieve respective goal, international and European sources in the field of trademark law, as well as specific national solutions, are analyzed. Research has revealed that conventional trademark law systems provide protection against misuse of traditional insignias only in exceptional occasions. Therefore, certain countries, where there are larger indigenous communities and public policies are focused on the prevention of offensive use of indigenous insignias, have introduced minor or larger intervention in their conventional trademark law systems to increase effectiveness when it comes to combating offensive uses of indigenous insignias. It is shown how in New Zealand the concept of cultural offense as an absolute ground for trademark refusal is introduced while in Canada official insignia as a special type of trademark is introduced. The impact of those interventions is considered and whether these could be relevant for the European union. Similar interventions applicable in the conventional European trademark law for the protection against inappropriate use of European indigenous and traditional indications are analyzed.
U članku se prikazuju sličnosti i razlike oznaka zemljopisnog podrijetla i žigova. Oznake zemljopisnog podrijetla i žigovi uspoređuju se pojmovno te se upućuje na različite situacije u kojima oznake ...mogu sadržavati zemljopisni pojam. Definiraju se jednostavne i kvalificirane oznake zemljopisnog podrijetla i sagledavaju međunarodno prihvaćeni standardi zaštite klasificiranih oznaka zemljopisnog podrijetla. Prikazuju se različiti pristupi i načini na koji države štite oznake zemljopisnog podrijetla te se pritom ispituje osnova sukoba na međunarodnom planu između država koje im pružaju zaštitu isključivo u okviru žigovnog prava i onih koji zagovaraju njihovu proširenu zaštitu kao posebnih, sui generis, prava industrijskog vlasništva.
Pravni standard zle vjere javlja se u žigovnom pravu na više mjesta i vezano uz nekoliko pravnih instituta. Zlu vjeru nalazimo kod ograničenja prava zbog toleriranja uporabe kasnijeg žiga, kao ...iznimku primjene načela povjerenja u registar žigova te kao razlog za odbijanje registracije žiga. Cilj je rada prikazati kada se zla vjera javlja u žigovnom pravu, a posebno obratiti pažnju na zlu vjeru kao razlog za odbijanje registracije žiga. Posebno se razmatra činjenica što hrvatsko pravo ne poznaje takav razlog, te se vrši usporedba s pravom Europske unije gdje ovakav razlog postoji, ne samo u zakonima svih država članica nego je i razlog za odbijanje registracije žiga Zajednice. Analizira se praksa Europske unije u tumačenju ovog pojma te u pogledu dokazivanje postojanja zle vjere. Ističe se položaj žigova prijavljenih u zloj vjeri u mehanizmu proširenja učinaka žiga Zajednice na novo pridruženu državu Europskoj uniji zbog čega će se sudovi u Republici Hrvatskoj vrlo skoro, ulaskom u Europsku uniju, susresti sa ovim pravnim standardom.
On domain names and trademarks Marinkovic, Ana Racki
Journal of Internet Law,
06/2012, Letnik:
15, Številka:
12
Journal Article, Trade Publication Article
The domain name system is the underlying system on which the Internet functions. The Internet is based on an addressing system in which each computer connected to the Internet has a unique numeric ...Internet protocol (IP) address. Because these numerical addresses would be hard to remember, each numerical address is represented by a user-friendly form, which is called the domain name. Domain names nowadays serve as business identifiers, and not only as mnemonics for numerical IP addresses. From this, it follows that trademarks and domain names share many common features. The essential function of trademarks is to indicate the origin of the goods or services for which they are used. Applying trademark rules in conflicts involving domain names is not always straightforward. Many controversies about the conflict of domain names and trademarks might be solved if there were legislation in place that would recognize domain names as property and structure these as property rights at the same time.
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