Already more than 80 of applications coming through our Web site says Wubbo de Boer

During the economic depression, the intellectual property offices are adjusting to help companies become more competitive. After the national Institute of industrial property (Inpi), including all databases are in free access on the Internet for two weeks ("Les Echos" on April 6, 2009), the Office for harmonization in the internal market (OHIM) marks a great blow by announcing, from May 1, a decrease of 40 of the cost of the Community trade mark. Introduced in 1996, it provides legal protection in each of the 27 Member States of the European Union, through a single application.

"This decline is the result of significant efforts made in recent years to make the office more productive." "As a European Agency non profit, it is obvious that we need to share these benefits with our customers," claims Wubbo de Boer, President of the OHIM.

More spectacular as it sounds, this is first the result of a strong industrial lobbying. "It took lead a fierce battle for four years where some Member States would have preferred to see a portion of these profits be reconveyed them", explains Thierry sweat, Chairman of the Committee of intellectual property of the Medef. "Because some national offices consider the OHIM as a competitor but, with the active support of its President, we have managed to rally to the cause of companies", explains Thierry sweat, who is also Director of the intellectual property of the Air Liquide group.

European passport

For all companies, it is somewhat the European passport that will ensure the protection of a mark in all countries, for a renewable period of ten years without additional costs, at a price defying any competition: 900 euros for a request online, 1,600 euros currently and 1,050 euros by correspondence, against 1.750 euro. This significant decrease, which should encourage more SMEs to file their trademarks, is primarily due to a drastic reduction in taxes, which, until April 30, amounted to 850 euros per request. "I want to clarify that this decline is not specifically aimed at SMEs as such and we're not trying to file a Community trade mark at any cost if they are not useful," insists the President of the OHIM. "But it is certain that today ', with the European market, even small businesses can consider to easily expand their activity in one or two countries outside their borders." With a more incentive rate for an application on the Net which is perfectly in line with the strategy of OHIM to achieve 100 electronic deposits of here in a few years. Already, "more than 80 of applications coming through our Web site", says Wubbo de Boer.

On a comparative basis, Inpi invoice 200 euros for filing electronic mark, in place since October 2008, and 225 euros for a request under paper format. "I hope this is a booster France, is a large depositor of patents but who is behind protection brands at European level", explains Thierry sweat, believing that France should occupy the first or second in Europe. However, with 37,000 registered between 1996 and 2008, Community trade marks the France ranks 'good' sixth behind the Germany list, followed by the United States, the United Kingdom, the Italy and the Spain.

Seize the opportunity

"Be that French companies seize the ball to bond", insists Thierry sweat, before highlighting a key detail: it is sufficient to operate the Community trademark in one country for that protection is locked in the other 26.

What impact will be the second reduction after a first drop of 25 reached in 2005 "We collect not directly information concerning areas of activity of our users but we know, for example, that the classes of goods and popular services, for which French companies filing Community trade marks, products and technological services, telecommunications or the Edition", underlines Wubbo de Boer. "The majority of companies holding of Community trade marks are European, about 66, and most are very likely SMEs", he added. 500.000E Community trade mark registered last year is to develop the assets of a small Italian company, Handy Dandy Design.