ARTICLE · 05 SEPTEMBER 2013

Online Image Searches For Designs And Marks

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An online image search tool for figurative trademarks and designs could be launched under new proposals by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market.

United KingdomIntellectual Property

Michael Booher

An online image search tool for figurative trademarks and designs could be launched under new proposals by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM).

OHIM is currently developing a tool to carry out image searching online in line with feedback received from delegates at the international conference held to celebrate 10 years of the Registered Community Design (RCD) system in April 2013, on how to improve the RCD system.

Would the adoption of an online image search tool improve the RCD system, as applicants could more easily assess whether or not similar designs already exist prior to filing? Could this tool lead to bad practices or risks where the owners of designs are uploading images of as yet unfiled designs? What do you think? Tweet us @EIP_Designs

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