Intellectual Property Issues in International Commerce
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This document discusses intellectual property issues related to international commerce. It begins by providing hypothetical scenarios about a company selling a patented mousetrap and trademark infringement across borders. It then defines various types of intellectual property including patents, trademarks, domain names, copyrights and trade secrets. The bulk of the document focuses on trademarks and domain names, explaining what they are, different types of trademark protection, how to search trademarks, and advantages to federal trademark registration. It emphasizes the importance of protecting intellectual property in the US first and searching other jurisdictions before commerce. It also covers international considerations regarding trademarks, domain names, and other issues like licensing, piracy, and international agreements.
Intellectual Property Issues in International Commerce
- 1. Intellectual Property Issues inIntellectual Property Issues in International CommerceInternational Commerce International Law SectionInternational Law Section Idaho State BarIdaho State Bar October 27, 2011October 27, 2011 Brad FrazerBrad Frazer Hawley TroxellHawley Troxell 208.388.4875208.388.4875 bfrazer@hawleytroxell.combfrazer@hawleytroxell.com
- 2. Why do you care?Why do you care? Hypothetical: Your client starts selling itsHypothetical: Your client starts selling its patented mousetrap in the U.S. under thepatented mousetrap in the U.S. under the trademark “Mouseraser.” Six weeks later, youtrademark “Mouseraser.” Six weeks later, you learn that a company in Sweden is selling thelearn that a company in Sweden is selling the patented mousetrap there under the brand namepatented mousetrap there under the brand name “Mousey-Racer.”“Mousey-Racer.” Hypothetical: Two months later, that sameHypothetical: Two months later, that same Swedish company starts selling mouse poison inSwedish company starts selling mouse poison in the U.S. under the “Mousey-Racer” brand. Thatthe U.S. under the “Mousey-Racer” brand. That same company also registered the domainsame company also registered the domain names “mouseraser.se,” “mousey-racer.com”names “mouseraser.se,” “mousey-racer.com” and “mouseraser.cn.”and “mouseraser.cn.”
- 3. Types of Intellectual Property (“IP”)Types of Intellectual Property (“IP”) 1.1. PatentsPatents 2.2. TrademarksTrademarks 3.3. Domain Names (and Twitter usernames?Domain Names (and Twitter usernames? Facebook pages?)Facebook pages?) 4.4. CopyrightsCopyrights 5.5. Trade SecretsTrade Secrets 6.6. IP created by contract (“NDA’s”)IP created by contract (“NDA’s”) Focus today on trademarks and domainFocus today on trademarks and domain namesnames
- 4. What are trademarks?What are trademarks? A trademark or service mark is any word,A trademark or service mark is any word, slogan, logo, symbol, sound, color, smell,slogan, logo, symbol, sound, color, smell, or other item that serves as a means ofor other item that serves as a means of commercial source identification of acommercial source identification of a product or service.product or service. E.g., Nike, Coke, Geico Gecko--or GeicoE.g., Nike, Coke, Geico Gecko--or Geico CavemenCavemen
- 5. Types of U.S. TrademarkTypes of U.S. Trademark ProtectionProtection Common Law™ - unregisteredCommon Law™ - unregistered – In the U.S., trademark rights arise throughIn the U.S., trademark rights arise through use, not through registration.use, not through registration. State Registration – the “truly local”State Registration – the “truly local” Federal Registration® - interstateFederal Registration® - interstate Registration in the U.S. requiresRegistration in the U.S. requires acceptable “trademark use.”acceptable “trademark use.”
- 6. Trademark Electronic Search System(Tess) Record 1 out of 1 (6) FOR SITUATIONS FOR WHICH NO DRAWING IS POSSIBLE, SUCH AS SOUND Goods and Services IC 004. US 001 006 015. G & S: Oil based metal cutting fluid and oil based metal removal fluid for industrial metal working. FIRST USE: 20000131. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20000131 Mark Drawing Code (6) FOR SITUATIONS FOR WHICH NO DRAWING IS POSSIBLE, SUCH AS SOUND Serial Number 76079064 Filing Date June 20, 2000 Current Filing Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1A Supplemental Register Date December 18, 2001 Registration Number 2560618 Registration Date April 9, 2002 Owner (REGISTRANT) Midwest Biologicals, Inc. CORPORATION INDIANA 3404 State Road 101 Woodburn INDIANA 46797 Attorney of Record Mark F. Smith Description of Mark The mark is a scent mark having the scent of bubble gum.
- 8. Trademark Electronic Search System(Tess) Record 1 out of 1 (6) FOR SITUATIONS FOR WHICH NO DRAWING IS POSSIBLE, SUCH AS SOUND Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: computer hardware and computer operating software, microprocessors, integrated circuits and semiconductor devices. FIRST USE: 19941000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19941000 Mark Drawing Code (6) FOR SITUATIONS FOR WHICH NO DRAWING IS POSSIBLE, SUCH AS SOUND Serial Number 75332744 Filing Date July 29, 1997 Current Filing Basis 1A Original Filing Basis 1A Published for Opposition November 16, 1999 Registration Number 2315261 Registration Date February 8, 2000 Owner (REGISTRANT) Intel Corporation CORPORATION DELAWARE 2200 Mission College Blvd. Santa Clara CALIFORNIA 95052 Attorney of Record J PAUL WILLIAMSON Description of Mark The mark consists of a five tone audio progression of the notes D FLAT, D FLAT, G, D FLAT and A FLAT. Type of Mark TRADEMARK Register PRINCIPAL Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
- 10. Advantages to Federal (U.S.)Advantages to Federal (U.S.) Registration:Registration: Constructive notice nationwide of TM owner'sConstructive notice nationwide of TM owner's claim.claim. Evidence of ownership of the trademark.Evidence of ownership of the trademark. Jurisdiction of the federal courts may beJurisdiction of the federal courts may be invoked.invoked. Registration can be used as a basis forRegistration can be used as a basis for obtaining registration in foreign countries.obtaining registration in foreign countries. Registration may be recorded with U.S. CustomsRegistration may be recorded with U.S. Customs Service to prevent importation of infringingService to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods.foreign goods.
- 11. InfringementInfringement Is the defendant using a confusinglyIs the defendant using a confusingly similar trademark to sell or advertise asimilar trademark to sell or advertise a related line of goods or services?related line of goods or services? Is there a likelihood of consumerIs there a likelihood of consumer confusion as to the source of the infringingconfusion as to the source of the infringing goods?goods?
- 12. bfrazer@hawleytroxell.com / @bfrazjdbfrazer@hawleytroxell.com / @bfrazjd What are domain names?What are domain names? A domain name correlates words to aA domain name correlates words to a numeric identifier called an “IP Address”numeric identifier called an “IP Address” that tells your web browser where to lookthat tells your web browser where to look for a particular web site.for a particular web site. Top-level domains, e.g., .com and .netTop-level domains, e.g., .com and .net (gTLDs).(gTLDs). Second-level domains, e.g., “Amazon.”Second-level domains, e.g., “Amazon.” ccTLDs—e.g., .tw (Taiwan), .uk (UnitedccTLDs—e.g., .tw (Taiwan), .uk (United Kingdom), .cn (China), .se (Sweden); alsoKingdom), .cn (China), .se (Sweden); also are Top-level Domainsare Top-level Domains
- 13. Are trademarks and domain namesAre trademarks and domain names the same thing?the same thing? Amazon.com is bothAmazon.com is both What about Golden Acres RetirementWhat about Golden Acres Retirement Community, whose website URL isCommunity, whose website URL is boiseretirement.com?boiseretirement.com? Consider the impact of the new gTLDs!Consider the impact of the new gTLDs!
- 15. International Considerations:International Considerations: Always protect your IP in the UnitedAlways protect your IP in the United States first!States first! Creates priority dates for otherCreates priority dates for other jurisdictions.jurisdictions. Utilizes a familiar, definitive regulatory andUtilizes a familiar, definitive regulatory and statutory scheme.statutory scheme. Builds value and good will.Builds value and good will.
- 16. International Considerations:International Considerations: Always search in the otherAlways search in the other jurisdictions before commencingjurisdictions before commencing commerce!commerce! Dangers: infringement liabilityDangers: infringement liability Dangers: impoundmentDangers: impoundment Dangers: injunctionDangers: injunction
- 17. International Protection--International Protection-- TrademarksTrademarks Trademarks are “territorial.”Trademarks are “territorial.” National filingsNational filings Centralized filingsCentralized filings – Madrid Protocol (EU is now a contractingMadrid Protocol (EU is now a contracting party)party) – Community Trademark (EU)Community Trademark (EU)
- 18. International Protection—International Protection— Trademarks (cont’d)Trademarks (cont’d) ““First-to-File” Jurisdiction?First-to-File” Jurisdiction? – E.g., China, Germany, JapanE.g., China, Germany, Japan – Versus a “common law,” first-to-useVersus a “common law,” first-to-use jurisdiction (U.S., Canada, Australia)jurisdiction (U.S., Canada, Australia) – Conflicts are inevitableConflicts are inevitable Many times a combination of approachesMany times a combination of approaches is needed.is needed.
- 19. International Protection—International Protection— Domain NamesDomain Names Aggressive and proactive registrationAggressive and proactive registration of ccTLDs (.co is a lot like .com)of ccTLDs (.co is a lot like .com) ICANN UDRP—maybe; policies varyICANN UDRP—maybe; policies vary by registrar and registry. Seeby registrar and registry. See http://arbiter.wipo.int/domains/cctld_db/index.htmlhttp://arbiter.wipo.int/domains/cctld_db/index.html Anticybersquatting ConsumerAnticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act?Protection Act?
- 20. Other International IssuesOther International Issues Licensing and IP OwnershipLicensing and IP Ownership PiracyPiracy Agreement on Trade Related Aspects ofAgreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) – Signed October 1, 2011, by United States, Australia,Signed October 1, 2011, by United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore,Canada, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Koreaand South Korea Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) (Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) ( http://www.stopfakes.gov/http://www.stopfakes.gov/ )) U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionU.S. Customs and Border Protection
- 21. Take-AwaysTake-Aways Protect IP in the United States first.Protect IP in the United States first. Perform searches in target jurisdictions.Perform searches in target jurisdictions. Protect IP in other jurisdictions quickly.Protect IP in other jurisdictions quickly. – Note on patents and disclosures . . .Note on patents and disclosures . . . Use Treaties and Border Enforcement.Use Treaties and Border Enforcement.
- 22. Q & AQ & A