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.
7.
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
9.
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!
14.
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.