The EU wishes to better protect Intellectual Property in the future. Consequently they have adopted a proposal for guidelines which should call a halt to the increasing numbers of copyright and trademark infringements. These measures aim at more consistency in laws within the EU member states as well as at a closer European-wide collaboration. By adopting theses guidelines the Commission want to put out a clear political signal in the struggle against product and trademark piracy.
Consistency in the relevant legal regulations of EU member states should be a minimum requirement for getting hold of this wrongdoing at the roots, said Franco Frattini, the Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Justice, Freedom, and Security. He made reference to the damages that have come about through the multiplicity of infringements of Intellectual Property. All economic sectors in Europe are threatened in this way. The proposal being put forward by the Commission should be valid for all types of Intellectual Property infringement. According to this proposal, every deliberate infringement committed in a commercial environment will be deemed as against the law, as well as any attempt at infringement or any assistance or incitement of it.
Penalties are also laid down in the guidelines. It is intended that an infringement of Intellectual Property Rights could lead to the imposition of a prison sentence of up to four years, if the criminal act was committed by a criminal organization or if this act caused a danger to health or security of the consumer.. Under the same regulations, financial penalties of at least 100,000 to 300,000 Euros would be possible. The regulations allow for the possibility of EU member states going beyond these figures.
Source: Marken Business
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