ItALY
ItALY
tHE WoRDInG 'MADE In ItALY' Is ConsIDERED fALsE If
It Is UsED on GooDs tHAt Do not oRIGInAtE In ItALY
Th e latter provision (as further amended in September 2009) establishes that By limiting such sanctions to deceit on Italian origin only, there is a risk that
the wording Made in Italy is considered false if it is used on goods that do the provision itself might be considered unconstitutional and in violation of
not originate in Italy, under European legislation on the origin. According the Rome Treaty.
to Article 24 of the Community Customs Code (the applicable legislation),
“goods whose production involved more than one country shall be deemed
Finally, the 2009 publication of the draft Implementing Regulations to the
to originate in the country where they underwent their last, substantial,
Italian IP Code and their approaching enactment give an indication of IP
economically justifi ed processing or working in an undertaking equipped
in Italy in the year ahead. Th e approaching enactment of these regulations
for that purpose and resulting in the manufacture of a new product or
shows promise, paving the way for long-awaited opposition proceedings to
representing an important stage of manufacture”.
become operational in Italy at last.
Th e new law has introduced a further distinction between the wording
Made in Italy and expressions such as ‘100% Made in Italy’, ‘100% Italian’
Julia Holden is an English solicitor and qualifi ed Italian lawyer at Trevisan &
or ‘All Italian’ (in any language), or images (e.g. the Italian national fl ag),
Cuonzo, Avvocati. She can be contacted at: jholden@trevisancuonzo.com
which indicate that a product is entirely produced in Italy. Th e law says that
Edith Van den Eede is an Italian trademark and design attorney and a
using such an expression presumes that the design, project, manufacturing
professional representative before OHIM at Trevisan & Cuonzo, Avvocati. She
and packaging exclusively took place on Italian territory. Improper use of
can be contacted at: evandeneede@trevisancuonzo.com
the wording is now punishable by a term of imprisonment and a maximum
fi ne as set out in Article 517 CC. It eff ectively increases the term and fi ne by
one-third; the products can also be subject to a seizure order.
Julia Holden, a dual-qualifi ed English solicitor and Italian lawyer,
In addition, the new law establishes an administrative sanction of up to is a partner at trevisan & Cuonzo, Avvocati. she is and has been
€250,000 and administrative seizure in the event of use of a trademark that may practising with the fi rm since it was founded in 1993 and works
lead consumers to believe that the product originates in Italy, but that doesn’t
in all areas of intellectual property.
bear a clear indication that the product is produced abroad, or otherwise causes
Edith Van den Eede is an associate at trevisan & Cuonzo,
confusion over the product’s origin. A clear-cut example would be the use of
Avvocati and a qualifi ed Italian and oHIM trademark and design
a mark ‘Bella Italia’ on a product made entirely in Turkey, but even the use of
attorney, specialising in all aspects of trademark and design
a mark consisting of an Italian surname or a well-known Italian expression or
protection.
slogan, such as ‘Mamma mia’ or ‘Buon appetito’, could also pose problems if
there is no clear indication that the entire production took place abroad.
104 World Intellectual Property Review Digest 2009 www.worldipreview.com
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