BUSINESS BRIEF: NORWAY


BUSINESS BRIEF: NORWAY Patents


How do you register or secure patent rights, and is national or international coverage most appropriate?


Protection of a patent in Norway is obtained by a national application, by nationalisation of a Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application within the 31-month term, or by validation of a European patent.


A national patent granted in Norway is valid within the Norwegian territory. Seeking protection in a number of countries may be costly compared to obtaining protection through a PCT application or validation of a European patent. Te choice of protection in Norway will therefore depend on the applicant’s overall strategy and the number of countries it wishes to obtain protection in.


Norway has not signed the London Agreement, and the complete specification must be in Norwegian. Te applicant will not need an attorney domiciled in Norway, but all office communications will be in Norwegian.


What are the costs of obtaining and defending a patent?


Official fees for obtaining a patent (national or PCT application) based on a 20-page application amount to about €1,000 ($1,300), including fees in connection with examination and grant of the patent. For companies with fewer than 21 employees, the total official fees are about €300 ($400). Te official fee for validation of a European patent is €140 ($180).


Te applicant must also account for possible attorney fees for filing the application. Tis charge will normally amount to between €1,300 ($1,700) and €1,900 ($2,500). Expenses for dealing with office actions will be extra.


A granted patent can be challenged either by opposition proceedings or by a nullity action in


front of the regular courts. Te costs involved in such procedures vary, depending on the technical and legal complexity of the case. In court suits, the losing party normally pays the winning party’s cost.


Where can you find information on existing patents in your jurisdiction?


Te Norwegian Industrial Property Office’s (NIPO’s) online database provides search options for applications, validations and patents granted by NIPO: www.patentstyret.no


What are the key threats to patent owners, and what is the best strategy if you suspect someone is infringing your patent?


One key threat is invalidity claims by a third party, oſten resulting in revocation of the patent, in part or in whole. Moreover, activities involving infringing products or other action representing violation of the patent owner’s protection are relevant situations for a patent owner. Patent disputes are common, and the first step will normally be a cease and desist letter to the alleged infringer, with regard to an out of court-settlement. Criminal and civil procedures are available should the parties not succeed in reaching an arrangement. In these procedures, the infringer oſten puts forward a counterclaim for invalidation.


Have there been any changes to the patent law(s) in the last 12 months?


Tere have not been any changes. It should be mentioned that there has been an amendment to the patent regulations, allowing NIPO to establish cooperation with other patent authorities with regard to the use of office actions on patentability.


Trademarks


How do you register or secure trademark rights, and what protection do they grant? Protection of a trademark is obtained through establishment by use, registration through a


134 World Intellectual Property Review Annual 2012


national application or by designating Norway in an international registration under the Madrid Protocol.


What are the costs for registering and defending a trademark?


NIPO charges an application fee of about €300 ($400). Each additional class exceeding three costs €80 ($100). Tere is no official fee in connection with re-examination of an application, or with registration of the mark. An applicant should also account for attorney fees, which will amount to about €500 ($670) if no provisional refusal or other office actions are issued, and no oppositions are filed by third parties.


A registered trademark can be challenged either by opposition proceedings within three months of publication, or by a nullity action in front of NIPO or the District Court of Oslo. Te costs involved in such procedures vary, depending on the legal complexity of the case. In court suits, the losing party normally pays the winning party’s costs.


What are the key threats to trademark owners and what is the best strategy for dealing with infringement?


Te main threats are import and sales of counterfeit products and infringement by a third party’s use of identical or similar signs. A third party’s domain registration of the holder’s trademark is also a problem. Increased sales of infringing products over the Internet are becoming a more serious issue.


Criminal and civil procedures are available to enforce a trademark right against infringement. Civil enforcement will normally be initiated by a cease and desist letter to the infringer.


Public prosecution will take place only at the request of the injured party, unless it is required in the public interest.


www.worldipreview.com


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