This Regulation entrusts the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) (‘the Office’) with tasks aimed at facilitating and supporting the activities of national authorities, the private sector and the Union institutions in the fight against infringements of the intellectual property rights covered by Directive 2004/48/EC. In carrying out these tasks the Office shall organise, administer and support the gathering of experts, authorities and stakeholders assembled under the name ‘European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights’ (‘the Observatory’).
The tasks and activities of the Office under this Regulation do not extend to participation in individual operations or investigations carried out by the competent authorities.
Article 2 -
Tasks and activities
1. The Office shall have the following tasks:
(a)
improving understanding of the value of intellectual property;
(b)
improving understanding of the scope and impact of infringements of intellectual property rights;
(c)
enhancing knowledge of best public and private sector practices to protect intellectual property rights;
(d)
assisting in raising citizens’ awareness of the impact of infringements of intellectual property rights;
(e)
enhancing the expertise of persons involved in the enforcement of intellectual property rights;
(f)
enhancing knowledge of technical tools to prevent and tackle infringements of intellectual property rights, including tracking and tracing systems which help to distinguish genuine products from counterfeit ones;
(g)
providing mechanisms which help to improve the online exchange, between Member States’ authorities working in the field of intellectual property rights, of information relating to the enforcement of such rights, and fostering cooperation with and between those authorities;
(h)
working, in consultation with Member States, to foster international cooperation with intellectual property offices in third countries so as to build strategies and develop techniques, skills and tools for the enforcement of intellectual property rights.
2. In the fulfilment of the tasks set out in paragraph 1, the Office shall carry out the following activities in accordance with the work programme adopted pursuant to Article 7, and in line with Union law:
(a)
establishing a transparent methodology for the collection, analysis and reporting of independent, objective, comparable and reliable data relating to infringements of intellectual property rights;
(b)
collecting, analysing and disseminating relevant objective, comparable and reliable data regarding infringements of intellectual property rights;
(c)
collecting, analysing and disseminating relevant objective, comparable and reliable data regarding the economic value of intellectual property and its contribution to economic growth, welfare, innovation, creativity, cultural diversity, the creation of high-quality jobs and the development of high quality products and services within the Union;
(d)
providing regular assessments and specific reports by economic sector, geographic area and type of intellectual property right infringed, which evaluate, inter alia, the impact of infringements of intellectual property rights on society and the economy, including an assessment of the effects on small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as on health, the environment, safety and security;
(e)
collecting, analysing and disseminating information regarding best practices between the representatives meeting as the Observatory, and, if applicable, making recommendations for strategies based on such practices;
(f)
drawing up reports and publications to raise awareness amongst Union citizens of the impact of infringements of intellectual property rights and to that end, organising conferences, events and meetings at European and international levels as well as assisting national and Europe-wide actions, including online and offline campaigns, principally by providing data and information;
(g)
monitoring the development of new competitive business models which enlarge the legal offer of cultural and creative content, and encouraging the exchange of information and raising consumer awareness in this respect;
(h)
developing and organising online and other forms of training for national officials involved in the protection of intellectual property rights;
(i)
organising ad hoc meetings of experts, including academic experts and relevant representatives of civil society, to support its work under this Regulation;
(j)
identifying and promoting technical tools for professionals and benchmark techniques, including tracking and tracing systems which help to distinguish genuine products from counterfeit ones;
(k)
working with national authorities and the Commission to develop an online network facilitating the exchange of information on infringements of intellectual property rights between public administrations, bodies and organisations in the Member States dealing with the protection and enforcement of those rights;
(l)
working in cooperation with, and building synergies between, the central industrial property offices of the Member States, including the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property and other Member States’ authorities working in the field of intellectual property rights, with a view to developing and promoting techniques, skills and tools relating to the enforcement of intellectual property rights, including training programmes and awareness campaigns;
(m)
developing, in consultation with the Member States, programmes for the provision of technical assistance to third countries as well as developing and delivering specific training programmes and events for officials from third countries who are involved in the protection of intellectual property rights;
(n)
making recommendations to the Commission on issues falling within the scope of this Regulation, on the basis of a request from the Commission;
(o)
carrying out similar activities necessary in order to enable the Office to fulfil the tasks set out in paragraph 1.
3. In carrying out the tasks and activities referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Office shall comply with existing provisions of Union law on data protection.
Article 3 -
Financing
The Office shall at all times ensure that the activities entrusted to it by this Regulation are carried out by making use of its own budgetary means.
Article 4 -
Meetings of the Observatory
1. In order to carry out the activities referred to in Article 2(2), the Office shall at least once per year invite to meetings of the Observatory representatives from public administrations, bodies and organisations in the Member States dealing with intellectual property rights and representatives from the private sector, for the purpose of their participation in the Office’s work under this Regulation.
2. Private-sector representatives invited to meetings of the Observatory shall include a broad, representative and balanced range of Union and national bodies representing the different economic sectors, including the creative industries, most concerned by or most experienced in the fight against infringements of intellectual property rights.
Consumer organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises, authors and other creators shall be properly represented.
3. The Office shall invite each Member State to send at least one representative from its public administration to meetings of the Observatory. In that context, Member States shall ensure continuity in the Observatory’s work.
4. The meetings referred to in paragraph 1 may be complemented by working groups within the Observatory made up of representatives from Member States and representatives from the private sector.
5. Where appropriate, and in addition to the meetings referred to in paragraph 1, the Office shall organise meetings consisting of:
(a)
representatives from the public administrations, bodies and organisations in the Member States; or
(b)
private-sector representatives.
6. Members or other representatives of the European Parliament and representatives from the Commission shall be invited to any of the meetings covered by this Article, either as participants or observers, as appropriate.
7. The names of the representatives attending, the agenda and the minutes of the meetings referred to in this Article shall be published on the Office’s website.
Article 5 -
Information obligations
1. As appropriate, in accordance with national law, including the law governing the processing of personal data, Member States shall, at the request of the Office or on their own initiative:
(a)
inform the Office of their overall policies and strategies on the enforcement of intellectual property rights and any changes thereto;
(b)
provide available statistical data on infringements of intellectual property rights;
(c)
inform the Office of important case-law.
2. Without prejudice to the law governing the processing of personal data and to the protection of confidential information, private-sector representatives meeting as the Observatory shall, when possible, at the request of the Office:
(a)
inform the Office of policies and strategies in their field of activity on the enforcement of intellectual property rights and any changes thereto;
(b)
provide statistical data on infringements of intellectual property rights in their field of activity.
Article 6 -
The Office
1. The relevant provisions of Title XII of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 shall apply to the carrying-out of the tasks and activities provided for under this Regulation.
2. Using the powers conferred by Article 124 of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009, the President of the Office shall adopt the internal administrative instructions and shall publish the notices that are necessary for the fulfilment of all the tasks entrusted to the Office by this Regulation.
Article 7 -
Content of the work programme and of the management report
1. The Office shall draw up an annual work programme that appropriately prioritises the activities under this Regulation and for the meetings of the Observatory, in line with the Union’s policies and priorities in the field of protection of intellectual property rights and in cooperation with the representatives referred to in point (a) of Article 4(5).
2. The work programme referred to in paragraph 1 shall be submitted to the Office’s Administrative Board for information.
3. The management report provided for in point (d) of Article 124(2) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 shall contain at least the following information concerning the Office’s tasks and activities under this Regulation:
(a)
a review of the main activities carried out during the preceding calendar year;
(b)
the results achieved during the preceding calendar year, accompanied, where appropriate, by sectoral reports analysing the situation in the different industry and product sectors;
(c)
an overall assessment of the fulfilment of the Office’s tasks as provided for in this Regulation and in the work programme drawn up in accordance with paragraph 1;
(d)
an overview of the activities that the Office intends to undertake in the future;
(e)
observations on the enforcement of intellectual property rights and potential future policies and strategies, including on how to enhance effective cooperation with and between Member States;
(f)
an overall assessment of the proper representation in the Observatory of all the actors mentioned in Article 4(2).
Before submitting the management report to the European Parliament, the Commission and the Administrative Board, the President of the Office shall consult the representatives referred to in point (a) of Article 4(5) on the relevant parts of the report.
Article 8 -
Evaluation
1. The Commission shall adopt a report evaluating the application of this Regulation by 6 June 2017.
2. The evaluation report shall assess the operation of this Regulation, in particular as regards its impact on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the internal market.
3. The Commission shall, when preparing the evaluation report, consult the Office, the Member States and the representatives meeting as the Observatory on the issues referred to in paragraph 2.
4. The Commission shall transmit the evaluation report to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee and shall undertake a broad consultation among stakeholders on the evaluation report.
Article 9 -
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
