The new objectives of the French INPI

Press release, 8 January 2009, www.minefe.gouv.fr

The INPI (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle) is the French government body in charge of granting industrial property titles following applications (trade marks, patents, designs and models).

On 8 January 2009, the French Government and the Director of the INPI signed an agreement setting out the objectives of the INPI for the period from 2009 to 2012.

Based on the previous agreement, that the parties consider as having been satisfactorily performed (period 2004-2008), the present agreement aims at reinforcing the action of the INPI concerning the six following points:

1. To encourage the use of industrial property in order to promote growth through innovation;

2. To improve the service given to the public by reducing the processing time, in particular through electronic procedures;

3. To make access to information easier: all information concerning industrial property (patents, trade marks, models, case law) will be gratuitously put at the disposal of the public on the website www.inpi.fr;

4. To contribute to the improvement of the legal environment at the French, European and international level: the INPI will continue to advise and assist the Government;

5. The INPI will reinforce its role in the fight against infringement and will defend the French positions in the framework of European and international discussions and the ACTA negotiations (Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement).


BRAD SPITZ
www.bradspitz.com