Greater harmony among the laws of EU member states.

(PRWEB) March 20, 2004 --Research and Markets announces the addition of this new report entitled "Intellectual Property Law in the European Community: A Country-by-Country Review" to its offerings.

The existence of a mosaic of different legal regimes regulating the intellectual property rights from country to country throughout the European Community can make the prospect of protecting and exploiting intellectual property rights in Europe seem formidable. But with the integration of Europe through the European Community comes ever greater harmony among the laws of its member states.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW IN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, which includes contributions from 24 leading intellectual property attorneys throughout Europe, covers the fundamentals of intellectual property protection law and practice in each of the fifteen current member countries of the European Community, as well as the ten states slated for accession to the EC on May 1, 2004.

Each country chapter covers patents, designs, copyright, trademarks and confidential information; discusses the extent of harmonization of national legislation with that of the European Community; and identifies the countries' participation in relevant international treaties and conventions.

A separate chapter looks at the achievements of the EU in implementing a number of Community-wide laws and its ongoing efforts to promote harmonization in the area of intellectual property protection.

Coverage includes:

- Intellectual Property in the European Union: The Free Movement of Goods
- Trade Marks and Geographical Indications
- Copyright and Related Rights
- Major Issues Affecting Intellectual Property in Austria
- Registered Designs and Trade Marks Compared
- Protection of Confidential Information in Belgium
- Patent Protection in the Czech Republic
- Domain Names and Brand Protection on the Internet
- Trade Mark Application Procedures
- Useful Industry Contacts
- The Finnish Patent Office's International Role Under the European Patent Convention
- Exclusions of Patentability Under French Law
- Penalties and Dispute Resolution Procedures
- Rules Governing Duration of Intellectual Property Protection
- Revocation and Cancellation of Trade Marks
- Assignment of Intellectual Property to a Second Party
- Treatment of Unregistered Trademarks Under Italian Law
- Cross-Border Licensing of Intellectual Property
- Pending Changes to Luxembourg's Patent Laws
- Additional Protection for Databases in Selected Countries
- Collective Marks and Certification Marks
- Exclusive Rights for Copyright Owners Under Dutch Law
- Special Provisions Addressing Computer Programs in Poland
- Suspension and Resumption of Application Procedures Under Spain's Patent Law
- Advantages of Trade Mark Registration in Sweden
- New Streamlined Patents Court Procedure in the United Kingdom

For a complete index of this report click on http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/53647

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