Manufacturing

Recent Articles

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  09/04/2024

  Europe

  The sum of parts: Registered design for segments of towers found valid by General Court

  BackgroundTA Towers ApS (“TA Towers”), a company based in Denmark, is the holder of the below registered Community design relating to goods for building materials, specifically, ‘building materials for a windmill tower’ (the “RCD”): On 3 September 2019, the intervener, Wobben Properties GmbH (Wobben) filed an application for a declaration of invalidity of the RCD. Wobben claimed that:the contested design lacked novelty,it did not have individual character, andthe features of its appearance were solely dictated...

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  08/04/2024

  Hungary

  Hungary proposes ex-ante competition tool to regulate essential companies

  On 2 April 2024, the Hungarian Ministry of Justice submitted an omnibus act to the Hungarian parliament proposing the amendment of several Hungarian laws, including the Competition Act. This Proposal’s most noteworthy element is – based on the German example – expanding the Hungarian Competition Authority’s (HCA) toolbox by introducing a new ex-ante regime enabling the HCA to impose obligations on certain companies without first having to demonstrate a violation of the law.This following article summarises the Proposal’s new rules, potential consequences and next steps.PROPOSED...

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  08/04/2024

  Ukraine

  Ukraine discontinues War and Sanctions Portal

  Following a governmental discussion on 19 March 2024, the Ukrainian government announced its decision to shut down a sanctions-related database maintained by the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).This database, the “War & Sanction Portal”, was created in the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as part of the implementation of the sanctions plan against Russia (i.e. the Individual Sanctions Roadmap) of the Yermak-McFaul Sanctions Group.Starting with the "International Sponsors of War" section, the Portal was expanded to include additional segments...

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  03/04/2024

  Ukraine

  Register of Damage for Ukraine is open for claims submission

  On 2 April 2024, the Register of Damage for Ukraine opened the claims submission process for compensation for damage, loss or injury caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine. The launch took place as part of the Ministerial Conference "Restoring Justice for Ukraine" co-hosted by the Netherlands, Ukraine and the European Commission at the World Forum in The Hague.As a reminder, the official website of the Register of Damage for Ukraine was launched on 4 March 2024. The website contains the following:documents governing the work of the Register;answers to frequently asked questions on the Register’s...

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  19/03/2024

  Hungary

  Hungary adopts new regulations on occupational Safety and Health fines and administration

  The Hungarian parliament recently adopted amendments to certain government regulations on occupational matters, and new government regulations on the detailed rules for the amount and imposition of occupational safety and health (OSH) fines, which entered into force on 1 March 2024. The amendments to the government regulations were necessary to ensure consistency between the legislation.The following article summarises these changes.1. Government Decree No 24/2024 (II.14.) amending certain Government Decrees on employmentAmendment to Government Decree No. 320/2014 (XII.13.) on the designation of...

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  14/03/2024

  Europe

  “Pre-branded” spare parts: CJEU has its say in Audi trade mark case

  The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has given its ruling following a referral from the Regional Court of Warsaw, in a trade mark infringement claim brought by Audi (Audi AG v GQ, Case C-334/22). Audi’s complaint related to spare radiator grilles sold by the defendant (GQ) which featured an element designed to accommodate an emblem or badge representing Audi’s logo. The CJEU found that a spare part of this nature – which was essentially customised with the intention of having a particular third party trade mark affixed to it – could potentially infringe that...

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