Czech customs and the courts have become
increasingly active in seizing clothing, software, audio/video
recordings, toys and other goods being imported into the Czech
Republic that infringe trade marks, copyrights, patents and other
intellectual property rights.
CMS Cameron McKenna v.o.s. in Prague has acted in a
number of recent cases helping clients to protect their proprietary
interests against illegal imports under both EU (Regulation
1383/2003) and local legislation.
If you suspect that your company's IP rights are
being infringed by illegal imports:
- Fill in the relevant application form asking to be
notified by the customs authorities whenever they detect goods
suspected to breach your intellectual property rights
- When notified of any goods which do infringe your rights, ask
the customs for details of the importer and recipient of the
goods
- Within 10 days of notification, start court proceedings against
the importer and/or recipient for a determination that the goods
infringe your rights, in which case the goods will be detained by
customs
- Where the court finds that your rights have been infringed, the
customs authorities will destroy the goods at the expense of the
importer and the recipient.