Update on Intellectual Property Rights

Dear Listmembers,

After one year of operation, the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Helpdesk, an initiative of the European Commission's INNOVATION & SME programme is now firmly established among participants in EU-funded research. The IPR-Helpdesk provides free assistance on issues concerning the protection and exploitation of intellectual property. We also assist European Researchers under EU supported research projects such as the Fourth and Fifth Framework Programmes and the EUREKA initiative, as well as potential future applicants to EU funded research programmes, on all matters related to intellectual property.

The IPR-Helpdesk is now the central IPR reference point for EU-funded research contractors. Particularly directed at intellectual property aspects within EU-funded research and technological development (RTD) activities, the IPR-Helpdesk is also open to SME's. Help is given on research contract related issues, consortium agreements, in locating the assistance necessary to register as well as protect and exploit research results. The Helpdesk offers a free telephone helpline facility, staffed by a team of IPR legal experts, and a comprehensive multilingual website.

For further information go to http://www.cordis.lu/ipr-helpdesk/

The esp[_at_]cenet, is a joint service provided by the European Patent Organisation (EPO) and the national patent offices in the European countries. Available on-line and updated regularly, it provides the world's largest source of patent information freely available on the Internet, approximately 30 million patents. In order to help laypersons gain full benefit from this service the IPR-Helpdesk has developed a multimedia tutorial. Time is money for any business and the free esp[_at_]cenet tutorial helps laypersons access quickly the extensive patent information that will help them target effectively their research and other activities.

The tutorial can be found at the following URL:

   http://www.cordis.lu/ipr-helpdesk/espacenet

There are also a number of new additions on our website including FP5 RTD tutorials which are all related to IP aspects of European Commission Research.

These can be found at http://www.cordis.lu/ipr-helpdesk/tutorials/ and include:

   Presentation of FP5
   RTD Projects
   CRAFT Projects
   Demonstration Projects
   Accompanying Measures Projects
   Thematic Networks and Concerted Actions Projects    Combined RTD and Demonstration Projects    Marie Curie Fellowships Projects
   Guidelines on Consortium Agreements for Participants in Research and

     Technological Development Projects (Model Contract 50% Cost
     Reimbursement)

Also available on our website you will find a revised IP News section at

   http://www.cordis.lu/ipr-helpdesk/ipnews

which includes IP-Wire the free online newsletter, a new daily IP news alert and a new discussion list related to IP issues, for which we welcome your contributions.

The IPR-Helpdesk Legal Team have also recently prepared a free booklet on IP issues within the New Community Research and Technological Development (RTD) Model Contract (Cost Reimbursement) within the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5). The brochure can be downloaded direct from the IPR-Helpdesk web site or sent to interested parties by post.

Finally there is a new briefing paper by our Legal Team on the Community Trademark, go to http://www.cordis.lu/ipr-helpdesk/ipdocs for more information.

Please do not hesitate to contact me or one of my colleagues if we can assist you further in any way.

Sincerely,

Alexander Weir
Media and Communications
IPR-Helpdesk
64-66 avenue Victor Hugo,
L-1750 Luxembourg.
Tel. +352 47 11 11 1.
Fax +325 47 11 11 60.
e-mail : info[_at_]ipr-helpdesk.org Received on Tue Mar 14 2000 - 07:18:57 GMT