
Prague – The responsibility for protecting the origin of food and non-food products will now rest solely with the European Union. Previously, Czech products received protection at the national level through registration with the Industrial Property Office. This change comes as a result of a new amendment to the law that was approved by the government on Wednesday, in accordance with the outcomes of the cabinet meeting. The new legislation will be reviewed by the Parliament.
The primary goal of the amendment is to “eliminate the duality of protection,” as stated in the explanatory report. Additionally, the amendment introduces European-level protection for non-food products. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority will be responsible for overseeing compliance with these regulations, as outlined in the law.
Furthermore, the amendment increases the application fee for product origin protection within the European Union. Entrepreneurs will now pay 1,000 crowns, doubling the previous fee of 500 crowns. The explanatory report clarifies that these increased costs are intended to cover the expenses associated with the Industrial Property Office’s workload, which has grown due to the additional time required to process applications.
The Industrial Property Office plays a crucial role in ensuring public law protection of industrial property, overseeing administrative proceedings in this field, and facilitating the application of original research and development outcomes. It is also responsible for issuing protection for inventions, industrial or utility models, and maintaining the corresponding registers. (January 15)













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