Outlook

Themes

For the BOIP, the central themes of 2012 will also be in evidence in 2013: the continuing crisis climate and hard times for businesses, the changing European trademark landscape, the focus on international cooperation and our continued efforts in the field of automation. Given the recurring nature of the BOIP's primary tasks (registration, refusal, opposition, etc.) our expertise will only grow in time. We will of course continue to improve our internal processes, methods and the quality of the end result. This is a permanent goal of the BOIP, but it will receive special attention in 2013.

In administrative terms, we will amend our procedure in accordance with the 7th edition of the classification of figurative elements of trademarks (the Vienna Classification).

The results of the convergence projects on a European level will also enable us to offer our users new classification instruments (Taxonomy, TMClass). The implementation of the 2010 BOIP Protocol will, among other things, lead to an amendment of the opposition system and in particular to a change in the calculation of the opposition period.

Investing in the future

Despite the difficult context, we also have to invest in the future. Our future success largely depends on faster and smoother communication with our users. That is why we heavily invest in electronic means of communication. In the spring of 2013 we will be completing the migration to our new portal, based on the idea of electronic one stop shopping for users, with secure access for al their transactions (single sign-on). The new technology will also

enable us to increase the speed of new online applications for our users. And in the same area, 2013 will see the implementation of two important projects: online renewal of trademarks and designs (linked to the implementation of the 2010 BOIP Protocol), and the introduction of the online submission of design applications. This second project is undertaken within the framework of the Cooperation Fund of the OHIM (Future Software Package). The BOIP is proud of the fact that it is one of the pilot offices for this initiative.

Various departments of the BOIP are working on structuring and cleaning our databases with customer details. This is an extensive and laborious task, but vital, given the growing automation of our service provision.

As we heavily invest in electronic communication, we want to encourage our users to profit from it. This is why this year we have introduced an additional fee for the use of "paper" services that are also available online.

The international and progressive nature of the BOIP will become even more visible with the addition of English as the third language of communication this autumn. All users will be able to communicate with the BOIP in three different languages, without users from the Benelux ever being forced into using English against their will, for instance in an opposition procedure.

Special projects

Another initiative in the field of international cooperation is the IRPI project, this time with the WIPO in Geneva. We hope that this project for the automation of international applications (within the framework of the Madrid system) will be taken into production at least this year, which will greatly benefit users.

The Benelux Patent Platform project will come to the core in 2013: as the contract has been signed, the focus will first be on determining the business requirements, then on the actual implementation. The BOIP for its part has to manage the contract and monitor progress of the activities, which also includes the harmonisation of legislation in the field of patents at Benelux level.

Legal and statutory developments

In 2013 we also aim to complete two amending protocols of the Convention. One protocol concerns the transfer of the power to hear objections to our decisions to the Benelux Court of Justice. The other protocol concerns the amendment to the opposition procedure and the introduction of administrative invalidity proceedings.

The written proposals from the European Commission (announced in the spring of 2013) will of course demand all of BOIP's attention. These proposals are aimed at changes to both the Convention on the Community Trade Mark Regulation and the Harmonisation Directive. We already know that these proposals will introduce a new course in terms of fees. A meeting about this subject with the Benelux Council for Intellectual Property has been scheduled for mid April.

A new approach

In the spring of 2013, the BOIP will launch an important campaign to increase awareness of trademarks. The campaign will run for three months and mainly focuses on online and interactive communication, assisting visitors who consider registering a trademark for the first time. The target group comprises young entrepreneurs, business starters, small and medium-sized enterprise owners and other businesspeople who know little about intellectual property. It is definitely going to be a fresh and dynamic campaign featuring a new approach, realised by the BOIP specially to reach this particular target group, whom we know do not benefit optimally from the advantages offered by intellectual property.

Final comments

The organisation's finances will undoubtedly demand our attention in 2013. According to our most recent forecasts, the BOIP will again make a loss this year. This makes it probable that the matter of a possible increase of fees will be featuring on the Management Board agenda once again.
This estimate of our past and future activities reflects the present, a time in which it is difficult to remain fully optimistic. However, in keeping with our philosophy, we would like to conclude this report on a positive note, in the form of a compliment to all our teams. At all levels and in all departments, the fantastic qualities of our employees enable us to continue fulfilling our important mission as a public organisation.