Background

Regulation (EU) No. 608/2013, which concerns the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), has been in force since January 2014, replacing the previous Council Regulation (EC) No. 1383/2003. The aim of the 2013 legislation is to simplify and clarify the procedure and existing system.

Importantly, the new Regulation extends the scope of IPR covered by Customs enforcement to:

• trade marks
• trade names
• copyright
• design rights
• patents
• utility models
• devices designed, produced or adapted for the purpose of enabling or facilitating the circumvention of technological measures
• supplementary protection certificates for medical products or for plant protection
• plant variety rights
• topography of a semi conductor
• geographical indications

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