Reports are coming in that the Italian PTO would be ready to have opposition proceedings entering into force with reference to trade mark applications that will be filed as of 1 May 2011.

Also thanks to the current (female) PTO’s director’s efforts to speed things up, the historical backlog in Italian trade mark application examination has almost been eliminated, with a current registration process speed of 3 up to 6 months after filing, i.e. in huge contrast with the (until last year’s) 2-3 YEAR examination period).

The examinations currently taking place are handling trade mark applications filed in January this year.

It is now awaiting the text on the publication of the applications in a monthly Official Bulletin for opposition purposes, as the Italian IP Code foresees the opposition term of 3 months from publication.

Further developments will be reported as soon as available.

Once the opposition proceedings will be effective, trade mark watch services will be essential to timely identify identical or similar trade marks published. Oppositions should offer owners of Italian trademarks a cheaper and faster alternative to court actions, which have sofar been the only main instrument (besides a voluntary withdrawal or surrender by the infringer) to prevent the registration of conflicting trade marks.