Region: Italy

The Court of Turin has issued a decision involving the Italian cheese Grana Padano, deeming the term ‘grana’ to be generic. This ruling directly contrasts an earlier Court of Venice decision on the same issue, indicating that there is a lack of harmonisation surrounding applications of protected designation of origins.

31 May 2023

But there’s no clarity yet on the new section’s competencies

19 May 2023

Italy’s IP office has launched new proceedings for determining nullity and revocation with the aim of providing a streamlined and significantly cheaper alternative to legal proceedings.

26 April 2023

After a rocky start to Italy’s relationship with the UPC, the suggestion that the London division be moved to Milan has sparked strong opposition from Italian IP experts and members of parliament due to disagreements over the division’s competence.

19 April 2023

Italian companies and their foreign subsidiaries are not allowed to use Leonardo Da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man for merchandise without the relevant gallery’s consent. The decision expands the possibilities of challenging the unauthorised use of images of cultural or artistic goods where copyright has expired.

05 April 2023

The long-running Zorro case clarifies the boundaries of parody in relation to well-known trademarks. The court asserted that a parody must respect a fair balance between the author's freedom of expression and the rights of the original work's owner.

29 March 2023

While the codification of remote hearings, a triple exchange of briefs and the simplification of procedures may present new challenges, these new reforms should ultimately bring about positive changes to the justice system by streamlining and modernising procedures.

22 March 2023

Featured in Global Patent Litigation 2023

There is no ‘bifurcation’ in Italy. The assessment of the validity of the rights and the discussion regarding infringement are usually handled together in the same proceedings. They are definitely handled together in cases in which the defendant files its counterclaims in the same proceeding.

26 October 2022

Featured in IAM Global Leaders 2022

"One of my biggest challenges (that is what I call a professional ‘obstacle’) has been, over the years, making Italian companies and SMEs aware of the strategic importance of intellectual property and inviting them to consider the related tools available as opportunities for growth and access to global markets."

22 November 2021

Featured in IAM Global Leaders 2022

"I always strongly recommend coordinating the patent strategies developed by different attorney teams in other jurisdictions to avoid any possible contradictions."

22 November 2021