The foundation for Studor to lead the industry with drainage ventilation technology was laid by Sture Ericson (co-founder of Studor), when he applied for the patent on his first designed Air Admittance Valve (AAV) – the Bjare Valve – in July 1973. Since the inception of Studor in 1975, this foundation has been continually built on, and over 40 years of research has resulted in the application of numerous patents providing protection to Studor products in over 50 countries worldwide.
This guest blog from Laurent Overath, Intellectual Property Consultant for Cabinet Bede (Studor’s former appointed patent attorney) comments on the importance of patent protection and of the correct use of trademarks:
Studor always did value technological innovation. The numerous high quality products that have been marketed in the past clearly demonstrates this.
In order to secure these research efforts, key technological innovations have been subjected to patent protection, whereby Studor was granted exclusivity over the marketing of the newly developed technology.
In parallel with the patent protection, covering the “inside” technology of Studor’s products, a brand or trademark registration strategy is maintained, providing Studor exclusivity over the “outside” use of a range of trademarks such as Maxi-Vent® and P.A.P.A.®, in addition to the “house trademark” Studor®.
Provided that registrations are timely renewed, trademark protection can in principle last infinitely. However, where the trademark would not have been used over a certain period of time, registrations may become cancelled.
In case a protection would be challenged on such basis, Studor will be required to produce sufficient evidence of genuine use to avoid that the registration would become cancelled. Genuine use is use made of the trademark in conformity with the standards of the concerned economic sector, i.e. the sector of drainage ventilation.
Use of a trademark can be evidenced through the submission of various types of documents, such as copies of invoices*, sale offers*, advertisements, award certificates, commercial fairs photographs, etc. (*can be partially anonymised).
For evidence material to be acceptable, it is essential that these make mention of: [1] the trademark; [2] the goods sold under the trademark; [3] the geographic location; as well as [4] an indication on the time of use.
Advertisement and sale actions in a determined country or jurisdiction are generally realised through the intermediary that imports/distributes the Studor products. Therefore, evidence of use consequently resides to a large extent in their hands.
In view of being able to address possible challenges in the future, it is highly recommended to keep an archive of evidence material for each of the Studor trademarks, over a period covering the last five years.
Throughout our history, we have worked hard to ensure that Studor is a name associated with high quality and reliable products – this obviously being of utmost importance when we consider the importance of protecting the trap seals in the drainage system. Consequently, Studor has a zero tolerance policy in relation to patent and trademark infringements and will take any appropriate action.
Studor – over 40 years of expertise, a lifetime of quality!
Dickley Lane
Lenham, ME17 2DE
United Kingdom
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