11 Amendments of Evelyne GEBHARDT related to 2021/2007(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas while intellectual property (IP) registrationinvestments are constantly increasing and, the single market remains fragmented by differences in national legislation, which are hindering and the persisting need for parallel national validation procedures and litigation, which are hindering to address effectively some of the most important social challenges of our times through innovative solutions as well as the development of companies, in particular SMEs, and consumers’ access to innovative and safe products;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas although intellectual property rights (IPR) are well regulated in most Member States, infringements and hold-backs are jeopardising the open system that leads to innovations; whereas counterfeit products are still abundant in the single market, with most of them entering the EU through the digital market, causing financial losses of approximately EUR 60 billion per year; whereas during the current COVID-19 pandemic the Rapid Alert system (“RAPEX”)1a registered an alarming new all-time high of alerts; __________________ 1aCommission Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/417 of 8 November 2018 laying down guidelines for the management of the European Union Rapid Information System ‘RAPEX’ established under Article 12 of Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety and its notification system (OJ L 73, 15.03.2019).
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses the importance of better cooperation between the European Union and the Member States to harmonise IP legislation and facilitate the access of economic operators to IPR registration at EU level; underlines that EU innovators should have access to fast, effective and affordable protection tools; recommends that the current legislation be adapted in order to improve the functioning of the single market for IP and to enhance consumer protection;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Underlines that IPR protection is a crucial component of the European Union's internal market as IPR-intensive industries generate significant part of EU gross domestic product and contribute to quality job creation; notes that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) is becoming increasingly active for IPR disputes and that the Lisbon Treaty contains the still unused clause of Article 262 TFEU allowing for significantly strengthening the competences of the Union in the field of IPR;
Amendment 24 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to formulate a strategy to tackle and minimise infringements, hold-backs, counterfeiting and piracy, which continue to thrive and have proven to be even more dangerous during the COVID-19 pandemic, posing severe health, safety and security threats to consumers; welcomes the Commission’s proposal for the Digital Services Act package which clarifies and upgrades the responsibilities of digital services, in particular online platforms;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of critical IP in times of crisis, including via new harmonised licensing tools and a system to co-ordinate compulsory licensing to make the EU’s internal market more resilient by tackling, among others, the lack of availability of specific products and better protection of consumers’ interests by avoiding dramatic price increases; urges in this regard for a swift launch of the Unitary Patent System to facilitate affordable licencing and transparency through a one-stop shop;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that a green and digit, digital and social recovery and an increased resilience inof the single market must be based on the full use of intangible assets; highlightsregrets that only 9% of EU SMEs have registered IP rights which is largely due to a lack of knowledge about IP; highlights therefore the importance of disseminating information about the benefits of IP and the Commission’s support programmes for all economic operators, in particular SMEs;
Amendment 40 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Urges the Commission to cooperate with the Member States to facilitate access to financial support and credits based on intangible assets in order to encourage SMEs to register their IP and reap the full benefits, ensuring a faster and bettermore sustainable economic recovery.;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Notes that the use of AI systems in the realms of creation, innovation and science has grown spectacularly in recent years and is expected to continue to do so in the years to come, thus new technologies offer a unique window of opportunity to support the sustainable recovery of EU’s economy and resilience of the internal market while leaving no one and no region behind; underlines that the Commission shall incentivise and reward green technologies and inventions;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Welcomes the Commission intention to strengthen the enforcement of IPRs at EU level, by broadening the Commission’s mandate and assigning it to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), so that the latter does not only prevent counterfeit goods from entering the single market but can also act against illicit production of counterfeit goods within the EU; urges to bridge existing enforcement silos and to substantially strengthen the capacity of law enforcement authorities in order to address efficiently security problems for consumers revealed through the alerts in the RAPEX system; calls on the Commission to promote campaigns to combat the entry of the most harmful counterfeit goods for consumers on the market; underlines that for a well- functioning data economy, global enforcement cooperation but as well the sharing of data is necessary, in order to guarantee that as well companies not head-quartered in the EU do comply with European consumer protection rules; urges the Commission to enhance further cross-topic enforcement, to ensure full consumer protection; welcomes in this regard the “Digital Clearing House” and “PEER” initiatives;
Amendment 51 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Calls on the Commission, to propose an efficient and transparent uniform mechanism for the protection of non-agricultural GIs (such as handicrafts), which are often an important part of local identity, attract tourism, retain unique skills and contribute to quality job creation as well in less developed regions; stresses that this would provide consumers with better visibility and authenticity indications for these products;