National trademark registrations are maintained in Spain

The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office has made public
recently his Activities Report 2012. It is surprising to note that despite the
push of the community brand and although the economic situation in Spain has
crossed by delicate moments, the number of trademark applications filed remains considerable.

Specifically, the number of applications for Spanish trademarks
was 44.029 (in a multiclass system), which practically equals the figure
reached in 2011, when the number was 44.116. As far as we go
exercise. The trend is similar, with 30.487 applications until the end of
August. Although the times when requests exceeded eighty thousand
(2000) are far away, in recent years there has been a slowdown in the fall and
a rebound towards recovery.

2009	201	2011	2012
42.437	43.364	44.116	44.029

This may be influenced by the growing confidence in the
future of the Spanish economy (we want to believe) but also the unknowns that
has generated the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union
(case OMEL C-149/11). Depending on the perspective adopted, it could well
be interpreted that the use of a Community trademark in a single EU State could
not be sufficient for the purposes of a revocation action. This sentence changes
the previous criterion and may arouse interest in trademark owners
community organizations that decide to ensure their protection through coverage
complementary through national brands. The same can happen with respect to
renewals of Spanish brands.

The OEPM also made public data on crimes against
Industrial and Intellectual Property. Specifically, the Spanish police and the
civil guard seized almost 9 million counterfeit objects whose value was
estimated at more than 694 million euros. There were 2.348 interventions and
They arrested and charged 2.101 people. By sectors, the most affected was
audiovisual, followed by electronics, machinery and toys. As data
Positively, crimes decreased by 31% compared to the previous year.

Also accessible in English at World Trademark Review