Copying, imitation, counterfeiting, importing, selling, renting, offering for sale, or any other commercial use of a design without permission constitutes design infringement and is a punishable criminal offense. In cases of design infringement, the design owner can file a court petition for an injunction against the infringer, as well as a claim for monetary compensation for economic damages resulting from the infringement.
Design Infringement in Israel
Israeli law provides protection against infringement for both:
– Registered industrial designs and models (intended for production of over 50 units)
– Unregistered industrial designs and models
For registered designs, protection extends up to 15 years, subject to renewal fees. For unregistered designs, protection is granted for 3 years for designs that are new in Israel and commercially distributed within 6 months of the design’s first publication.
Design infringement applies to:
– Physical product designs (furniture, clothing, jewelry, tools, household products, etc.)
– Digital product designs (including icons)
provided that the designs are internationally innovative and have unique character.
What Can Be Done Against Design or Model Infringement?
In cases of design infringement in Israel, the infringer can be sued and the court may order:
Injunctive Relief Against Design Infringement
The petition for injunctive relief against design infringement in Israel is filed with the District Court. It can be accompanied by:
– A request for rapid temporary injunction to stop infringement within days
– Search and seizure orders to prevent or stop the use of infringing products and prevent their market entry
After seizure, infringing products are typically transferred to a trustee or receiver appointed by the court and can be used as legal evidence.
Monetary Compensation Against Design Infringement
Along with injunctions aimed at minimizing damage from design infringement, a legal claim can be filed demanding compensation from the infringer based on their revenue. For claims up to 100,000 NIS, there is no requirement to prove damage. If higher damage can be proven, compensation can be claimed for the full amount of damages.
How is Design Infringement Determined in Israel?
Design infringement in Israel is determined based on two main legal tests:
1. Eye Test
The judge examines whether:
– The product copies or imitates a registered design from a consumer’s perspective
– The product design misleads or confuses consumers, even if not identical or very similar to the registered design
2. Innovation Test
The court examines whether the registered design truly constitutes innovation in its field. The more innovative the registered design is from a design perspective, the broader the protection granted to its owner.
Due to the complexity of proving infringement, including the need to litigate against the other party and sometimes rely on expert opinions from the design’s content area, it is highly recommended to seek representation from an intellectual property attorney experienced in design infringement claims.
As a leading intellectual property law and patent firm, Mark Friedman’s office team has expertise and extensive knowledge in design infringement litigation, alongside rich experience of over 30 years representing many clients in design infringement claims, including:
– Requests for temporary relief and infringement compensation
– Defense against design infri
*The aforementioned in this article and on the website in general should not be considered as legal advice and the things written in it should not be considered as a substitute for individual legal advice, but a personal opinion and/or a general explanation only. Of course, you should not rely on and/or act in accordance with the above without individual legal advice from an attorney
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