Source: http://www.inhouselawyer.co.uk/practice-areas/intellectual-property/italy-intellectual-property/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 17:09:17+00:00

Document:
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview to intellectual property law in Italy.
Confidential information: as long as such information (i) is confidential; (ii) has an economic value; and (iii) is subject to measures to be considered reasonably adequate to keep it confidential.
Any sign capable of being represented graphically and, in particular, words, including personal names, designs, letters, numerals, sounds, the shape of goods or of their packaging, the color combinations or tones, provided that such sign is capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings, may be protected as a trademark.
Unregistered trademarks are more often enforced though unfair completion claims.
Persons whose function is to guarantee the origin, nature or quality of specific goods or services, may obtain the registration for specific trademarks as collective marks and may grant the use of the marks to producers or traders. In Italy, therefore, collective marks and guarantee or certification marks converge in the one and only category of collective marks.
Protection is granted to geographical indications and designations of origin identifying a country, region or locality, when adopted to designate a product originating from that place and whose qualities, reputation or characteristics are due exclusively or essentially to the geographical environment of its origin, including natural and human factors and traditions.
(c) Other creations, technology and proprietary interests (e.g. copyright, design rights, semi-conductor topography rights, plant varieties, database rights, rights in trade secrets, confidential information and/or know-how).
Copyright protects works of the mind having a creative character and belonging to literature, music, figurative arts, architecture, theatre or cinematography, whatever their mode or form of expression. Computer programs shall also be protected as work as defined by the Italian Copyright Law ("ICL").
Registrations as designs and models may be granted to the appearance of the whole or a part of the product, resulting in particular from the features of the lines, contours, colors, shape, texture or materials of the product or its ornamentation, provided that the same are new and have an individual character.
Irrespective of the eligibility of that database for protection by copyright or by other rights and without prejudice to its contents or part of its contents, the maker of a data base shall have the right to prohibit any act of extraction or re-utilisation of all or of a substantial part of it.
The right to a new plant variety may consist of a group of plants in a botanical taxon of the lowest grade known that, whether it is or is not entirely consistent with the conditions set for the granting of the breeder's right, can be: (i) defined based on characteristics resulting from a given genotype or a given combination of genotypes; (ii) distinguished from any other group of plants based on the expression of at least one of said characteristics; and (iii) considered as a unit with regard to its suitability to be reproduced unchanged.
Exclusive rights may be granted for topographies if they are the result of the creative intellectual efforts of their author that are not common or familiar within the semi-conductor product industry. Exclusive rights may also be granted for topographies resulting from the combination of common or familiar elements, provided that as a whole they meet the requirements of creative intellectual efforts of their author that are not common or familiar to the industry.
Protection is granted to business information and technical-industrial experience, including commercial information and experience, subject to the legitimate control of the owner, as long as that information: (i) is confidential, in the sense that as a whole or in its precise configuration and combination of its elements it is not generally known or easily accessible for experts and operators in the field; (ii) has an economic value inasmuch as it is confidential; (iii) is subject, by the persons to whose legitimate control it is subject, to measures to be considered reasonably adequate to keep it confidential.
Protection shall also be granted to data relating to tests or other confidential data, whose processing entails a considerable effort and whose presentation is conditional upon the marketing authorization of chemical, pharmaceutical or agricultural products implying the use of new chemical substances.
Patents have a duration of twenty years starting on the date of filing of the application and may not be renewed, nor may their duration be extended. The complementary certificate of protection produces the same effects as the patent to which it refers, limited to the part or parts of it covered by the marketing authorization. The effects of the complementary certificate of protection enter into force from the time at which the patent reaches its natural expiration under law and last for a time equal to the period that passed between the date of filing of the patent application and the date of the order by which the first marketing authorization of the medicine is granted. The duration of the complementary certificate of protection may in no case be greater than eighteen years, starting on the date on which the patent reaches its natural expiration under law. A patent for utility model has a duration of ten years from the date the application is filed.
Trademarks are protected for ten years starting from the application date, and can be renewed with respect to the same signs and the same products and services for ten-year periods, for an indefinite number of times.
The registration of a design or model has a duration of five years starting from the date of filing of the application. The owner may obtain an extension of the duration for one or more periods of five years until a maximum of twenty-five years from the date of filing of the application for registration.
Semi-conductor topography rights arise as of the first of the following dates, in order of time: a) the date of the first commercial exploitation of the topography in any part of the world; b) the date on which the application for registration was presented in proper form. They shall be terminated ten years after the first of the following dates, in order of time (i) the end of the calendar year in which the topography was commercially exploited for the first time in any part of the world; (ii) the end of the calendar year in which the application for registration was filed in the proper form.
The breeder's right has a duration of twenty years starting from the grant date. For trees and vines that right has a duration of thirty years from the grant thereof. The effects of the patent right take effect from the date on which the application, accompanied by the descriptive elements, is made accessible to the public. In respect to the persons to whom the application, accompanied by the descriptive elements, has been notified by the breeder, the effects of the patent rights begin from the date of that notification.
The exploitation rights of a work under ICL shall subsist for the lifetime of the author and until the end of the seventieth calendar year after his death.
The exclusive right of the maker of a data base shall run from the date of completion of the making of the database. It shall expire fifteen years from the first of January of the year following the date of completion.
In general, the first owner of an intellectual property right is the inventor, designer or author who created the work. If the inventive/creative activity is specifically provided for and specifically remunerated in the contract between the worker and the employer, then the employer acquires automatically all the intellectual property rights in the work created, invented, designed or developed by the worker. Where however the contract provides for the performance of inventive/creative activity, but does not provide for specific remuneration, then the IP rights belong originally to the employer, which must however compensate the employee, by paying a "fair reward", which may be significant (i.e., it is not nominal, but aims to compensate the employee). In the case of a freelance worker, if the contract does not provide for both (i) the worker to perform inventive/creative activity and (ii) specific remuneration for such activity, the IP rights belong to the worker originally. The freelance worker and the principal will have to agree, following private negotiations, to the price and other terms of the transfer of the IP rights.
The first owner of a registered trademark is the applicant.
Inventions (and supplementary protection certificates), utility models and new plant varieties may be patented. Trademarks, designs and models, and topographies of semiconductor products may be registered.
Works which are subject to the requirement of deposit shall be entered in the registers, together with the name of the author, the producer, the date of publication and other particulars specified in the Regulations. In the absence of proof to the contrary, registration shall be accepted as proof of the existence of the work and of its publication. The authors and producers entered in the register shall be deemed, in the absence of proof to the contrary, to be the authors and producers of the works attributed to them. Failure to deposit shall not prevent the acquisition or exercise of copyright in respect of works protected under the provisions of ICL.
Individuals or legal entities can register intellectual property rights. All applications and requests, with the exception of what is provided for by international conventions and agreements, are to be filed at the Italian Patent and Trademark Office ("IPTO"), the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, and at the other relevant public offices or entities.
Once filed, the IPTO checks the formal requirements of the application and carries out its examination.
For plant varieties the examination of the requirements of validity as well as the compliance with the provisions laid down in the Italian Industrial Property code ("IPC") is carried out by the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry Policies.
With regards to copyright, a general public register of works shall be established in the Office of the President of the Council of Ministers. The SIAE (Italian Copyright Collecting Agency) shall keep a special public register for cinematographic works as well as a special public register for computer programs. The authors and producers of works and products protected by the ICL, or their successors in title, shall deposit with the Office of the President of the Council of Ministers one specimen or copy of the work or product. In the case of dramatic-musical or symphonic works of which the orchestral scores have not been printed, it shall be sufficient to deposit one copy or specimen of the version for voice and piano or for piano only. Deposit shall be optional for computer programs and subject to payment of a fee. Photographs shall not be subject to the requirement of deposit.
Duration of the registration procedure may vary depending on the IP right.
For patents and utility models the registration procedure usually takes from two to three years.
The procedure to register a trademark lasts roughly 15/18 months.
Any interested party, without thereby assuming the role of a party in the registration proceeding, may address written observations to the IPTO, reporting observations and oppositions and specifying the reasons for which a trademark should not be registered.
Recently, the number of cases of deposit by third parties of observations or oppositions to the IPTO in relation to patent application for inventions or supplementary protection certificates has gradually increased. It is a procedure provided for by other legal systems but not specifically regulated by the IPC relation to patents and supplementary protection certificates. The position of the IPTO has always been that of not considering the content of such observations but merely transmit them to the owner of the application just to inform the latter and to allow the owner of the application to present replies. Both observations and replies are simply stored in the dossier without being examined and therefore without affecting the granting procedure.
Under art. 135 IPC, the decision of IPTO refusing to grant IP rights, may be contested by interested parties before the Commissione dei Ricorsi which is a panel made up of judges and university professors of Law, appointed by the Government. The panel, after hearing the parties, decides the case issuing a decision that may be challenged in last instance before the Italian Supreme Court of Cassation.
The fees for filing the patent application may vary depending on a number of factors such as the type of application (online or paper-based application), the number of pages of the paper-based application and the number of patent claims. Generally speaking the fees start from 50.00 euro. As for the renewal fees, the price for the first four years from the application are included in the application fees, therefore the patent applicant must pay from the fifth years after the filing and the fees increase from one years to the next and start from 60.00 euro for the fifth year.
The fees for filing the utility model application may vary depending on the type of application (online or paper-based application). Generally speaking the fees start from 50.00 euro. As for the renewal fees, the price for the first five years from the application are included in the application fees, therefore the utility model applicant must pay during the sixth year from the filing a fixed fee of 500.00 euro.
The fees for filing the design application may vary depending on a number of factors such as the type of application (online or paper-based application), the number of design registered. Generally speaking the fees start from 50.00 euro. As for the renewal fees, they are calculated for a period of five years and the price for the first five years from the application are included in the application fees, therefore the design applicant must pay from the fifth years after the filing a price that start from 30.00 euro.
The fees for filing the trademark application may vary depending on the number of class for which the sign is going to be registered and start from 101.00 euro and 34.00 for each additional class. The renewal fees to be paid every ten years from the trademark filing application start from 64.00 euro and 34.00 for each additional class.
The fees for the topographies of semi-conductor products application and registration are calculated in 1011.00 euro for the application and 809 euro for the registration.
The fees for filing the new plant variety application are 236.00 euro, while the renewal fees increase from one years to the next and start from 101.00 euro.
The IP right owner who fails to pay the renewal fees within the due time may in any case renew it by paying not only the renewal fees but also an extra fee for the late payment within the six months after the expiration of the deadline.
Italian law does not require any specific procedure or formal requirement to assign an IP rights, but normally it is made in writing, including for the purpose of evidence.
According to Article 138 IPC, any IP rights assignment must be recorded with the IPTO. Without recording (at least according to the main interpretation), any agreement is enforceable and binding for the signing parties, but the record is required in order to be the assignee capable of exercising the rights arising under the IP rights also against third parties. Registration is therefore strongly recommended in any scenario. The recording procedure has become easier (in connection with the assignment agreements) under the IPC. Under the IPC, as a fall-back option it is possible to file a declaration in place of filing a copy of the agreement (dichiarazione di avvenuta cessione), even though the IPTO may also require that the declaration is notarised by a public notary and subsequently legalised.
As for copyright, although Italian law does not require a specific or pre-defined type of contract in order to transfer/license/sale copyrights, normally the transfer of the rights must be evidenced in writing pursuant to Article 110 ICL.
As for the assignment also for licensing IP rights, Italian law does not require any specific procedure or formal requirement, but normally it is made in writing, also for the purpose of evidence.
Under Italian Law, the owner and the exclusive licensee of an IP right can enforce the IP right. The possibility for the non-exclusive licensee to enforce the licensed IP right remains unclear, although is generally admitted by Italian case-law.
There are few provisions related to criminal sanctions set out for the infringement of IP rights. The main rules are Article 127 of the IPC and Articles 473 and 474 of the Italian Criminal Code that punish the infringement, use or introduction within our country of counterfeited goods.
If the infringement is particularly serious, criminal action based on these provisions may be brought by the Public Prosecutor, i.e. without private prosecution. The criminal route is frequently invoked in Italy to induce a deterrent effect against the infringement.
As for copyright, the general provision is set out in Article 171 ter ICL that expressly punishes with a fine and imprisonment many types of conducts of third parties who acting for non-personal purposes and without the consent of the copyright holder, duplicate, reproduce, transmit sell or made available to the public in any way protected work. This rule also punishes the conduct of third parties who, although not having taken part in the duplication and reproduction of the protected work, introduce in the territory of the States, sell, rent and in any way make available to the public the work itself. Article 171 bis ICL is dedicated to the punishment of duplication, reproduction, distribution, sale or rent of software and database. The residual provision stated in Article 171 ICL punishes with a fine the conducts that are not included in the above-mentioned rules and further provides that, if the said fact harms the right of paternity, is able to prejudice the reputation of the author or concerns work not publicly available, it will apply the sanction of imprisonment.
Under Italian Law the IP owner may react through civil, administrative remedies against the violation of its IP rights.
As for civil court proceedings see answer to question n.19.
As for administrative proceedings, Article 127 (2) IPC punishes with a fine the conduct of anyone who uses untrue words or indications on products that make people believe that there is an IP right. Moreover, unless the facts constitute a criminal offence and even if the fact does not harm third parties, Article 127 (3) IPC also punishes with a fine the conduct of anyone who deletes the trademark of the manufacturers and traders from whom he/she received the goods or uses a registered trademark declared invalid because it is contrary to public order or morality.
With specific regard to copyright, the general rule is set out in Article 174 bis ICL, which states that, without prejudice to the criminal sanctions, every copyright infringement may also be punished by means of a fine, the amount of which is double the price of the copyrighted work and is applied for every and each violation ascertained or for each counterfeit product made. This administrative sanction can be applied together with the criminal sanction at the end of the criminal proceeding. Another provision is set out in Article 174 ter ICL that shall apply residually, only if the conduct cannot be qualified as a crime. Under this rule, a third party who uses, duplicates or reproduces copyrighted works without the consent of the copyright-holder is to be punished with a fine, the seizure of the copyrighted materials and also through the publication of the administrative sanction in one or more journals. This measure, in contrast to the previous one, can be applied only if the infringement does not qualify as a crime. Finally, under Article 171 (4) ICL, an infringer who exceeds the limit established for the personal copy of protected work and does not pay the related fees, may be punished with the administrative fine and the suspension of copy or reproduction activity.
As for alternative dispute resolution, the parties to a dispute can opt for mediation through the service rendered by ADR entities. A mediation clause could also be inserted in a previous agreement concerning the licence or the assignment of an IP rights. Furthermore, in the context of a legal dispute, the judge can suspend the proceedings, ordering the party to attempt a mediation.
Furthermore, Italian intellectual and industrial property rights, can be resolved also by way of arbitration. Although it is possible in Italy to use Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms to settle IP related proceedings, typically the IP owner has an interest in commencing judicial proceedings, for example, in order to be granted urgent measures by the judge or to obtain a judicial decision which is normally enforceable.
As for the length of such procedures, there is no timeframe fixed by statutory provisions, but ordinarily the first instance proceedings may last for 1-3 years, while the appeal proceedings on the merits last about 2 years.
The cost of such procedures may vary. Typically the costs are mainly related to the administrative filing fee, which is twice the normal administrative filing fee established for proceedings before the Tribunal, to the collection of evidence (such as, for example, the opinion of the technical expert) during the proceedings and to the lawyer's fees. With reference to the lawyer's fees, lawyers and their clients may agree in writing different legal fees. The most common legal fee structures are: hourly rates, estimated fees with a cap and flat fees. If no agreement has been reached, Italian law provides for a mandatory fixed tariff system, which sets out the amount of fees due by the client for every stage of the proceedings. Moreover, according to Article 91 of the Italian Code of Civil Procedure, the judge in the sentence condemns the losing party to reimburse the legal fees of the prevailing party. In the case that the judge held only in part or rejected reciprocal claims, the fees could be declared reciprocal compensated.
In Italy, legal disputes on IP-related matters, including copyright infringement, are entrusted to the Special Sections for Enterprises of the ordinary Court located in every Italian district (Legislative Decree No 168/2003). Italian Law does not require formalities such as a cease-and-desist letters or mediation before commencing infringement proceedings, but it is rather common in Italy for the IP rights owner to send a cease-and-desist letter as a first action, in order to reach a solution – and stop the infringement – faster and without commencing judicial action.
After this stage, a claimant that wants to bring an action, has to serve upon the counterparty a writ of summons (atto di citazione). The writ of summons is drafted and signed by legal counsel with authority (by power of attorney) to sign on behalf of his client. The writ of summons must contain all the elements necessary to identify the claim and causes of action, and must contain the vocation in ius (summons to court). Between service of the writ of summons and the date given for the first hearing, the defendant has at least 90 days (or 150 days in the case of a defendant residing abroad) to prepare its defence. The writ of summons must be filed at the court after service in order for the case to be entered on the court register and assigned to a specific judge. Italian ordinary civil proceedings are essentially “written”, based on the filing of pleadings exchanged between the parties and made up of a number of hearings fixed by law, each devoted to certain activities. After the statement of the defendant, the plaintiff can slightly modify or amend his/her claims, in the light of the objections and possible counterclaim raised by the defendant; however, the plaintiff cannot submit a completely new claim (the so- called mutatio libelli is forbidden).
As for the duration of such proceedings, see answer to question 18.
The first instance decision may be appealed before the specialised section of the competent Court of Appeal, which also has full authority to revoke the first decision on the merits.
The decisions of the Court of Appeal may be challenged before the Italian Court of Cassation only on certain grounds, therefore it is excluded a new scrutiny on the factual background of the dispute.
The IP owner may seek the assistance of the Italian customs authority to prevent the importation of counterfeit products.
In this regard, the European Parliament and the Council have introduced Reg. 608/2013/EU repealing the earlier Reg. 1383/2003/CE. The new Regulation, which took effect on 1 January 2014, creates procedural rules for customs authorities to detain counterfeit or pirated goods. In particular, in order to protect its rights, the IP owner can activate the customs surveillance by filing an application in writing before the customs Authority providing accurate and detailed information of the original products. Therefore, if the customs Authority has valid grounds to suspect that infringing goods are going to be introduced in the market or detect infringing goods at the border, it will proceed immediately, suspending the release of those goods for a limited period of ten days. After that period, the customs Authority may proceed to the destruction of the infringing goods if the owner of the suspected products does not file an objection or agrees with the decision of destruction. Further, the customs authorities may act not only when requested by the copyright-holder, but also on their own initiative. Therefore, if they suspect that counterfeit goods are going to be introduced and marketed, they will suspend the release of those goods.
Under Italian Law the claimant does not have to comply with any preliminary requirement or condition such as dispute resolution mechanisms or non-court enforcement options before commencing judicial proceedings.
The parties involved in an IP related dispute, may decide to settle their issue by entering into a private settlement agreement through which the parties withdraw their action and waive any claim in relation with the issue at hand. The parties can settle the case at any stage and phase of the proceedings. The settlement could be reached even before (in order to avoid the litigation) or after the decision (in order to avoid or modify the enforcement of the decision). Generally, the settlement is reached through negotiations, including between lawyers.
Alternatively, the parties may settle their issue and opt for a mediation through the service rendered by ADR' entities. In the context of a legal dispute, the judge has also the power to invite the parties to settle the case and can schedule a specific hearing for this purpose.
Generally speaking an IP rights is considered to be infringed when a third party starts using and exploiting the related rights without the IP owner's consent.
Particularly with regard to trademarks, the claimant should prove that third parties (i) are using signs which are identical to the prior trademark for identical goods or services; (ii) using signs which are identical or similar to the prior trademark for identical or similar goods or services and creates a likelihood of confusion for the consumer; (iii) are using signs which are identical or similar to a well-known trademark provided that the use of such sign cause to its user unfair advantage arising from the distinctive character of the well-known trademark and is detrimental for the well-known trademark's owner.
With reference to the design, the claimant should demonstrate that the counterfeited design or model produces the same visual impression as of the prior design or model.
As for the copyright the claimant should establish that third parties are exploiting the economic rights connected to the protected work for example reproducing, making available to the public or anyway using the copyrighted work without the prior authorization of the copyright holder.
In the patent related disputes, the claimant should prove that the contested product or process reproduces or has been made using a process that reproduces the patent’s claims.
Under Italian Law the evidence and information must be provided by the parties involved in the proceedings and the court should freely assess them (see also answer to question n.25).
With this regard the interested party, in order to collect evidence before trial, may ask to the Court for the search order (descrizione). The search order can be asked for as an interim measure, before the opening of the ordinary proceedings, or during the ordinary proceedings of infringement. The disclosure/discovery is enforced with a clerk of the court and a court's expert appointed by the judge. The disclosure/discovery order shall be confirmed by the judge in following a hearing with all the parties involved.
Moreover, during the proceedings, the IP owner is also entitled to request the infringer to disclose any information on the origin and distribution networks of the infringing goods or services advertised/marketed/sold ("right of information"). Such information might include the names and addresses of the producers, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and other previous holders of the goods or services, as well as the intended wholesalers and retailers, and information on the quantities produced, manufactured, delivered, received or ordered, in addition to the price obtained for the goods or services thereof.
Additionally, further information in the form of a technical opinion may be provided for during the proceedings by experts in IP related matters. Particularly, experts in IP related matters can be involved in the court proceeding both as consultant of the parties concerned or as neutral counsellors who are appointed by the Tribunal to provide an informed opinion on the case subject as a neutral third party whenever the case at hand is technically complex.
Art. 116 Italian Civil Procedural Code states the principle pursuant to which the Court is free to assess the evidence provided by the parties, unless otherwise stated by the Law. Therefore, there is no kind of pre-fixed rules for the evaluation of the evidence for the judges, but they must explain their motivation in their rulings. Under Italian Law cross-examination is not admissible.
the registration in bad faith of the contested trademark.
Under art. 122 CPI the IP rights may be challenged by any interested party or by the public prosecutor ex officio. In certain cases specifically set out for trademark and design or models only the owner of previous right may challenge the validity of these IP rights.
the lack of consensus by the natural or legal person entitled to the name, surname or personal image, in the case of registration of a trademark of a name, surname or image belonging to person different to the registrant (Article 8 of the IPC).
the first day of the month following the publication in the WIPO International Trademark Gazette of the registration of the international trademark.
The deed opens the administrative proceedings before the IPTO, which lasts from 24 to 36 months.
Under Article 120 IPC, the IP related proceedings shall be brought before the court where (i) the defendant has its residence or domicile; if not applicable, where (ii) the plaintiff has its residence or domicile; or, if not applicable, (iii) before the Court of Rome. The domicile could be determined considering the domicile indicated in the IP rights registration form. In the case of claim of infringement, the proceedings can also be brought before the court where the infringement occurred.
As for the procedure, see answer to question n.19.
The invalidity of the patent can be declared when the invention (i) does not fall within patentable subject matter, (ii) is not new; (iii) does not imply an inventive step; (iv) is not capable of industrial application.
As for design, the claimant should demonstrate that the design is not novel and that it does not have individual character, that is contrary to public order or morality or when its features are dictated by the technical function performed.
With regard to trademarks, the claimant, in order to obtain a declaration of invalidity of the sign, should demonstrate that the trademark (i) lacks distinctive character, (ii) is identical or similar to previous registered or unregistered trademarks, (iii) cannot be graphically represented, (iv) is contrary to law, public order and morality, (v) infringe other IP rights.
With reference to copyright, considering that a copyrightable work should be the expression of the author's creativity and the result of its intellectual creation, the claimant may claim the invalidity of the copyright by proving that the work lacks originality, that is to say it is similar to prior works.
In Italy a method frequently used to remove the effect of the IP rights (particularly for trademark and patent) are the non-declaratory infringement claim. In other words, the potential defendant may start interim proceedings or proceedings on the merits requesting to the Court a declaration that its conduct or activities do not infringe the IP rights at hand and a compensation for damages eventually suffered.
The prior use represents another case where the effect of the IP rights may be limited. As for the prior use of an unregistered trademark, under art. 2571 Italian Civil Code and art. 12 IPC the owner of an unregistered sign which has been used before the registration of the second trademark, may keep going on using the unregistered trademark provided that this sign (i) is not well-known, or (ii) is well-known only locally. As for the prior use of an invention identical to patented invention, under art. 68(3) IPC whoever has used the invention within the period of 12 months before (i) the filing of the patent application or (ii) the priority date, may keep going on using the said invention in the same manner and with the same limits as before.
Finally, we should consider also the compulsory licenses. In Italy, the IPTO may grant compulsory license when (i) the patent holder does not exploit the rights arising from the patent within 3 years from the granting or 4 years from the filing patent, or when (ii) the patent holder cannot exploit its rights because of the existence of a prior patent; therefore the holder of the second patent may be granted a compulsory license of the first patent (Article 70-73 IPC).
See answer to question 18.

References: art. 135

Art. 116
 art. 122
 art. 2571
 art. 12
 art. 68