Developments at the IPR-Helpdesk
The IPR-Helpdesk, a free service providing help and legal advice on for Intellectual Property Rights in Europe, has recently updated its website. In addition to the team of five legal advisors, the helpdesk now boasts over 5,000 pages of IP information, a revised IP-Wire newsletter and is in the process of developing more interactive tutorials for online delivery. The European Commission funded service can be found at: http://cordis.europa.eu/ipr-helpdesk/(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie). The IPR helpdesk aims to improve the protection and exploitation of European intellectual property, and is the central reference point for IP enquiries throughout the European Union. The multilingual helpdesk team performs three main tasks: offering IP advice and assistance to Europe's entrepreneurs and innovators, put callers in touch with appropriate advisors or services; and to promote the awareness of the importance of intellectual property rights in Europe. All services are free, including a telephone legal IP helpline providing advice for whatever stage you are at, from bringing an innovative project to the market to negotiating a contract with the European Commission. An extensive website provides extensive coverage of IP information with links to IP services including esp@cenet, the service of the European Patent Organisation. The IPR team has also produced several booklets covering IPR issues within the Fifth Framework Programme which can be downloaded from the website or sent by post. For free subscription to the monthly electronic newsletter, IP-Wire, at: http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org/ipwire(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie). A collection of IPR legal texts, European and multinational, can be found at: http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org/ipdocs(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie). Information on national information resources from all EU member countries, including advice on fees, is available at: http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org/national(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie).