Several general principles are important for effective protection of intellectual property (“IP”) rights in the Netherlands. First, it is important to have an overall strategy to protect your IP. Second, IP may be protected differently in the Netherlands than in the United States. Third, rights must be registered and enforced in the Netherlands under local laws. For example, your United States trademark registrations, design or utility patent titles will not protect you in the Netherlands without further administrative procedures in the corresponding regional (EU) or local levels.
Most copyrighted works created in the United States will be automatically protected in the Netherlands from the moment of creation or publication according to international agreements. However, the extension of protection will vary according to the laws of the Netherlands and of the EU. Protection against unauthorized use will vary depending on the national laws of each country.
Obtaining a utility patent in EU Member States is based on a first-to-file system, i.e. the first person or entity to register the patent becomes the title holder. Similarly, most trademark and design rights – similar to a design patent – are based on a first-to-file registration system. So, you should consider how to obtain patent, design, or trademark protection before introducing your products or services into the Netherlands market. Better yet, you should consider having an IP strategy for the whole world even before making your intellectual property public in any country, to ensure that you do not lose the right outside the United States.
Further, keep in mind that trademark and design titles can be obtained for the whole of the EU, at the European Union Intellectual Property Office - EUIPO. Individual titles for the Netherlands can also be obtained at the corresponding IP office. Similarly, a bundle of patent titles can be obtained for various countries through a simplified process at the European Patent Office; an individual patent title can be directly obtained from the patent office of the Netherlands. There are also other international registration systems like the Patent Cooperation Treaty for patents or the Madrid Protocol for trademarks, that could be useful to facilitate the protection of your IP in many countries of the world, including the Netherlands.
It is vital that companies understand that intellectual property rights are primarily private rights and that the United States government cannot enforce them for private individuals in the EU. It is the responsibility of the rights holders to register, protect, and enforce their rights where relevant, retaining their own counsel and advisors. Companies may wish to seek advice from local legal counsel or IP consultants who are experts in the Netherlands and EU law. The U.S. Commercial Service can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.
It is always advisable to conduct due diligence on potential partners. A good partner is an important ally in protecting IP rights. Consider carefully whether to permit your partner to register IP rights on your behalf. Doing so may create a risk that your partner will list itself as the IP owner and fail to transfer the rights should the partnership end. Keep an eye on your cost structure and reduce the margins and the incentive of would-be bad faith actors. Projects and sales in the EU require constant attention. Work with legal counsel familiar with EU laws to create a solid contract that includes non-compete clauses and confidentiality/non-disclosure provisions.
It is also recommended that small and medium-size companies understand the importance of working together with trade associations and organizations to support efforts to protect IP and stop counterfeiting. There are a number of these organizations, in both the EU and the U.S., including local American Chambers of Commerce.
A wealth of information on protecting IP is freely available to United States rights holders. Some excellent resources for companies regarding intellectual property include the following:
For information about patent, trademark, or copyright issues — including enforcement issues in the United States and other countries — call the STOP! Hotline: 1-866-999-HALT or visit https://www.stopfakes.gov/.
For more information about registering trademarks, obtaining designs or utility patents (both in the United States as well as in foreign countries), contact the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) at: 1-800-786-9199.
For more information about registering copyrighted works in the United States, contact the U.S. Copyright Office at: 1-202-707-5959.
For more information about how to evaluate, protect, and enforce intellectual property rights and how these rights may be important for businesses, please visit the “Resources” section of the STOPfakes website. For information on obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights and market-specific IP Toolkits visit: STOPfakes IPR Toolkits. The toolkits contain detailed information on protecting and enforcing IP in specific markets (e.g. the Netherlands) and also contain contact information for local IPR offices abroad and United States government officials available to assist SMEs.
For additional information on IP in the Netherlands, please refer to Business.nl.
For more information, please see the webpage on Protecting Intellectual Property.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) publishes the Special 301 Report on an annual basis. This report provides a review of IP protection and enforcement for United States trading partners around the world. In the 2021 edition of the Report, USTR highlights the negative market access implications for United States producers due to the EU’s protection of geographical indications (GIs) and third-country markets. A high level of online piracy and lack effective enforcement was also noted for the Netherlands.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has positioned IP attachés in key markets around the world. Here is the contact information for the IP attaché covering the Netherlands:
Rachel Bae
U.S. Mission to the European Union
Boulevard du Regent 27
BE – 1000
Brussels, Belgium
Telephone: 32-2-811-5308
E-mail: rachel.bae@trade.gov
For additional information, visit the U.S. Department of State Investment Climate Statements.