Implementation in Germany of the “Enforcement Directive” of 29 April 2004 On 1 September 2008, the "Act on Improving Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights" entered into force in Germany, thus implementing the European Directive 2004/48/EC ("Enforcement Directive"). The Act on Improving Enforcement provides holders of IP rights with new rights with regard to - preservation of evidence, in particular before the commencement of proceedings, - procuring evidence in litigation, - claiming information from non-involved third parties, - the recall of goods infringing an IP right, - securing bank, financial and commercial documents in order to obtain information on assets, following which said assets can be seized to secure the recovery of damages, - publishing court decisions, - customs actions in that a “simplified proceeding” has been introduced allowing destruction of detained goods by customs authorities without a previous court decision, in abidance with Council Regulation (EC) 1383/2003. A Hoffmann · Eitle Newsletter has been prepared which summarizes the important changes in Intellectual Property in Germany. Click on this link to go to the Publications section of the Hoffmann · Eitle website and download the Newsletter in PDF format. · back