Registered Industrial Designs by the Fiat Group

Table of Contents:

I. Defining the characteristics of the research 3

1. Defining the aim 3

2.Clarifying the object of the research 3

3. Determining the specific period for which the research is conducted 3

4. Defining the parameters of the research according to the Locarno classification 4

5. Defining the database, used for the collection of data 4

II. General Information concerning the Proprietor of the Industrial Designs under Research: The Fiat Automobile Group 4

III. Conduct of the research and presentation of the collected information 5

IV. Analysis of the results 6

V. Conclusions 7

I. Defining the characteristics of the research

1. Defining the aim

The aim of the research is to trace all the registered industrial designs of Fiat Group in the specified period, to summarize and present the data in a convenient and perceptible form and to draw some logical conclusions based on the accumulated information.

2. Clarifying the object of the research

The objects of the following research are all the registered industrial designs of vehicles and vehicle parts invented by Fiat Group in the specified period .

3. Determining the specific period for which the research is conducted

The research covers the registered industrial designs in the chosen database for the period 01/04/2003 till the 01/01/2010. The total length of the period is 6 years and 9 months.

4. Defining the parameters of the research according to the Locarno classification

Since the research is conducted in the field of motor vehicles and some specific parts of their design, its type according to the Locarno classification is 12.08( 12 is a main class specifying Means of transport or hoisting and 08 is its subclass for motor cars, buses and lorries).

5. Defining the database, used for the collection of data

The research is conducted on information gathered from the Trademarks and Designs Registration Office of the European Union at oami.europa.eu. The Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market (OHIM) is the official trade marks and designs registration office of the European Union. The Community trade mark (CTM) and registered Community design (RCD) are the gateway to the European single market – providing protection for Intellectual Property Rights throughout the European Union, which covers 27 countries and almost 500m people.

II. General Information concerning the Proprietor of the Industrial Designs under Research: The Fiat Automobile Group

The Fiat Group is the largest industrial enterprise in Italy and one of the founders of the European motor industry. Right from the outset, the company had a strong propensity for international expansion and innovation. The Fiat Group currently produces vehicles and their respective spare parts under the Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Lancia and Abarth brands, each aiming at its individual identity and specific target markets

III. Conduct of the research and presentation of the collected information

The comprehensive