BACIU PARTNERS

At BACIU PARTNERS, we’re passionate about infusing enthusiasm and creativity into everything we do, even if this means taking a step outside the traditional legal arena. As a team of diverse professionals—in expertise, likes, and beliefs— we blend varied backgrounds and insights, and it’s this mix that empowers us to extract the most relevant insights from events like Webstock. Spending quality time, together, in environments beyond our field of activity is also essential for fostering growth. And, no, it is not all strict and ”by the book”: we love enjoying a relaxed yet engaging atmosphere that fuels our commitment to finding meaningful perspectives on every challenge, solidifying BACIU PARTNERS as a place where the sound of knowledge thrives in the spirit of creativity and connection. And the picture below speaks a thousand words, don't you agree? - with Ana-Maria Baciu, Irina Valeanu, Narcis Codori, Iulia Dobre, Raluca Comanescu, 𝐑𝐨𝐱𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐢𝐮 #creativity #lawyerlife #knowledge

🌍 Webstock 2024, Romania's largest social media event, a trademark (in both formal and informal ways) and flagship event by Evensys, brings together marketing and online communities. 🔗 Ana-Maria Baciu was invited as a speaker during the Digital Creator Stage – Inspiration Guard talks. With a well-known propensity to "make things better and differently, tailored to expectations and needs," Ana-Maria delivered a presentation on "𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐬?" The key takeaways from Ana-Maria's presentation? 📌 As social media and online communities expand at an unprecedented pace, all initiatives in this space need to be rolled out in full compliance with the legal provisions. These regulations, especially around intellectual property rights and consumer protection, can often be intricate and even create confusion. When in doubt, it's always best to seek clarity—preferably from a lawyer (wink-wink). 📌 Copyrights, trademarks, and content ownership are key areas to watch in any "creative" context, and getting them right from the outset can save many headaches down the road. Instead of navigating these complex waters with uncertainty, why not focus on what you do best: creating powerful digital content? 📌 By ensuring that your creativity is legally sound and structured, you can maximize both impact and (yours and your clients') peace of mind. A huge thank you to the entire Evensys team for providing a great platform for these discussions, and to all those who participated, for carefully listening to a not-your-typical-topic for this particular community! Photo credits also go to the Evensys team - thank you! #digitalcontent #creativity #socialmedia #intellectualproperty

📍 Next week, the Eternal City becomes the epicenter of the global gambling industry, hosting the much-anticipated joint International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL) and the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR) conference. An iconic reminder of timeless allure and history as a hub of great minds and ideas, Rome is the ideal backdrop for insightful discussions that aim to shape the future of gambling regulation worldwide. Our very own Ana-Maria Baciu and Andrei Cosma will attend the event, joining the community that is set to design the global trends that will define the industry's next evolution stages in a city that has stood the test of resilience. 🌍 As the global gambling industry faces increasingly complex challenges, issues such as compliance with challenging regulatory contexts, adapting to ever-evolving technology, a certain degree of market saturation, and the need to strategically address reputation and perception aspects while ensuring player protection all require thoughtful yet commercially feasible solutions. 𝐀𝐧𝐚-𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚 and 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐢 will participate in the conversation, ensuring the context for further interactions with all stakeholders that matter and make a difference! #gambling #IAGRIMGL2024 #regulatory #compliance

💡 In a decision that marks a new success in the wide-ranging legal dispute between 𝐀𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚ț𝐢𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐔𝐓𝐀, the UTA Supporter Club Association (SCU) and Asociația Fotbal Club UTA, the UTA Football Club Association (AFC UTA), BACIU PARTNERS' lawyers have achieved a significant victory before the Court of Appeal of Timișoara: the court admitted the second appeal filed by SCU against the decision to suspend the litigation seeking AFC UTA to be ordered to allow access to the financial information and documents of the UTA football club. 🚩 The decision is crucial for clarifying the situation between the two entities and reinforces SCU's stance in this series of complex disputes. By admitting the second appeal, the court acknowledged the validity of the arguments presented by SCU, represented by BACIU PARTNERS team and implicitly established that the suspension of the trial would have seriously compromised our client's interests and rights. The string of litigations initiated by SCU have generated an intense debate among the fans of the UTA ARAD football team, and the decisions pronounced so far by the courts have had a significant impact on reaffirming the role of supporters in the life of a football team. 🚀 The BACIU PARTNERS team involved in resolving this series of disputes is comprised of Iunia Radu and Bogdan Cheran, with the coordination, from a strategy perspective, by Ana-Maria Baciu. The full information on the above is available here: https://lnkd.in/ec-uzid3 #disputeresolution #sports #football #club #litigation

🚩 The transition to the mandatory use of electronic applications for action was finalized. Starting with October 3, 2024, rights holders and their representatives can submit #eAFAs before the customs authorities only through electronic means such as the IP Enforcement Portal (IPEP) or the available national portals. The purpose of the AFAs is to instruct Customs to detain any goods suspected of infringing the IPRs registered on behalf of or licensed to the entity that has filed the application for action. ◾️When AFAs are granted, #Customs seizes any goods that are suspected of infringing the intellectual property rights included in the AFAs, and notifies the seizure to the rights holders, prompting them to take action by replying to Customs and confirming if the seized goods are found to be infringing their rights. ◾️Customs authorities may also seize goods ex officio, even if they are not covered by a decision granting an AFA, when there is a suspicion that the goods infringe an intellectual property right. In practice, this most often occurs when inspectors identify goods affixed with signs that are deemed to be copying well-known or famous trademarks. ◾️Starting from October 3, 2024, the electronic applications completely replace the paper forms previously used by the national Customs authorities. However, based on the information provided by the Romanian Customs Authority, eAFAs are presently still required to be printed and filed on paper before its official registry, but reflecting the number obtained via the IPEP portal. 💡Considering the challenges that the entire procedure raises for intellectual property rights holders, Andreea Bende prepared an overview of the larger context, the nuances to be evaluated, the perspectives and alternatives for intellectual property rights holders. The piece is available here: https://lnkd.in/dfMbrh-5 #digitaltransformation #intellectualproperty

🚩 The expansion of the Romanian gambling industry has been accompanied by numerous legislative changes that have reformed and updated the legal framework but also increased the tax burden and financial obligations incumbent upon operators several times. In a brief recap, the Romanian authorities adopted new legislative packages at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, severely amending the Romanian gambling law. 🔬 Thanks to their hands-on, insightful expertise, Ana-Maria Baciu and Andrei Cosma have examined some of the notable changes, with an emphasis on a new provision that, in our view, created quite a shock in the market: the increase in the guarantee requirements applicable to gambling operators. Their recent piece titled “𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲” elaborates on the themes that have monopolized the spotlight in recent months, with a twist on the characteristics of #insurance policies for gambling operators in a #taxation context. 👉 The article was published in the latest issue of the International Masters of Gaming Law magazine (thank you for the opportunity!) and is available in full here: https://lnkd.in/ea5-_Nq8 #gaming #gambling #regulatory

A member of the ECTA Law Committee, Zsófia Halmágyi is among the select professionals that will attend the 2024 edition of ECTA (official)’s Autumn Meeting, a high-level event exclusively reserved for Supervisory Board and Committee members. The gathering will take place in Seville, Spain from October 10 to 12 and is expected to be the meeting point for a cohort of intellectual property professionals from private practices and in-house professionals, offering a unique opportunity for in-depth discussions and networking. 🚩 Will you be attending the meeting?  🚩 Not in Seville during that time, but are you interested in the key takeaways? Get in touch with Zsófia for an insightful conversation on topics that should be on your agenda of intellectual property aspects to tackle, explore and take from strategy to operational. #intellectualproperty #trademark #design #law

🌟 We are excited to share that George-Mihai Irimescu and Zsófia Halmágyi have been once again recognized as Rising Stars by Managing IP in the 2024 rankings released by this highly reputable publication. The feedback received from colleagues, peers, and clients represents the cornerstone for the Rising Star distinction. It is an independent confirmation of George's and Zsófia's solid professional commitment to delivering highly consistent insights in response to our clients' ever-evolving needs. 🚀 Independent observers recognize BACIU PARTNERS for having one of Romania's leading and most respected intellectual property practices. Our team consistently delivers outstanding services, and our success is a testament to the quality of our work. Congratulations, George and Zsófia, shine bright! More details and the full list of Rising Stars are available here: https://lnkd.in/eh4Qh6Dk #intellectualproperty #ip #risingstar

🔦 Practical, informative pieces that equip professionals and enthusiasts with knowledge of the spectacular field of intellectual property and help them navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities are some of the value-adding tools we propose. As part of the WTR series EUROPEAN UNION | Legal updates: case law analysis and intelligence, Andreea Bende and Narcis Codori recently co-authored a piece titled “𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐏 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞“. The thesis: ◾️ SOIT held there was a similarity and likelihood of confusion between JACKPOT SALA DE JOCURI and MAXBET SALA DE JOCURI ◾️ Division held that even though their main verbal elements were not identical, both signs shared a similar structure that would give a lookalike impression ◾️ Decision has been appealed and is subject to further review This article first appeared on WTR Daily, part of World Trademark Review and is available here: https://lnkd.in/dcKQM7xU #intellectualproperty #gaming

🚩 Comercializarea produselor care poartă eticheta nutrițională „Nutri-Score” intră din nou în atenția autorităților și a operatorilor economici odată cu noi propuneri legislative. Pe 20 septembrie 2024, Ministerul Economiei a publicat în transparență decizională un proiect de Hotărâre de Guvern, inclus în 23 septembrie pe site-ul propriu și de Autoritatea Națională pentru Protecția Consumatorilor - ANPC, prin care a lansat spre consultarea publică un cadru legal aplicabil comercializării produselor alimentare care poartă eticheta nutrițională „Nutri-Score”. 🔎 Inițiativa legislativă așteptată de operatorii economici urmărește să stabilească limitele aplicabilității, condițiile de utilizare a etichetei „Nutri-Score”, obligațiile operatorilor economici și sancțiunea aplicabilă în caz de nerespectare a acestora, după ce, în trecut, ANPC se opunea acestui sistem, pe motiv că  unii consumatori ar putea fi influențați în alegerea unor produse care nu ar corespunde obiceiurilor și nevoilor lor. Ana-Maria Baciu, Cristina Stoica și Iulia Dobre au analizat noul proiect legislativ și elementele sale reper, incluzându-le într-un material alături de informații despre: 📌 Contextul European în care s-a dezvoltat conceptul „Nutri-Score” 📌 Situația în România și intervenția ANPC 📌 Litigii în fața instanțelor române 📌 Soluțiile oferite de instanțele române Intenția legislativă este mai mult decât binevenită în contextul în care, deși până în prezent, numeroase sancțiuni aplicate de ANPC care au făcut obiectul plângerilor contravenționale pe rolul instanțelor din România au fost anulate, producătorii și retailerii au renunțat la comercializarea produselor purtătoare de etichete Nutri-Score. Rămâne totuși de văzut cum va evolua inițiativa legislativă spre forma ei finală pentru a înțelege impactul său și obligațiile ce vor fi impuse operatorilor economici. For our English-language audience: The sale of products bearing the ”Nutri-Score” nutritional label is once again under scrutiny by authorities and economic operators with fresh legislative proposals in the pipeline. The full information is available in the first comment below. #nutriscore #foodlaw #consumerprotection