The rules adopted by the Italian Registration Authority ("RA") as of December 15, 1999 introduce important changes:

1. There are no longer restrictions on the number of domain names the RA will assign to anyone who qualifies as an applicant.
2. Any EU subject will now qualify for a domain name registration under "it."
3. Domain name cannot be reserved, and are assigned on a first come, first serve basis.

Copyrights

Legislative Decree No. 169 has extended protection under Italian Copyright Law (633/1941) to "databases which because of the choice or organisation of the material constitute an intellectual creation on the part of the author."

Trademarks

Legislative Decree No. 447 contains amendments to Italian trademark law which conform with the Madrid Protocol provisions. The most important change is the introduction of opposition proceedings which may be filed within three months from publication of the mark in the Italian Bulletin.