Hands-on commentary on UPC decisions, key developments in IP law, and news from SONN.
Dec 10, 2025
Our Christmas donation this year was given to two organizations: Mission Hoffnung – Kinderkrebs Sozialhilfe and Die Tafel Österreich. Mission Hoffnung has been supporting children in need in Austria since 2007. The…
Read more →Aug 4, 2025
We are pleased to announce that Paul Maierhofer has successfully passed the European qualifying examination (EQE) and has been registered in the list of professional representatives before the European Patent Office.…
Read more →Dec 9, 2024
Our Christmas donation this year went to the two organizations Lichtblickhof e.motion and Lichtblickhof e.motion. The Lichtblickhof e.motion children's hospice was founded in 2002 and offers individually tailored…
Read more →Dec 20, 2023
This holiday season, we are proud to extend our support to two remarkable organizations, "Grow Together" and "Dank Dir!", through our annual Christmas donation initiative. "Grow Together" is a non-profit organization in…
Read more →Dec 15, 2023
We are pleased to announce that Rudolf Griss and David Trauner have successfully passed the Austrian patent bar exam and have been entered into the list of Austrian patent attorneys. Both will work for our firm as…
Read more →Dec 12, 2022
Our Christmas donation 2022 was given to "Haus der Barmherzigkeit" and “Leukämiehilfe Österreich”. The "Haus der Barmherzigkeit" offers long-term care with quality of life to people in need of care. Geriatric residents…
Read more →Nov 18, 2022
We are pleased to announce that Matthias Scheiner successfully passed the Austrian Patent Attorney Examination. He is registered in the list of Austrian patent attorneys since November 2022 and is employed as patent…
Read more →Jul 15, 2022
We are pleased to announce that Rudolf Griss has successfully passed the European qualifying examination (EQE) and has been registered in the list of professional representatives before the European Patent Office.…
Read more →Dec 7, 2021
Our Christmas donation 2021 was given to “Momo Mobiles Kinderhospiz” and “Neunerhaus”. Vienna’s Pediatric Palliative Home Care Team MOMO cares for children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 18 who are suffering…
Read more →Sep 6, 2021
We are pleased to announce that the two Patent Attorney Trainees Matthias Scheiner and David Trauner have successfully passed the European qualifying examination (EQE) and have been included in the list of professional…
Read more →Dec 4, 2020
Our Christmas donation 2020 was given to “Vinzenzgemeinschaft” and “die möwe”. TheVinzenzgemeinschaft St. Stephanassociation operates an emergency shelter and residential buildings for homeless people, financed…
Read more →Jun 12, 2020
It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our dear colleague and former partner Arnulf Weinzinger on 5 June 2020 after a long and serious illness, but still unexpected and far too soon. We will…
Read more →May 15, 2020
Extension of time limits and oral proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO)According to acommunicationfrom the EPO dated 1 May 2020, deadlines expiring on or after 15 March 2020 are extendeduntil 2 June…
Read more →Apr 23, 2020
In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the EPO issued a furtherNoticeon 16 April 2020 stating that deadlines expiring on or after 15 March 2020 would be extended until4 May 2020for all parties and their…
Read more →Apr 7, 2020
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, many courts as well as patent and trademark offices have decided to extend or interrupt current time limits and to postpone already scheduled hearings. However, the handling of time…
Read more →Mar 19, 2020
The health and well-being of our employees is very important to us. For this reason, and also in order to assume our social responsibility, we have followed the recommendation of the Federal Government and have made…
Read more →Dec 19, 2019
Our Christmas donation 2019 was given to “Sterntalerhof” and “Wiender Tafel”. TheSterntalerhofis a children’s hospice in the original sense of the word, namely a harbourage where hope can grow anew, families can find…
Read more →Mar 4, 2019
We are pleased to announce that Dr Matthias Brunner, a graduate of the University of Vienna in the subject of molecular biology, successfully passed the Austrian Patent Attorney Examination in November 2018, following…
Read more →Jan 7, 2019
We are pleased to announce that Patent and Trademark Attorney Fabian Stanke joins the firm as partner. Fabian Stanke began his training in our firm in 2012. In 2015, he became a European Patent Attorney. In 2017 he…
Read more →Dec 7, 2018
Our Christmas donation 2018 was given to “Barmherzige Schwestern” and “DEBRA Austria”. Since 170 years, theBarmherzigen Schwesternhave been nurturing and accompanying sick and elderly people, following the Vincentian…
Read more →Mar 16, 2018
We are proud to announce that Sonn & Partner on basis of an international survey was voted to be the Austrian “Firm of the Year” by the renowned international professional journal Managing Intellectual Property (MIP).…
Read more →Dec 11, 2017
Our Christmas donation 2017 was given to “Kinderhospiz Netz” and “Hilfswerk Österreich”. "Kinderhospiz Netz" enables the comprehensive care of seriously ill and life-limiting children and youth at home in their usual…
Read more →Aug 23, 2017
On 2 August 2017 an amendment of the Austrian IP laws entered into force which considerably reduces the formal requirements for the recordal of assignments, mergers or changes of name. The new rules will apply for all…
Read more →May 15, 2017
We are pleased to announce that Dr Fabian Stanke, a graduate of the University of Vienna in the subject of Technical Physics following the successful Qualifying Examination for professional representatives before the…
Read more →Jan 13, 2017
Late last year two partners of our office,Daniel AlgeandGeorg Heger, were being interviewed by the business magazine "Forbes Austria" illuminating the professional work of patent attorneys, services for start-ups and…
Read more →Dec 14, 2016
Our Christmas donation 2016 was given to “Diakonie” and “Rettet das Kind”. The "Diakonie" provides asylum seekers with the basic care center Paul Weilandhaus a safe home on time. In addition, there are literacy courses,…
Read more →Dec 1, 2015
Our Christmas donation 2015 was given to "Sterntalerhof" and "St. Anna Children's Cancer Research Institute". The "Sterntalerhof" is a children's hospice in the original sense of the word, namely a harbourage where hope…
Read more →Jan 1, 2015
We are pleased to announce that Patent and Trademark Attorney Johannes Strobl joins the firm as partner. Johannes Strobl began his training in our firm in 2008. In 2012, he became a European Patent Attorney. In 2013 he…
Read more →Dec 1, 2014
Our Christmas donation 2014 was given to "Make-A-Wish Foundation® Austria" and "Gruft". "Make-A-Wish Foundation® Austria" fulfills wishes of seriously ill children between 3 and 18 years. Many children would like to…
Read more →Dec 1, 2013
We are pleased to announce that DI Johannes Strobl, a graduate of the University of Vienna in the subject of Technical Physics following the successful Qualifying Examination for professional representatives before the…
Read more →Dec 1, 2013
Our Christmas donation 2013 was given to Caritas-Vienna. "Caritas-Vienna (integration work peppa)" provide girls and young women from 10 to 20 years a wide range of activities. In addition to leisure time activities,…
Read more →Jun 1, 2013
Because of the devasting floodings in Austria we have decided to give part of our yearly "Christmas donation" already now to "ORF-Hochwasserhilfe - Sofort". According to the promoter "ORF" (Austrian Broadcasting…
Read more →Dec 1, 2012
Our Christmas donation 2012 was given to "Ärzte ohne Grenzen" (Médecins Sans Frontières), "Ute Bock" and "Kinderurologie-Eritrea" (Paediatric Urology - Eritrea). "Ärzte ohne Grenzen"/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is…
Read more →Dec 1, 2011
Our Christmas donation 2011 was given to "Nachbar in Not" (Neighbor in Need) and "SOS-Children's Village". Due to the famine in many countries of East Africa, the beneficence "Nachbar in Not" started the project…
Read more →Dec 1, 2011
2011 was the year of global financial crisis and recession and, sad to say, many expect for 2012 this situation to go even worse, with what in the Internet is called Financial Crisis 2.0 looming over the horizon. While…
Read more →Jul 1, 2011
At regular intervals, patent and trademark applicants are confronted with fraudulent requests for payment. The fraudulent attempts are usually designed similarly, the scammers take the address data of the applicants and…
Read more →Mar 1, 2011
Sonn & Partner offers consolatory letter. » (PDF document, english/japanese, )
Read more →Dec 1, 2010
Our christmas donation was given to "Child-Care-Afrika" and "HORIZONT3000". "Child-Care-Afrika" supports care projects in Africa, especially for drinking water supplies as well as for children and families.…
Read more →Jul 1, 2010
We are pleased that the MIP Global Award as "IP Firm of the Year 2010" in Austria was awarded to SONN & PARTNER Patentanwälte. During the ceremony of the MIP Global Awards in London last week the commendation "Firm of…
Read more →Jan 1, 2010
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Philipp Weinzinger, a graduate of the University of Vienna in the subject of Biochemistry following the successful Qualifying Examination for professional representatives before the…
Read more →Jan 1, 2010
The Enlarged Board of Appeal's (EnBoA's) practice with respect to violations of the "Right to be Heard" (Art. 113 EPC) in cases for Petition for Review under Article 112a EPC: With the EPC 2000 (in force since 13…
Read more →Dec 1, 2009
Our christmas donation was given to "Caritas Socialis" and "HIVmobil". The organization "Caritas Socialis" supports and attends people from the beginning to the end of their lifetime. Their specialized offers are for…
Read more →Jan 1, 2009
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Andreas Pföstl, a graduate of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, in the subject "Food Science and Biotechnology" who passed the Qualifying…
Read more →Dec 1, 2008
Our Christmas donation 2008 was given to "Rote Nasen" (Red Nose Clowndoctors), "Menschen für Menschen" and "St. Anna Kinderspital" (Children's Cancer Research Institute). "Roten Nasen" Clowndoctors are visiting ill and…
Read more →Dec 1, 2008
The Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) of the European Patent Office (EPO) issued the long awaited decision in the WARF/Thomson Stem Cell Application. The patent application was initially rejected by the Examining Division.…
Read more →Nov 1, 2008
On 28 October 2009, the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (MK) deposited its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC). The EPC will accordingly enter into force for the…
Read more →Aug 1, 2008
The CTM "PERSONAL SHOP" was registered for mail order publicity (class 35) and dispatch of mail order wares (class 38), and used by way of online shop, offering a. o. garments and household goods accessible by a…
Read more →Jul 1, 2008
Under EPC 2000 (in force since 13 December 2008) it is for the first time possible for the Enlarged Board of Appeal ("EBA") to correct decisions of Appeal Boards which have been based on essential procedural errors…
Read more →Jun 1, 2008
At the end of our last report, we deliberated whether the Republic of Austria might be liable for damages in case a court of last instance fails to comply with its obligation to file a referral to the ECJ concerning…
Read more →May 1, 2008
With its decision of 22 April 2008, the 3.3.02. Board of Appeal referred the following questions to the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the EPO: "1. Where it is already known to use a particular medicament to treat a…
Read more →May 1, 2008
The Austrian Supreme Court clarified recently that the claimant is not liable for damages in case that a previously granted interim injunction appears to be unjustified in view of a later decision by the ECJ. In the…
Read more →Mar 1, 2008
So far the Austrian Supreme Court had found in several judgments that a trade mark owner is entitled to the cancellation of a domain registration infringing the rights of the trade mark owner. The Supreme Court's…
Read more →Feb 1, 2008
The Austrian Supreme Court (OGH) has requested a new preliminary ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) regarding the three?dimensional trade mark of a sitting golden chocolate rabbit (CTM 1.698.885). These…
Read more →Jan 1, 2008
In a first decision the Austrian Supreme Patent and Trademark Senate (ASPTS) found that in a declaratory action concerning the non-infringement of a patent the existing right (patent) as de-fined in the register shall…
Read more →Dec 1, 2007
The Governments of the Kingdom of Norway (NO) and the Republic of Croatia (HR) deposited the instrument of notification of the European Patent Convention (EPC) and the instrument of accession to the Act revising the EPC…
Read more →Dec 1, 2007
Our Christmas donation 2007 was given (in equal shares) to "Kinderhilfswerk" (Austrian Children's Fund) and "SOS-Children's Village". The goal of the "Kinderhilfswerk" is to provide a protected and healthy environment…
Read more →Nov 1, 2007
In one of its recent decisions, the Austrian Supreme Court clarified certain aspects of the legitimacy of addressing warning letters to employees. In the case to be decided, an interim injunction was granted to the…
Read more →Nov 1, 2007
After the well-reported Häupl vs. Lidl case of the European Court of Justice (ECJ C-246/05), in which we as patent attorneys directly before the ECJ pleaded through our partner Helmut Sonn about the starting date of the…
Read more →Oct 1, 2007
A licensee has licensed a utility model (UM) and know-how (KH) for an oxygen-enriched beverage. In addition, a gas mixing equipment was supplied by the licensor mainly for counting the drinks for calculating the license…
Read more →Sep 1, 2007
In a first leading decision the Austrian Supreme Court has clarified several issues of such cases. The decision is about the trademark and tradename "Wein & Co." (Wine & Co.), a famous chain of wine stores and wine bars…
Read more →Jul 1, 2007
For pediatric medication the possibility to file a request for extension of the maximum duration of Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC) at the Austrian Patent Office exists. In connection therewith, we beg to…
Read more →Jul 1, 2007
Already in the first Austrian Patent Law of 1897, there was the special provision that the Court had to terminate the effect of an interlocutory injunction when an adequate security was offered by the infringing…
Read more →Jun 1, 2007
Sending warning letters with respect to infringement of patents is a common exercise common, yet the practice with respect to formulation of such letters differs widely within the EU. In Austria, the practice in sending…
Read more →May 1, 2007
During a request for a declaration of partial nullity of a Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC), the Nullity Department of the Austrian Patent Office had to decide the question, whether stating a wrong…
Read more →Apr 1, 2007
The party which has obtained a temporary injunction which finally turned out to have been injustified, has to indemnify the opposing party for all economic loss due to this temporary injunction. This is an absolute…
Read more →Feb 1, 2007
The European Directive on the legal protection of biotechnological inventions 98/44/EC has been transformed into national law on 10 June 2005. The Austrian Parliament has connected the establishment of a special…
Read more →Feb 1, 2007
Article 10 of the Enforcement Directive (Directive 2004/48/EC) provides corrective measures to be taken with regard to goods that have been found to infringe an intellectual property right. Those measures shall include:…
Read more →Jan 1, 2007
On 1 December 2006, the Government of the Republic of Malta (MT) deposited its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) and to the Act revising the EPC of 29 November 2000. The EPC will…
Read more →Dec 1, 2006
Our Christmas donation 2006 was given (in equal shares) to "buddy-verein" and "Kinder-Krebs-Hilfe". "buddy-verein" accompanies people having HIV/AIDS with the goal to improve their psychosocial situation.…
Read more →Dec 1, 2006
We are pleased to inform you that by further optimizing our work routine and by automation of processes we have been able to maintain our fees, or even to largely reduce them, respectively. However, for orders received…
Read more →Nov 1, 2006
In a preliminary ruling case forwarded to the ECJ by the Austrian Oberster Patent- und Markensenat (OPM) and closely monitored by the Austrian IP community, advocate-general Damaso Ruiz-Jarabo Colomer delivered his…
Read more →Oct 1, 2006
Following the enactment of the Austrian Utility Model in 1994, not much guidance was given by the courts with regard to the level of inventiveness in order to meet the statutory requirement of "inventive step".…
Read more →Sep 1, 2006
The Austrian Supreme court recently decided about the duration of SPC's based on "old" Austrian national patents, which patents had been filed prior to December 1, 1984. These patents had a duration of 18 years from the…
Read more →Jul 1, 2006
With the Austrian Law Gazette » I 96/2006 the directive » 2004/48/EG on the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights was (partially) implemented in the Austrian Patent Act, Semiconductor Act and Trademark Act. An…
Read more →Jun 1, 2006
In the decision » 4 Ob 177/05s the Austrian Supreme Court dealt for the first time with the prerequisites for validity of registered community design rights as well as with the question of infringement of a community…
Read more →Feb 1, 2006
The well-known English publishing house OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS has recently published the comprehensive and practical guide on the so called EC Counterfeiting Regulation » "ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS".…
Read more →Jan 1, 2006
We are delighted to announce that with effect of 1st January 2006 » Dr. Rainer Beetz acceeded to our firm as new partner. Dr. Beetz started to work in our firm as patent attorney trainee after having graduated from…
Read more →Jan 1, 2006
The leading Austrian law publisher MANZ has published a new commentary on the the Austrian Trademark Act (ATA) together with attorney-at-law Prof. Dr. Kucsko as editor. In this book 40 authors give a systematic…
Read more →Dec 1, 2005
Our Christmas donation 2005 was given (in equal shares) to "Child-Care-Afrika, Water for Africa" and "Stiftung Kindertraum". "Child-Care-Afrika, Water for Africa" works on rehabilitating irrigation systems and drinking…
Read more →Dec 1, 2005
The Enlarged Board of Appeal has published its Opinion in the case G 1/04 on the patentability of diagnostic methods. The essential question to be clarified by this Opinion was whether the exclusion of diagnostic…
Read more →Oct 1, 2005
The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs) reduces its fees. Obtaining trade mark protection in all the member states of the EU by filing one single application has now become even…
Read more →Jun 1, 2005
As of 1 July 2005, the Patents Act and Fees Amendment 2004 introduces quite substantial procedural changes which may be viewed as a further important step towards harmonizing Austrian Patent Law with international…
Read more →May 1, 2005
On 5 April 2005, the Government of the Republic of Latvia (LV) deposited its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) and to the Act revising the EPC of 29 November 2000. The EPC will accordingly…
Read more →Apr 1, 2005
We are very glad to announce the Third Edition of our book. As the first two editions, this book provides an introduction to patent law for people who have to deal with patents but do not have to be patent specialists…
Read more →Apr 1, 2005
As of July, 1 2005, the Austrian Patent Office will amend the official fees, among others also new annual fees for patents, SPC's and utility models will be prescribed. Of particular importance is that in some cases the…
Read more →Jan 1, 2005
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Rainer Beetz successfully passed the Austrian qualifying exam in January 2005 and that he will work now as Austrian patent attorney within our office.
Read more →Dec 1, 2004
On 1 December 2003, the President of the European Patent Office and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina signed an agreement on co-operation in the field of patents…
Read more →Dec 1, 2004
Our Christmas donation 2004 was given (in equal shares) to "Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)" and "Rettet das Kind". "Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)" offers assistance to populations in distress, to victims of natural or…
Read more →Nov 1, 2004
On 26 November 2001, the President of the European Patent Office and the Federal Minister of Economy and Internal Trade of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia signed an agreement on co-operation in the field of patents…
Read more →Oct 1, 2004
On 31 August 2004, the Government of the Republic of Iceland (IS) and on 3 September 2004, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (LT) deposited its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC)…
Read more →Sep 1, 2004
Karin Pramberger, patent attorney, is moving abroad and therefore leaving our office. She startet at our office in 1997 and passed the European Qualifying Examination in 2001, and the Austrian Patent Attorneys…
Read more →Jun 1, 2004
The Madrid Protocol is an essential instrument in trade mark protection around the world. It is an international registration system administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (» WIPO). As of October…
Read more →Jun 1, 2004
After having changed the form of our office which was founded in 1851 to a more contemporary one (the Sonn & Partner Patentanwälte OEG as of 1st January 2003), we have also decided to renew our external appearance and…
Read more →May 1, 2004
The European Union was enlarged on May 1, 2004 by ten new Member States (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia). With the date of accession, a Community trade…
Read more →Apr 1, 2004
From 1 April 2004 it will be possible to extend the protection conferred by European patent applications and patents to the Republic of Croatia. Extended European patent applications and patents will enjoy essentially…
Read more →Jan 1, 2004
Poland joins the European Patent Convention (EPC); European patents with effect in Poland may be received as from 1 March 2004. Further candidates for joining the EPC in 2004 are Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Iceland and…
Read more →Sep 1, 2003
The Austrian Design Law has been amended with effect from August 27, 2003 to transform the Directive 98/71/EC into the Law. One of the most significant changes is the introduction of a 12-month grace period, which means…
Read more →Feb 1, 2003
On 12 December 2002, the Government of the Republic of Romania (RO) deposited its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) and to the Act revising the EPC of 29 November 2000. The EPC will…
Read more →Feb 1, 2003
As of April 1, 2003 it is possible to have registered so-called EU- or Community Designs, which will – in analogy to the Community Trademark – enjoy protection in all EU-member states. Applications for such Community…
Read more →Jan 1, 2003
After intensive preparations we have managed to transform the legal form of our office with effect from 1.1.2003 to meet the requirements of the future: our partnership "Sonn, Pawloy, Weinzinger & Köhler-Pavlik“ has…
Read more →Dec 1, 2002
On 28 October 2002, the Government of the Republic of Hungary (HU) deposited its instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) and to the Act revising the EPC of 29 November 2000. The EPC will…
Read more →Oct 1, 2002
After the government of the Republic of Slovenia deposited their instruments of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC) on September 18, 2002, the EPC will accordingly enter into force for the Republic of…
Read more →Jun 1, 2002
After the governments of the Slowak Republic, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Estonia deposited their instruments of accession to the European Patent Convention (EPC), the EPC will accordingly enter into force for…
Read more →Nov 1, 2001
The Austrian Patent Attorneys' Act has regulated the profession of patent attorney since June 7, 1967. On August 11, 2001, an amendment to this Act entered into force (Federal Law Gazette No. 2001/107). In particular,…
Read more →Jun 1, 2001
As of June 1st, 2001, » Dr. Georg Heger became a partner of our office. Mr. Heger graduated from the Technical University of Vienna in electrical engineering and communication technologies in 1990. After his studies,…
Read more →Mar 1, 2001
We are very glad to announce that shortly after the first edition (1997) our publisher (Ueberreuter Wirtschaftsverlag) has asked us to provide a second, extended edition of our book. As the first edition, this book…
Read more →Mar 1, 2001
150 years ago, Frederick Paget, Englishman and brother of Sir James Paget, personal physician of Queen Victoria, founded our office at Riemergasse. From this date on, our office had the possibility to participate in the…
Read more →Aug 1, 2000
The basic proposal for the revision of the EPC has been released end of July after taking into account the results of the discussions of the Committee on Patent Law from 3 - 6 July 2000. This basic proposal will be…
Read more →Aug 1, 2000
On 1 August 2000 the Commission presented the proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community patent. The long-awaited draft, which followed the Green Paper of 1997, defines the legal environment for the Community…
Read more →Jul 1, 2000
On 2 June 2000 the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) has been signed in Geneva. The PLT, once (in the 1980s) thought to become the chosen instrument for international harmonisation for material patent law (and was then, after…
Read more →Mar 1, 2000
With the Patents Act amendment still to decide this year Austria is going to follow the international requests, especially of Germany, Japan and the USA, and will support and promote innovative companies by…
Read more →Jan 1, 2000
In a landmark decision the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO) has accepted claims drawn to plants as such as being patentable. This decision (G 1/98 "Transgenic Plant/NOVARTIS II") turned down…
Read more →Jan 1, 2000
We are glad to announce that with effect of 1. January 2000 patent attorney's offices of Sonn, Pawloy, Weinzinger & Wolfram and Dipl.-Ing. Köhler-Pavlik are active in merged form as "Sonn, Pawloy, Weinzinger &…
Read more →
We keep a close eye on recent legal developments, provide up-to-date advice, and develop strategies that turn new decisions to your advantage.
Contact us →