USPTO issues guidance on use of AI tools by patent and trademark practitioners
The USPTO recognizes that practitioners are increasingly using AI tools to prepare and prosecute patent and trademark applications. Therefore, to “cabin the risks” arising from the use of AI, on April 11, 2024, the USPTO issued guidance on the use of AI tools....
Implications of Chanel v. WGACA for luxury resale market
For over 114 years, the Chanel fashion house has produced immediately recognizable high-fashion apparel and accessories synonymous with elegance and luxury for the international market. With prices for some of its handbags regularly exceeding the USD 5,000-10,000...
New CITMA President elected
Kelly Saliger has been elected as President of The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) and will make education one of her top priorities. Saliger, who is a dual-qualified Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and Solicitor, began her two-year term in the role...
Aldi finds itself in the cold over frozen cheesecake
The UK-based company, Pleese, has accused Aldi of copying its product and infringing on its intellectual property (IP) rights. The product at the center of the claim is 'Freezecakes' which is a scoopable frozen cheesecake in a tub made from 40% cream cheese with...
Tencent publishes 2023 Weixin Brand Protection Platform (BPP) Report
The Weixin Brand Protection Platform Report outlines enhancements and recent actions to strengthen its BPP Program, helping further protect intellectual property rights on Weixin. SHENZHEN, April 17, 2024 – Tencent today released its 2023 Weixin Brand Protection...
The Supreme Court rules Amazon did target UK customers with non-UK websites
The background The BEVERLY HILLS POLO CLUB brand is sold in the UK and EU under license by Lifestyle Equities. An entirely unrelated company is authorized to sell the brand in the US. The US brand legitimately sold the US goods to US customers via Amazon.com, however,...
Penn State v. Vintage Brand: “throwback” clothing company uses Penn State’s trademarks
In an apparent blatant act of trademark infringement, a clothing company has used Pennsylvania State University's registered trademarks in the commercial sale of various merchandise. An upcoming trial will hinge on an 'ornamental use' defense: that is whether a...
Rolex v. AGSA: are customization activities of branded watches a world of wonders?
A dispute arose between Rolex SA and Artisans de Genève SA (AGSA), which specializes in customizing Rolex watches for its clientele. In 2023, the Civil Chamber of the Court of Justice of the Canton of Geneva ordered AGSA to cease these services and the use of the...
M&S v. Aldi: a ‘refreshing’ reminder of the benefits of design protection
Marks and Spencer Plc (M&S) brought an infringement action against Aldi Stores Limited (Aldi) based on its UK-registered designs for gin bottles containing gold flakes and an integrated light. M&S launched its product in Autumn 2020, with Aldi launching its...
Guangzhou court finds that generative AI infringes copyright
It has been a big month for generative AI-related copyright litigation, culminating in news that authors have issued class action litigation against Nvidia, on the basis that Nvidia’s NeMo platform was trained on a dataset that included copyright works. Further...
Back-and-forth with USPTO stymies OpenAI’s bid to register CHATGPT
You may be surprised to learn that ChatGPT—the name for OpenAI’s ubiquitous AI-powered chatbot—is not registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Not yet, at least. Since December 2022, OpenAI has been involved in a back-and-forth with the...
Hogar Controls gets relief from Delhi High Court on trademark matter
Hon’ble Delhi High Court has given a relief order in favor of Vishnu Reddy Hyderabad, 7 March 2024 – Hogar Controls, a leading global IoT company renowned for its design-centric approach and robust smart home solutions, has got an injunction order in the trademark...
UK Government abandons plans for voluntary code of conduct for AI
It is terrifying to think, considering how pervasive it now seems to be, that artificial intelligence (AI) exploded into the public consciousness only a couple of years ago. Less surprising are the copyright concerns and questions that swiftly followed. The recent UK...
‘Choose Safe, not Fake’ campaign targets counterfeit beauty and hygiene products
The new IPO campaign highlights the serious health risks these goods pose, empowering consumers to make informed choices The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has today launched its latest targeted awareness campaign, designed to help tackle consumer demand for...
More Copyright News
Can the word “The” be trademarked?
Back in 2011, The Ohio State University failed to trademark the word [1]" the," with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Court held, “In order for a trademark to be registered for a brand of clothing, the trademark must be used in a trademark fashion. In other...
INTA proposes clear definition for when courts should apply the rogers analysis
The International Trademark Association (INTA) has filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Vans, Inc., VF Outdoors LLC v. MSCHF Product Studio, Inc., 22-606-cv (2d Cir.). In its brief, INTA proposes that the deferential...
Clarivate Top 100 New Brands Report reveals trends and hotspots in rapidly evolving global brand landscape
From TikTok to Comirnaty - Software, media, fintech and finance; luxury, fashion, sports; and pharmaceutical brands comprise nearly half the list with 15 brands each, Clarivate Top 100 New Brands Report reveals Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a global leader in providing...
Ambush marketing: the risks of associating with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
With just over a month to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, advertising agencies, along with local and global businesses, will be thinking of innovative ways to increase their global exposure through associating with the Commonwealth Games. Whilst the hosting...
IP boost to UK AI developers as Government decides to allow machine learning from copyrighted datasets
Using UK copyrighted datasets to train AI will not amount to copyright infringement The UK Government's announcement on its approach to data mining and intellectual property is likely to provide a boost to innovation in AI, says leading intellectual property law firm...
Mewburn Ellis announces firmwide menopause policy
IP firm launches comprehensive set of measures to encourage discussion and support colleagues experiencing the menopause with firmwide menopause policy European IP firm Mewburn Ellis has launched a firmwide menopause policy to encourage discussion around, and support...
Trademark Administrators and Practitioners Meeting to Provide Professional Development, Practical Skills
The International Trademark Association (INTA) will be holding its Trademark Administrators and Practitioners (TMAP) Meeting in Arlington, Virginia from September 11 to 13, providing hundreds of trademark administrators, paralegals, young practitioners, and...
Winners of the 2022 ACG Awards for Excellence Announced
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) has announced the winners of the 2022 ACG Awards for Excellence in Anti-Counterfeiting Enforcement at an event hosted by Phil Lewis, Director General at the ACG at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Conference in...
Young Europeans buy more fake products and continue to access pirated content – EUIPO reports
More than half (52 %) of Europeans surveyed aged between15 and 24 said they had bought at least one fake product online over the past year, both intentionally or by accident, and a third (33 %) said they had accessed digital content from illegal sources. Looking at...
INTA files amicus brief on contrariety to accepted principles of morality as an absolute ground for refusal and the role of freedom of speech
The International Trademark Association (INTA) has filed an amicus brief before the Grand Board of Appeal (GBoA) of the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Matthias Zirnsack vs. EUIPO, Case R-260/2021-G, concerning the registrability of the figurative...
Pokemon stands up for himself – Vladimir Biriulin reports
April 2022. The events in the Ukraine are widely discussed everywhere. In the meantime, life of intellectual property and its enforcement continues. On April 27, 2022, commercial court in the Russian Far East handed down a judgment against the infringer. It bore a...
A (PLANT-BASED) BEEF
A beef arose in April 2022 when Vegadelphia, a plant-based food company out of Philadelphia, recently sued Dunkin’ and Beyond Meat claiming infringement of its federally registered trademark WHERE GREAT TASTE IS PLANT-BASED. The dispute arose when Dunkin’ used GREAT...
Indian High Court grants Burger King injunction to ward off trademark infringements and fraud
Burger King recently approached an Indian High Court with a trademark infringement suit seeking ex parte ad interim injunction against misuse of its famous marks through unauthorised registration of domain names. The Delhi High Court granted the injunction in May 2022...
Number of UK trademark disputes more than doubles to record high as Brexit triggers intellectual property battles
More businesses forced to defend IP as trademark applications surge McDonald’s, Amazon, MasterChef all involved in UK disputes over brands The number of oppositions to UK trademark applications has more than doubled to a record high of 8,026 in 2021, up from 3,584 in...
Nike v StockX – Emanuela Bianco reports
Melanie Saubin, director at The Future Today Institute in New York City, predicts that by 2030 “a large proportion of people will be in the metaverse in some way”. Gartner, a research company, relaunches stating that a quarter of people will spend at least an hour a...
LawCare extends online chat service
Legal mental health charity LawCare has extended its online chat service for legal professionals from one to four days a week. The charity, which offers free, confidential, emotional support to anyone working in the law, has been operating a helpline and peer support...
The different relevance of well-known facts for trademark registration between EUIPO and the Italian Patent and Trademark Office
On January 14th, 2022, the EUIPO’s Opposition Division (hereinafter “the Office”) rejected the opposition filed by Louis Vuitton Malletier (hereinafter “Louis Vuitton”) based on Arts. 8(1) and 8(2) of the EUTMR[1] against the registration of the figurative European...
International Trademark Association to Head to Singapore for 2023 Annual Meeting
The International Trademark Association (INTA) has announced that it will hold its 145th Annual Meeting—the world’s largest event for brand owners and intellectual property professionals—in Singapore from May 16 to 20, 2023. This marks the second time INTA will be...
Charles Russell Speechlys advises Symphony Holdings Limited on the sale of its PONY trademark portfolio for USD $28 million
Charles Russell Speechlys have advised Symphony Holdings Limited, an investment holding company listed on the HK Stock Exchange, on the sale of its trademark portfolio of international footwear brand, PONY, in the Non-APAC region to Iconix Brand Group. The Firm also...
Trademark makes sense for Harry and Meghan podcast
One of the UK’s leading trademark specialists says Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bid to trademark the word ‘archetypes’ after deciding to use it as the title for a new Spotify podcast makes ‘very good commercial sense’. Kate Cheney, the director of trademarks at...
New Clarivate Report reveals dynamic global trademark landscape, with Metaverse and NFT trends increasingly driving trademark filing activity
Technological advances in the virtual world continue to impact how Intellectual Property is created, managed and protected London, U.K., May 3, 2022 – Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of...
International Trademark Association Releases Report on the Taxation of Trademarks and Complementary Rights in Europe
The International Trademark Association (INTA) today released its Report on the Taxation of Trademarks and Complementary Rights in Europe. Focused on the tax implications within the trademark lifecycle in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, the...
The value of peer support
We all know the phrases ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ or ‘it’s good to talk’ but the benefits in talking about how you are feeling go far beyond this. When we are in a difficult situation we lose our problem-solving abilities, it can be impossible to focus...
Mental Health Awareness Week – Loneliness
Humans are hard-wired to connect - we are tribal and social animals. We are biologically programmed to need other humans, and a feeling of belonging and connection drives our happiness. Despite this many of us will know what it’s like to be lonely, especially after...
The Magic of the ‘MOMENT’
In a clash between Magic Moment and Evening Moment, the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi has passed an injunction order against Sarao Distillery (OPC) Pvt. Ltd & and Greentech Blenders and Distillers (“Sarao Distillery & Anr.”) forcing them to stop selling its own...
INTA Files Amicus Brief on application of Rogers analysis to commercial goods
The International Trademark Association (INTA) has filed an amicus brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in VIP Products, LLC v. Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc., No. 21-16969, marking the Association’s third amicus brief in this long-running...
Most GB 16–25-year-olds unsure of their Intellectual Property (IP) rights over their creations
New research by forward-looking IP firm Mewburn Ellis in conjunction with YouGov, indicates that a majority of 16-25-year-olds in Britain lack confidence in their knowledge of their intellectual property (IP) rights. The research, based on a survey of 212 British...
World IP Day, 2022
This year, World IP Day focuses on “IP and Youth: Innovation for a Better Future”. In a post-COVID-19 era driven by the growth and encompassment of technology, many aspects of innovation are changing. To mark the occasion, we asked our editorial board to reflect on...
Tokyo District Court’s decision on Louboutin’s red soles shoes
The main essence of a trademark is its ability to distinguish the goods and services of one person from the other. A trademark could be made up of a word, a logo, a combination of these two, a slogan, a color…anything that could be able to clearly distinguish the...
IP Professionals’ Brand New Initiative to Benefit Ukraine
When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Taras Kulbaba—a Ukrainian-born IP attorney living in Brussels—could not sit idly by. He gathered resources from his friends and colleagues, purchased first-aid and medical supplies, and personally drove the kits over a...
New CITMA President elected
Rachel Wilkinson-Duffy has been elected as The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorney’s (CITMA) President. Rachel, who is a partner at Baker McKenzie, begins her two-year term in the role immediately. She was voted in unanimously by CITMA’s Council and succeeds...
Red Bull’s wings clipped by Indian Court in trademark row
Red Bull suffered defeat in a recent trademark case before the Delhi High Court when they attempted to seek an injunction against PepsiCo India and its energy drink “STING” for alleged infringement and passing off. Red Bull’s application was based on the purported...
UK fashion trademarks owned by online fast fashion houses jump 163% in last five years
E-retailers boosting their portfolios with household names including Topshop Leading fast fashion brands evolving into fully-fledged fashion houses The number of trademarks owned by online fast fashion retailers such as Asos, Boohoo and Shein has increased by 163%...
Ed Sheeran shapes up to win High Court copyright dispute
Not for the first time in his illustrious career, Ed Sheeran has been forced to swap the creative environment of a recording studio for the rather sterner surrounds of a courtroom. In the most recent edition of copyright claims against the international pop star, his...
UK legal consultants growing at three times the rate of law firms
Consultant lawyer numbers growing at a CAGR of 21%, compared to just 7% for mid-market law firms Consultant revenues have grown at a rate of 26% per year compared to 10% for the legal mid-market and 5% across the whole sector Arden Partners say the figures provide an...
Pejorative Trademarks – Can you imagine yourself driving a car called “bad luck”?
Pejorative trademarks are distinctive signs that have a negative or unfavorable conceptual content. Some of these signs could be registered because they do not fall within the prohibitions that trademark laws around the world normally contain, such as those words that...
Volkswagen blocks registration of an EU trademark with the image of its van
An interesting decision of the Board of Appeals of the EUIPO of December 15, 2021 (Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft / Pinball Factory GmbH). It denies registration of a figurative EU Trademark that includes a representation of a van that is similar to the VOLKSWAGEN...
International Trademark Association Annual Meeting registration keeps climbing
The International Trademark Association (INTA) hit a milestone on March 22nd for its 2022 Annual Meeting Live+, with more than 5,000 brand owners and intellectual property (IP) professionals from around the world registered to date for the event, taking place April 30...
Non-traditional trademarks: the new normal?
New report from Mewburn Ellis Forward-looking IP firm Mewburn Ellis has released a new report looking at the rise of non-traditional trademarks, including shape, color and position marks. The report examines the vital role that such trademarks can play in a brand...
One month to go to the INTA Annual Meeting 2022! An interview on what to expect with CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo
Faye Waterford, CTC Legal Media Editor: Myself and my colleagues are very excited for the next month to fly past so that we can all meet again. So, 2022 marks the return for INTA’s annual meeting that features a fully in person event, why is this the right time for us...
The strategic partner of Rouse, Lusheng wins landmark IP victories for Spin Master in China
Lusheng, a strategic partner of Rouse, has announced several landmark case wins for leading global children's entertainment company Spin Master. The victories are a positive sign of China’s commitment to tackle counterfeiting and IP infringement in the toy industry....
Love at First Swipe Decision: Match fail to effectively monopolise the term SWIPE for dating apps and services
The case revolved around an opposition action before the UK Intellectual Property Office filed on 27 March 2019 by Match Group LLC against a UK Trade Mark Application filed for “LOVE AT FIRST SWIPE” in relation to a range of goods and services, including computer and...
ECTA 40TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE – EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION LAUNCHED TODAY
Today, ECTA has launched the Early Bird Registration for the ECTA 40th Annual Conference ‘Designing the Future’ to be held in Copenhagen from 15-18 June 2022! The Trademark Lawyer Magazine is Media Partner of the event. REGISTER HERE by 21 April to get the Early Bird...
The Russian Court applied sanctions as a reason for claim dismissal in IP dispute
Entertainment One UK Limited, the British company that owns trademarks and copyright to infamous Peppa Pig, filed a claim with the Commercial Court of Kirov Region (Russia) against individual entrepreneur Ivan Vladimirovich Kozhevnikov for violation of the company’s...
Pandemic causes big increase in counterfeiting crime across the UK & Europe
Director General of the Anti-Counterfeit Group, Phil Lewis reflects that during the height of the pandemic, criminal networks made huge profits from counterfeiting and used the money to feed other forms of criminal activity. The latest Intellectual Property Crime...
Key issues of a lost battle for AI generated works at the US Copyright Office
United States Copyright Office’s Copyright Review Board rejected Steven Thaler’s second request to register a two-dimensional artwork named “A recent entrance to paradise” in a recent decision. Briefly, the board said that only a human can author a copyrighted work...
Trademarks in the Metaverse
What do you think when you hear the word Metaverse? A parallel world, virtual reality or maybe it's something very futuristic or something kids do. I even once heard someone say, “It’s a fake world where you can buy stuff that gets delivered in the real world”. The...
Samsung sues its former VP of IP on trade secret misappropriation
Samsung filed a lawsuit against its former VP of Intellectual Property in Texas on 10 February 2022 alleging the illegal use of trade secrets by its former executive. Samsung filed the suit with the U.S. district court in Texas. Yet another trade secret dispute you...
No points to KnitPro after application to challenge service in IPEC fails
This judgment concerns a three-fold application by the Defendants (together “KnitPro”) brought in the context of a long running trademark dispute relating to knitting needles. Background In 2013 the US-based Claimant’s predecessor began invalidity proceedings at the...
Pent-up demand sparks registrations for International Trademark Association’s 2022 Annual Meeting
As the International Trademark Association (INTA) prepares to hold its first full-scale in-person event in nearly three years, more than 2,500 brand owners and intellectual property professionals from more than 100 countries have already registered for the 2022 Annual...
The Olympic Games – from celebrating sports to the largest world-known intellectual property rights show
In times like this, the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games came to many, like a breath of fresh air, celebrating the elite of the sports world, the city of Beijing and China, and, in extenso, the whole of Chinese culture. The Olympic Games are spectacular indeed, both...
Oblon selects Anaqua’s AQX Law Firm platform to deliver enhanced IP management services to clients
Anaqua selected to provide Oblon, full-service IP law firm, with intellectual asset management solutions Anaqua, the leading provider of innovation and intellectual property management technology, recently announced that leading IP law firm Oblon, McClelland, Maier...
Nike v StockX: Another trademark litigation for using famous trademarks to mint NFTs
A new lawsuit involving Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)1 has hit the trademark litigation world. Renowned sports shoemaker Nike has sued StockX2 for using its famous trademarks to mint NFTs at a highly inflated rate without Nike’s consent. StockX is a Detroit based...
Luiz Leonardos & Advogados: Ricardo Pinho hired as new Head of Litigation
Effective immediately, Ricardo Fonseca de Pinho, based in Rio de Janeiro, becomes a new Senior Partner and Head of the Litigation Department at renowned IP Law Firm Luiz Leonardos & Advogados Luiz Leonardos & Advogados welcomes Ricardo Pinho, well-known...
POTIFY applications burnt under the heat of Spotify’s dilution claim. Dana Dickson reports
Before the music-streaming giant Spotify found itself in the news for less pleasant reasons, it scored an important win before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board last month. The Board sustained Spotify’s oppositions to trademark applications filed to register...
Hugo and Boss: identity crisis or clever rebrand? Amelia Skelding reports
German luxury brand Hugo Boss is having an identity crisis/rethink and is diverging into two brands, BOSS and HUGO, complete with two new logos. BOSS will be aimed at the millennial market, aged 25-40, while HUGO will target Gen Z, aged under 25. Is this a strategic...
Is it worth protecting shapes as a trademark within the EU? Carlo Sala reports
The question: The recent decision by the General Court in the so-called Moon Boot case (General Court 19 January 2022, Tecnica Group vs. EUIPO, T 483/20) raises once again the question whether it is worth protecting shapes as a trademark within the EU, because the...
Not such a perfect match! Rowena Tolley reports on M&S’ blunder
Hot on the heels of Colin v. Cuthbert the Caterpillar and “Glitter Globe Gin Gate”, M&S has kindly (if unintentionally) provided us with yet another brilliant case study in the world of Food & Drink copycats. Just when we were getting used to M&S being the...
The future of cheese: a debate on the “Gruyere-ness” of the Gruyere cheese
In a recent decision of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, it was ruled that Gruyere cheese does not have to come from the Gruyere region, a canton of Fribourg, Switzerland – where Gruyere cheese has been produced...
Gulf Capital’s portfolio company, CWB Legal, opens its new headquarters in Abu Dhabi Global Markets.
ADGM chosen as the ideal platform for growth across emerging markets Gulf Capital, a leading thematic alternative investment firm in the GCC and Asia, recently announced that its portfolio company, Cedar White Bradley (CWB) Legal Limited, has opened its new...
Alt Legal acquires Towergate Informatics’s §2(d) Citation Watch
Alt Legal, a leading provider of automated trademark docketing software to over 1,000 global organizations, announced its acquisition of Towergate Informatics’s §2(d) Citation Watch business. With this acquisition, customers of Towergate’s §2(d) Citation Watch will...
Womble Bond Dickinson deepens patent litigation bench in Silicon Valley
Womble Bond Dickinson announced that Fabio E. Marino, a leading intellectual property lead trial lawyer, has joined the Silicon Valley office as a partner in the Patent Prosecution and Litigation Group. Marino tries high-stakes patent, trade secrets, and copyright...
Forresters appoints Tas Quayum as chief operating officer
Forresters is pleased to announce the appointment of Tas Quayum as chief operating officer. Tas has been hired by Forresters as part of its commitment for growth, which includes streamlining processes and increasing collaboration across each of the firm’s teams and...
NFT group left out of pocket over copyright misunderstanding. Wedlake Bell comments
"With the rise in popularity of NFTs, it is expected that we will see a number of trademark, design and copyright infringements and passing off claims, as well as the spending of significant sums of money on potentially worthless purchases. In this case, Spice DAO...
Professional indemnity insurance hikes fuelling migration to legal consultancies. Taylor Rose reports
Number of sole practitioners has dropped by 5% in the past six months alone A rise in professional indemnity insurance (“PII”) premiums is driving independent legal practitioners to become consultants for larger firms in increasing numbers, according to Taylor Rose...
Sterne Kessler elects four new Directors and promotes four Associates to Counsel
Washington, D.C. - Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox is proud to announce the election of four new directors: Tyler J. Dutton, Ivy Clarice Estoesta, Michael “Mick” F. Gross, Ph.D., and Kristina Caggiano Kelly, effective January 1, 2022. Additionally, the firm...
The Eurasian trademark and appellations of origin registration system may start operating in 2022
The EAEU trademark Treaty that introduces a new regional trademark and appellations of origin protection system was signed in Moscow on February 3, 2020 by five member-states of the EAEU: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia. The Treaty governs legal...
2022 predictions: Robert Reading, Head of Content Strategy at Clarivate, comments
Robert Reading, Head of Content Strategy at Clarivate: “In the trademark space we see two interesting trends developing in 2022. Firstly, trademark filing activity has been setting records around the world each year since 2010 driven in particular by domestic growth...
Finnegan welcomes eight new Partners
WASHINGTON, DC—Finnegan is pleased to announce the elevation of six new partners and welcomes two partners to the newly opened Munich office. Their practices cover the intellectual property law spectrum, worldwide. This includes patent, trademark, copyright, and trade...
Intellectual property rights that exist in the era of social media call-out. Rita Anwiri Chindah reports
In an era of technology, fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and digitization, it's been said that the internet has given users a voice so much so that geographical location is not a hinderance for communication, networking and building empires. Intellectual property...
INTA Files Amicus Brief on the Design Protection of Components of Complex Products
The International Trademark Association (INTA) filed an amicus brief before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on December 2, in Monz Handelsgesellschaft lnternational mbH & Co. KG v. Büchel GmbH & Co. Fahrzeugtechnik KG, Case C-472/21. The case...
INTA announces winners of Inaugural Student Moot Court Competition in Andean Community
In a first-of-its-kind event, the International Trademark Association and the Court of Justice of the Andean Community (Tribunal de Justicia de la Comunidad Andina [TJCA]) concluded their inaugural Moot Court Competition for law school students. Students from...
I knew you were trouble – Taylor Swift re-records back catalogue in royalties row. Colleyer Bristow report
‘You belong with me’ sang Taylor Swift in 2009 on her second studio album Fearless. But in a bitter twist of copyright law, Swift’s Billboard-topping hit and her early back catalogue does not belong to her but to external investors. In a move that is ‘sweeter than...
New Clarivate report reveals luxury brands are accelerating digital transformation to meet demands of changing world
Brand IP and analytics from Clarivate shed new light on the luxury brands sector; brands are growing their presence in non-traditional sectors and adapting to a new generation of consumers Clarivate Plc (NYSE:CLVT), a global leader in providing trusted information and...
Paella given official cultural recognition – Enrico Bonadio & Magali Contardi report
What this new status means for the iconic dish and how can “Paella” name be protected against misleading uses. Paella – the iconic Valencian rice dish made with fish, meat or vegetables – has been officially recognised for its cultural importance. In October, the...
INTA Elects Zeeger Vink as 2022 President, approves four resolutions
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is pleased to announce the election of Zeeger Vink as the 2022 President of the Association and the Chair of its Board of Directors. Mr. Vink is intellectual property director at MF Brands Group, the Swiss group that owns...
INTA announces forward-thinking and far-reaching 2022–2025 Strategic Plan
The International Trademark Association (INTA) has officially announced its 2022–2025 Strategic Plan, which will guide all Association initiatives over the next four years. The Plan builds on INTA’s progress in recent years in expanding its substantive and geographic...
Social media: Operation MONTY keeps shoppers and businesses safe from counterfeit goods in the run up to the festive season!
The National Markets Group for IP Protection (NMG), a multi-agency focus group aimed at reducing the availability of counterfeit goods at physical markets and online, is warning consumers to watch out for fake, and potentially dangerous goods, that may appear on...
New research by Dr Cameron Shackell urges a lower bar to genericide for “super-generic” trademarks involved in search, especially GOOGLE
In a ground-breaking academic article, GeneriTrend Founder, Dr Cameron Shackell, points out a new type of genericness in trademarks involved in internet search. Dr Shackell first reminds us that the trademark system exists to reduce search cost in the economy. He then...
International Trademark Association Will Head to Washington, D.C. for 2022 Annual Meeting
The International Trademark Association (INTA) has announced that it will be holding its 2022 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., April 30 to May 4—returning to an in-person format for the first time in more than two years. Unlike past in-person Annual Meetings, the...
We don’t need another Tina – Tina Turner sues tribute act. Collyer Bristow reports
Tina Turner is suing a German tribute act because she looks too much like the real thing. The case is unlikely to keep tribute acts off the UK stage, says media, entertainment and intellectual property lawyers Collyer Bristow. Howard Ricklow, Partner, Collyer Bristow...
Facebook is heading for a ‘Meta’ dispute over trademark rights. Withers & Rogers report
Social media giant, Facebook, is heading for a high-profile dispute over intellectual property rights, after announcing plans to rebrand its business using the name ‘Meta’. It seems the social media giant was unaware that an Arizona-based retailer, Meta PCs, which...
Federico Fusco joins Dentons as Intellectual Property and Technology partner in Italy
Global law firm Dentons recently announced the recruitment of Federico Fusco as a partner in the Intellectual Property and Technology (IP&T) practice in the Milan office. In his new role, he will be responsible for developing patent litigation in all sectors, with...
Wedlake Bell further bolsters its Trademark offering
Wedlake Bell is delighted to announce that Emilia Petrossian has been appointed as a Trademark Attorney within the firm’s IP & Commercial group. Emilia joined Wedlake Bell as a Trainee Trademark Attorney in August 2021 and qualified as a Trademark Attorney in...
UK Court shows strength with offshore blocking order: Potter Clarkson reports
The English Court has again shown its flexibility and strength in granting a blocking order against 123movies and other websites. A number of the world’s most well-known studios, including Disney Enterprises Inc, Netflix Studios LLC and Columbia Pictures Industries...
Brewdog’s “solid gold” can ads were misleading, finds Advertising Standards Agency (ASA). Potter Clarkson reports
Dave Holt and Georgia Carr, litigation and licensing specialists at European IP law firm, Potter Clarkson The ASA has ruled that Brewdog’s social media posts claiming competition winners would receive a “solid” gold beer can were misleading. The posts in question...
INTA’s 2021 Annual Meeting to feature top names from trademark, entertainment, restaurant, and other fields
The International Trademark Association (INTA) this week revealed additional experts from the trademark, entertainment, restaurant, and other fields who will present at its 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+ on November 15 to 19. The lineup includes big-name Capsule Keynote...
SONY: the race for GT. Carla Maclachlan reports
Background to the case. On August 23 2017, Mr Wai Leong Wong (WONG) filed an application to register the trademark GT RACING in the EU in Class 18 which included leather and imitations of leather and goods made of these materials, namely leather bags, cases, holdalls,...
Lewis Silkin levels up games practice with new legal director
LONDON – Lewis Silkin recently announced the appointment of Nick Allan as a legal director to lead the firm’s growing practice in interactive entertainment. Nick is a specialist in computer and video games, especially in commercial transactions in the industry,...
INTA files amicus brief on Protection of Product Features as Trademarks
The International Trademark Association (INTA) recently filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court in Sulzer Mixpac AG v. A&N Trading Co., No.21-417, a case concerning the protection of product features as trademarks and the proper test for determining...
K&L Gates continues growth of intellectual property practice with addition of Trademarks Partner in Austin
Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has added Chris Graff as a partner in the intellectual property (IP) procurement and portfolio management practice. Graff joins the firm’s Austin office from IP firm Pirkey Barber PLLC. Graff focuses on the areas of trademarks, brand...
AMAZON: driving counterfeits to zero
The Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) welcomes Amazon’s commitment in their new Policy Position Paper This week, Amazon published a “Policy Position Paper” setting out its commitment to address the marketing and sales of counterfeit products across its platforms....
Ruling of the Polish Supreme Court on the Audi logo: The five-year limitation period runs from each day of the infringement
On the 18th of May 2021 the Polish Supreme Court ruled on a very ambiguous issue concerning the calculation of the limitation period for non-pecuniary claims in trademark matters (III CZP 47/19). The Court ruled that if the infringement of an EU trademark is...
Amster Rothstein & Ebenstein expands practice with addition of group from Cooper & Dunham
Earlier last month, Amster Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP, a full-service, New York-based intellectual property law firm, has expanded its practice by adding a group of professionals from the prominent intellectual property boutique Cooper & Dunham LLP. The group...
Brand leadership expert to headline world’s largest intellectual property event
Denise Lee Yohn, a brand leadership expert and influential author, will be the keynote speaker at the International Trademark Association (INTA) 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+ on November 15 to 19—the world’s largest event for brand owners and intellectual property...
SHIP Global IP announces Nazca Capital as a new shareholder, promoting its technological development and international growth
Nazca is associating with the CEO, Juan Julián León, and the Corporate General Manager, Fernando Ruiz de Assín, who will spearhead the growth plan and continue the international expansion of both companies. SHIP Global IP has announced that the private equity firm...
International Trademark Association and Wanhuida Intellectual Property collaborate to address enforcement and anticounterfeiting issues
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is pleased to announce that Wanhuida Intellectual Property, Beijing, China, has signed on as the Association’s first-ever Strategic Sponsor. The strategic sponsorship focuses on enforcement and anticounterfeiting, key...
White & Black expands IP team
Boutique law firm White & Black has appointed Tom Carver as a partner and head of IP. Tom brings 15 years of experience advising international clients within top intellectual property practices, including 3 years as head of office for an international law firm in...
The value of brands in a pandemic: where to look when production comes to an unprecedented halt
The Covid 19 outbreak has brought significant challenges to fashion brands and the IP attorneys who advise them. China´s decision to close factories in 2020 caused closures of many companies without alternative supply chains. Fashion brands faced unexpected...
OJAM BULLRICH FLANZBAUM recognized by Great Place to Work® in position #6 of the rankings “Best Places to Work (SMEs 2021)” and “Companies that Care 2021”, from Argentina.
Buenos Aires, September 8, 2021 - Great Place to Work®, an international authority on organizational culture, included OJAM BULLRICH FLANZBAUM in position #6 on the ranking of “Companies that Care 2021”, being the only firm in the legal field recognized within all...