As sports lovers worldwide eagerly await the launch of the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris this July and August, a complex game of IP protection is unfolding behind the scenes, as Frouke Hekker discovers.
Countdown to the 2024 Olympics: How to navigate the IP Game
During the last few years, there have been some major world events causing seismic shifts in the global economy and the landscape in which we live and work. As another year starts, it is a good time to reflect on the changes facing the IP sector. Vanessa Harrow outlines three changes that are likely to affect IP owners this year.
Embracing the changes to the IP landscape in 2024
Influencer marketing has become big business in our social media-driven world, but how should brand owners best navigate this digital phenomenon? Ariane De Croo explores the thin line between private and professional content creation to offer some advice.
Walking the line: How brands and influencers can both succeed online
In November 2023, the EU General Court considered the likelihood of confusion between the trademark application for 'Nivea Skin-Identical Q10' and the existing 'SkinIdent' registration, as Florence Chapin explains.
Nivea saves its skin in likelihood of confusion challenge
Despite the amount of thought and creativity behind the ‘look’ of a product, there is often a lack of clarity on how to effectively protect a product’s appearance or packaging. Julia Schefman set out the options for protecting a design, including the benefits of a cumulative approach.
Options for protecting a design: Copyright, design right or both?
On 1 January 2024, new rules will come into effect concerning the UK IP Address for Service. With recent updates to regulations for IP professionals and also the end of supremacy of CJEU case law in the United Kingdom, Luke Portnow explains what's changing and what it means for IP rights holders and trademark professionals operating in the UK.
Important update on UK IP address for service regulatory rules
Conflicting older trademark registrations may not necessarily block the registration of your chosen brand name. Noé Himmelreich explains how an in-use verification search can help you to assess legal and commercial risk.
From trademark availability search to registration: When to conduct trademark use searches
You have a fantastic idea for your company and launch it with a beautiful and striking brand name and/or logo, but did you remember to check that your chosen name is available first?
Trademark search, the Nice Classification system and identical marks
Which variations of use are authorised for figurative trademarks, especially ones registered in black and white? A recent EUIPO ruling has helped to illustrate what constitutes a “permissible variation”, as Marianne Tissot explains.
Black and white trademarks: Dare to use in white and black
From 1 November 2023, recipients of EPO communications will no longer be able to benefit from the additional 10-day response period (known as the EPO "10-day rule”). Clémence de Masfrand outlines the implications.
End of the EPO "10-day rule"
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate images, text, video and music is causing quite a stir in the creative and legal world. Valerie Annan provides an overview of recent generative AI and copyright disputes and asks what might happen next.
Generative AI and copyright: The story so far
Intellectual property (IP) can be complicated, so it’s little wonder that it’s not well understood by the public at large. Take our quiz to see if you can identify which of these commonly held beliefs about trademark protection, registration and branding are true.
Trademark protection myth or fact?