Insights

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that apply for patents, trademarks or designs are more likely to experience high growth than SMEs that do not, according to a joint study by the EPO and the E...

The US Department of Justice considers the Hells Angels to be an organised crime syndicate, yet the motorcycle club is pretty astute when it comes to staying on the right side of IP law.

A recent decision in a dispute over the 'Lumiqs' trademark reiterates the importance of adopting targeted wording for products and services of interest from the outset. Florence Chapin outlines the ru...

The UKIPO made a somewhat unexpected decision in a recent dispute between two Scotch whisky brands. Distiller William Grant & Sons, owner of the Glenfiddich label trademark, has been unsuccessful in i...

The EU General Court ruled today (14 May) in the dispute over the 'Neymar' mark, finding in favour of Paris Saint-Germain’s star footballer Neymar in his trademark cancellation action. Novagraaf’s Cas...

When you think about cocktails, IP is probably the last thing to come to mind, but what's to stop a mixologist protecting a signature concoction? In celebration of World Cocktail Day on 13 May, we too...

EUIPO’s Cancellation Division ruled earlier this month that supermarket giant Iceland’s trademark registration is invalid, following a successful challenge by the nation of Iceland.

There is significant hype around the imminent birth of ‘Baby Sussex’, with lots of bets being placed on the baby’s due date, sex and name, as well as rumours that the baby has already secretly been bo...

A sign can not be registered as a trademark when it is descriptive for the goods or services for which it is used, or when it is contrary to public policy. The figurative trademark ‘MaK Tea’ has been ...

We have written previously of the importance of providing evidence of trademark use from both a general and EU point of view; here, Chantal Koller provides the Swiss perspective.

The European Commission has awarded geographical indication (GI) protection to Irish Whiskey, as well as Irish Cream Liqueur and Irish Poitín. Vanessa Harrow considers this development and the potenti...

For IP professionals, chocolate represents more than just a tasty treat, with the chocolatier’s skill, reputation and designs also showcased in the IP courts. As it's Easter, Aurélie Guetin has taken ...

Advance preparation is crucial for any transfer of IP ownership. Yet, no matter how extensive the IP due diligence before a merger or acquisition deal is agreed, the recordal process rarely passes wit...

Companies posing as IP advisers are currently targeting UK companies with EU trademark and design registrations, hoping to trick their unsuspected recipients into paying for unnecessary UK registratio...

Latest joint study by the EU Intellectual Property Office and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimates the annual value of international trade in counterfeit and pirated go...

Le 1er avril 2019, la Commission Européenne a annoncé le lancement de la nouvelle base de données publique « eAmbrosia » dont l’objectif est d’accéder facilement aux informations sur toutes les indica...

The EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal is to consider the patentability of computer-implemented inventions in the context of appeal T0489/14, concerning a European patent application to protect a computer...

US TV network HBO has failed in its attempt to oppose the registration of ‘Game of Vapes’, after the UKIPO disagreed with its argument that the similarity of the vaping brand name was likely to cause ...

Former American rock band Nirvana recently filed an action for copyright infringement against fashion label Marc Jacobs, after it launched its Bootleg Redux Grunge collection, featuring designs that r...

Social media channels, such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, are overtaking online auction sites as the biggest online platforms for counterfeit activity.