Insights

Businesses need to understand and regularly review the scope of their IP agreements, not only to ensure they protect their valuable IP rights from theft or accidental lapse, but also to maximise oppor...

The UK government issued its latest 'white paper' on the future relationship between the UK and European Union yesterday (12 July). Apart from general statements on the importance of IP protections, i...

It has become common practice in modern advertising for innovation-driven companies to shout about the patent rights protecting their products, including marking products with patent numbers. Doing so...

Fans of Federer at this year’s Wimbledon may be wondering why he’s no longer sporting the distinctive ‘RF’ logo on his tennis whites. That’s because the trademark is actually owned by his former spons...

Novagraaf’s Florence Chapin examines the recent CJEU preliminary ruling on relabelling and exhaustion of trademark rights.

The need to file evidence of use can crop up in many cases and the requirement to show historic use can cause problems for businesses. Preparation is critical to success.

Holder of CK EU trademark (EUTM) in classes 12, 40 and 42 successfully opposes application to register CK1 in class 12 on the grounds of likelihood of confusion.

It takes time, resources and money to create and launch distinctive and effective brands. But how can you be sure that the brand name you have chosen is really yours to use?

European trademarks can be at risk of revocation actions on the basis of non-use (after the five-year grace period has expired). Novagraaf’s Ardine Siepman outlines what is considered ‘genuine use’ an...

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has delivered yet another blow to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) in its attempt to bar non-Scottish distilleries from using the word ‘Glen’ in pr...

England football player has applied to register four trademarks at the UKIPO, covering clothing, footwear and headgear.

Licensing agreements are necessary to play copyright-protected music in clubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and even lifts, but what if you hire a DJ for a private function?

Tomorrow (15 June) is the UK’s national beer day, Beer Day Britain. In preparation for the nationwide communal cheers planned for 7pm, we take a look at some of the trademark issues around craft beer ...

As the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants a trademark right to Play-Doh to protect its distinctive smell, Novagraaf’s Trecina Surti looks at the challenges of registering scent m...

Social media networks provide an opportunity to reach and interact with customers in new and, often, more effective ways. But these opportunities are not without risks.

The holder of the word and figurative mark 'Tpresso' sought to prevent the registration of the word mark ‘teaespresso’, on the grounds of likelihood of confusion. Both cover similar tea-related produc...

Novagraaf’s Trecina Surti examines how the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) approached a recent high-profile trademark dispute between two doctors.

The administrative procedure for obtaining a patent in Japan is similar to that of most other patent systems, and includes the examination of novelty, inventive step and industrial application of the ...

Some of you may have noticed that Disney’s new heroine is called Vaiana in most parts of Europe and Moana almost everywhere else. Here, we explain the disparity.

It is now only 12 weeks until the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, with the hosts taking on Saudi Arabia match on 14 June. Novagraaf’s Claire Jones examines the IP implications of this headline-grabbing...