The tort of passing off recently rode to the rescue of two UK brands whose fight against alleged interlopers looked cooked when their trade mark registrations were held invalid. Astrid Bulmer and Stephen Groom report
The EU General Court recently considered a claim by US-based Giovanni Cosmetics, Inc that its “GIOVANNI” CTM should prevent the registration of “GIOVANNI GALLI” for the same goods by Vasconcelos & Goncalves SA of Spain. Varuni Paranavitane reports.
Progress towards adoption of an EU “Trade Secrets Directive” is quickening. With the key elements of the measure now becoming clearer, Barney Sich reports on its potential relevance for advertisers and agencies.
EU Ministers have published the final compromise text of the amended Trade Marks Directive. With formal adoption expected in early 2016 what are the key changes European brand owners can expect by the likely 2019 transposition deadline? Abby Minns reports
The Court of Appeal has recently considered cases involving major brands Asos and Scrabble pitted Assos and Scramble respectively. Did one letter make that much difference? Varuni Paranavitane reports.
This case concerned links to internet broadcasts of sports games being put in place by the Defendant, which circumvented the broadcasters’ paywall.
Here Global BV, navigation, mapping and location technology specialists, used their registration of HERE for advertising services to oppose registration by Here’s Great Ltd of “Heres Great.com” for eatery recommendations. Varuni Paranavitane reports the outcome.
Recently there has been a slew of cases coming before the CJEU which focus on the question of whether hyperlinks on websites to third party material infringes copyright in that material. Abby Minns reports on the latest judgment.
One of the numerous new gTLDs recently approved by ICANN has been “.sucks” With its registry due to open before 2016, the clock is already ticking, with 1 June 2015 seeing the close of the sunrise period.Vicki Hawkins reports.
Rule 40 bans athletes from appearing in any advertising for non-sponsors during the Games Period. It is a key part of the protection that gives Olympic sponsorship its enormous value. Now there is a move to relax the rule. Nick Johnson reports.
Since 1972 Revolvo Ltd had sold “Revolvo” bearings components. In 2010 its group applied to register REVOLVO as a UK trade mark. Volvo opposed based on their VOLVO registrations. Varuni Paranavitane reports.
Supreme Petfoods sued Henry Bell for trade mark infringement over its use of the mark “Supreme” for petfood. Supreme’s registration was valid and the marks were identical; surely this must have been an infringement? Apparently not: Rob Guthrie reports
