European trade

Sep 2, 20213 min read

Descriptive marks beware: Judge rejects Oatly trade mark case

Oatly has hit a brick wall in its attempt to stop third parties from selling oat milk using the word "OAT" plus the letter "Y". A...

Jul 22, 20212 min read

MILEY CYRUS gets name mark through in EU

A recent decision of the EU General Court looks like good news for celebrities. The singer Miley Cyrus had applied to register her name...

Jun 24, 20213 min read

CJEU takes pressure off Pirelli in shape TM case

Trade marks come in all shapes and sizes – words, slogans, colours, shapes, animations and more. One of the more unusual is a figurative...

Jun 14, 20212 min read

FOOTWARE trade mark not descriptive

As brands expand into new areas, particularly those driven by emerging technologies, they are often looking for innovative and memorable...

Jun 14, 20211 min read

Have your say about the exhaustion of IP rights in the UK

An integral part of the UK intellectual property system has been a focus on balancing creator protection with fair competition and...

Jun 14, 20212 min read

What does MADE IN BRITAIN mean?

After the many logistical issues posed by both Brexit and the pandemic and with sustainability at the forefront of everyone's mind, it is...

May 1, 20212 min read

Chanel and Huawei logos are dissimilar

The EU General Court has upheld a Board of Appeal ruling in a dispute between Chanel and Huawei, finding that Huawei’s EUTM application...

Mar 9, 20211 min read

Goodbye Aunt Jemima, hello Pearl Milling Company

Trade marks may theoretically last forever but brands are subject to change. The Aunt Jemima brand of pancake mix and syrup will be...

Feb 22, 20211 min read

Are you Notorious? The USTR updates its list of Notorious Markets

In its annual review of markets that engage in or facilitate counterfeiting and piracy, the US Trade Representative has named 39 online...

Jan 27, 20212 min read

A recent development for Position marks

The Court of Justice for the European Union (CJEU) clarified the assessment of a position mark's distinctiveness in Aktiebolaget...

Oct 4, 20203 min read

Don't lose your rights after Brexit

We first wrote about the impact of Brexit over a year ago back in a pre pandemic era. Although we still don't have a deal. The outcomes...

Sep 8, 20203 min read

Can the Internet save Luxury?

The Luxury Law Summit took time to consider the big picture commercial and business model questions which will affect legal decision...

Sep 6, 20202 min read

What does the Platform to Business Regulation mean for fashion?

The new Platform to Business Regulation (P2B regulation) applies across the EU from 12 July 2020. This Regulation is part of the EU's...

Sep 5, 20204 min read

The future of luxury in a post pandemic world - the Harrods take

Inevitably the pandemic took centre stage at the Luxury Law Summit (3 September 2020) but thankfully it was not the only issue in the...

Mar 1, 20192 min read

Brexit & IP - what you need to know

Brexit may be nearly upon us. If this happens after 29 March there are various short term consequences to registered rights in the UK and...

Oct 25, 20183 min read

Designs - what are they and how do they protect the fashion industry?

The fashion industry has obtained enormous benefits from the protection offered by design law in the European Union. But to say that...

Oct 23, 20183 min read

Sustainable fashion - the Unmade story

Unmade is transforming the fashion industry and creating a revolution in how people buy their clothes. I recently attended an event where...

Oct 14, 20186 min read

Argos goes to the Court of Appeal but leaves empty handed

Can a US corporation selling construction software only in the Americas under the name ARGOS be sued for infringement of a registered...

Sep 24, 20181 min read

Exhaustion of rights - a simple concept with important consequences

Exhaustion of rights is a concept which applies to all IP rights in Europe. Basically it means that if a product is sold ("put onto the...

Aug 18, 20183 min read

How to start a fashion business

When you start a new fashion business, there are lots of competing interests for your time. You want to get finance to pay for stock and...

European Fashion Law