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Jan 6, 20211 min read
Arbitration (clauses) last a long time...
Are arbitration clauses a good idea? This post is not going to resolve this longstanding debate but it will highlight some of the...
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Dec 24, 20201 min read
The last Community Design case (in the UK)
A case regarding “ballet flats” is likely the last time in which a UK court will sit as a Community Design Court, and the judgment was...
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Dec 24, 20202 min read
Brand extensions beware!
You take a famous car company with a well known trade mark, say Ferrari, and decide that you can get an entirely new revenue stream...
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Sep 4, 20192 min read
Louboutin - red soles and trade mark protection
The red sole on the base of Louboutin shoes has been the focus of both media and legal attention for many years. There has been extensive...
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Mar 10, 20191 min read
European Fashion Law: The book is out!
We have had the launch parties and the book is officially OUT NOW! I've had such lovely feedback already. I hope you both enjoy it and...
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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...
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Jan 5, 20192 min read
Smells like IP infringement?
The fashion industry is no stranger to IP disputes. In the last year, The IPKat has written about disputes involving Zara, Nike and Nike...
Nov 27, 20182 min read
Unregistered designs - the unknown but super useful IP right
Just under four years ago the UK Intellectual Property Office commissioned research to address the lack of existing data on design...
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Nov 23, 20185 min read
Sustainability, cocktails and the V&A
On Thursday evening, V&A members and their friends convened in the Members Room for an evening of inspiring discussion about fashion and...
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Nov 6, 20182 min read
How do you get copyright protection?
Throughout Europe, and indeed in most jurisdictions worldwide, copyright arises automatically upon the creation of the work. Copyright is...
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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...
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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...
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Sep 30, 20186 min read
Fashion, sustainability and the circular economy
I recently had the pleasure of attending a panel discussion which looked at sustainability and the circular economy in the fashion...
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Aug 24, 20182 min read
What is a trade mark?
Trade marks give you the exclusive right to use a particular "sign" in your business for particular goods and services. They can...
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Aug 23, 20182 min read
How to create a new brand (legally)
This post is about the legal issues you need to consider when selecting a new brand name and logo. This is primarily a question of trade...
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Aug 21, 20182 min read
Setting a price in a European contract
It is common to want to fix a price for goods. It provides you and your customers with certainty and means that you avoid disgruntled...
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Aug 21, 20182 min read
European contracts - part two
Defining terms Definitions make contracts easier to read. They are often known as "defined terms" and are a mini dictionary at the start...
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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...
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Aug 18, 20181 min read
Intellectual property rights - it's never too early to think about them
Fashion is built on intellectual property rights. The brand is protected by trade marks. The clothing and accessory design by design...
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Aug 16, 20182 min read
Introducing the European Union
The European Union or EU is the political and economic union of 28 European countries who are known as "Member States". The EU has helped...
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