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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...
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Apr 21, 20212 min read
Satan Shoes - Nike and the devil tussle over trade mark exhaustion
Occasionally IP disputes break into the public domain. This one has to do with Nike, a famous brand, and also to do with Satan. Rosie and...
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Apr 17, 20212 min read
The straw that broke the camel's CRYPTOBACK? Trade mark survives validity challenge
The IP Enterprise Court (IPEC) has enabled smaller businesses to fight back against perceived intellectual property (IP) injustices. Its...
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Mar 9, 20211 min read
EUIPO sees rise in trade mark filings in 2020 despite pandemic
We are all aware that the pandemic hasn't necessarily led to a decrease of work across the board. One group of people who have been...
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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...
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Mar 7, 20215 min read
How do you win a fashion dispute? Find out why I love unregistered designs
How can you stop someone from systematically copying your brand? What if it went further than just your designs and covered everything...
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Feb 23, 20211 min read
‘Genuine use’ for EU trade marks
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that ‘genuine use’ for EU trade marks can be established through the...
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Feb 22, 20212 min read
Why contracts are in writing: lessons from an oral trade mark co-existence agreement
A recent decision by the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court reveals the problems that can arise when businesses that once shared name...
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Feb 22, 20213 min read
Targeting and trade marks - Beverly Hills Polo Club takes on the Amazon
When is an online marketplace “targeting” consumers in a particular jurisdiction? This was the question that Mr Justice Michael Green...
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Jan 29, 20212 min read
Brands prosper despite business difficulties
It’s a sad consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdowns in many countries that retailers have lost business, and regrettably...
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Jan 27, 20212 min read
Domain names are personal property
Domain names have been treated as a type of intellectual property for years but their precise status has not been clear in the UK, until...
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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...
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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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Oct 28, 20202 min read
What happens if the trade mark you use in practice is different to your registration?
Branding and trade mark use can change in subtle (and not so subtle) ways over time. For example, it may be used in a different typeface,...
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Sep 5, 20203 min read
Protecting your brand Apple style
Scott Gilen (Director of IP Enforcement Global at Apple) spoke at the Luxury Law Summit about how his team stops Apple fakes (both...
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Dec 6, 20197 min read
You can't cruise from cars to clothing - luxury trade marks and brand extensions post Bentley
Bentley Clothing v Bentley Motors [2019] EWHC 2925 is a classic David v Goliath dispute. You have a small family owned business versus a...
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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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May 25, 20193 min read
Skykick - why does it matter & what could it mean for trade marks? Counsel's perspective
IPSoc recently had the latest in its successful run of education events. The talk from Simon Malynicz QC, SkyKick's leading counsel, gave...
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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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