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Jul 22, 20213 min read
Wonder Woman comes down to earth
The UK IPO, at least, seems resistant to Wonder Woman’s superpowers, after it rejected DC Comics’ opposition to a trade mark application...
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Jul 5, 20213 min read
Check before you threaten, warns HHJ Clarke
There’s rarely been a better example of the risks of launching litigation without careful consideration than the recent IPEC decision in...
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Jul 3, 20212 min read
What happened to Colin the Caterpillar & what does it mean for your brand?
We take legal research very seriously - in order to fully understand the implications of the most tasty dispute of the year, Colin vs...
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Jul 3, 20212 min read
A jewel by any other name... passing off in the jewellery world
Miss Recorder Amanda Michaels, sitting as a judge in the IPEC, has upheld a claim for passing off in a dispute between two jewellery...
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Jun 23, 20212 min read
Is Cybersquatting a big problem?
In short, "yes". Cybersquatters are a growing threat to brands. This trend has accelerated as e-commerce grows and consumers spend more...
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May 28, 20213 min read
Court of Appeal rules on liability and account of profits in trade mark case
The Court of Appeal has reviewed the law on liability and account of profits in a judgment concerning the BEVERLY HILLS POLO CLUB trade...
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May 28, 20212 min read
Judge backs employees in trade secrets contract case
The High Court has recently provided guidance for employees in relation to the Recast Brussels Regulation. This guidance can be neatly...
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May 8, 20212 min read
Assessing damages is never easy
A recent judgment from the IPEC provides a warning for anyone pursuing damages claims in IP cases. The process is time consuming, complex...
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May 8, 20214 min read
Give this passing off case a butchers
Passing off is often added as an afterthought to a trade mark infringement action. In those circumstances, it is very often successful....
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May 8, 20212 min read
MONOPOLY cannot last forever without regular use
The EU General Court has upheld the EUIPO Board of Appeal decision in the MONOPOLY trade mark case. This is a long anticipated and...
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May 1, 20212 min read
Trade mark infringement claim upheld
The Court of Appeal has upheld a finding of trade mark infringement, but overturned a passing off finding, in a case concerning two UK...
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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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May 1, 20212 min read
Database extraction was authorised
This was a complex dispute concerning a claims management database. It involved alleged infringement of a database right, misuse of...
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May 1, 20213 min read
Which IP rights subsist in an XML Schema?
Disputes relating to software are often complex, with multiple parties and issues involved. However, they can also illuminate important...
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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, 20212 min read
Walk like a PANTHÉ - Visual perception is key for fashion trade marks says EU
Is there a likelihood of confusion between the figurative signs pictured below (PANTHÉ and PANTHER) for “Clothing; Headgear” in Class 25?...
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Mar 9, 20212 min read
Who owns copyright works that an employee creates at home?
One of the highlights of the pandemic has been the opportunity to catch up on a lifetime's worth of TV. Fortunately, there are some truly...
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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, 20212 min read
Court Room Recordings are not necessarily for Public Consumption
Lockdown boredom has caused recordings of meetings with irate characters or funny, and accidental, filters to become internet sensations....
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