The General Court overturned an EUIPO revocation, holding that proof of genuine use must be assessed holistically. It rejected excessive evidential burdens and confirmed sales via distributors can suffice.
A UK court confirmed Dryrobe’s trade marks remain valid, ruling that rival D-ROBE infringed them. The case highlights the need for brand owners to prevent their marks from becoming generic.
With the Grinch leading major UK Christmas ads, brands are leveraging character merchandising and tight IP licensing to stand out in a £12bn festive advertising season.
A look at the dispute between Sweaty Betty and Nixi Body over similar slogans and what it reveals about trade mark limits, descriptive branding and goodwill.
The CJEU clarifies that bad-faith trade mark filings face no time limits for invalidity actions, even when earlier owners knew of the bad faith or set deadlines in warning letters.
India has accepted its first smell trade mark for advertisement, a rose-scented tyre mark by Sumitomo. This milestone opens the door for broader protection of non-traditional trade marks.
UK law offers no image rights, so celebrities rely on trade marks to protect their likeness. Clarkson’s filings show how trade marks may help counter AI deepfakes but highlight gaps in current law.
The “wear the damn shorts” dispute reveals the risks brands face when using unregistered slogans and highlights why securing trade mark rights early is essential.
Trade mark owners are seeing a surge in scam emails impersonating lawyers. Know the warning signs, avoid urgent payment requests and verify all communications with trusted advisers.
Can using a designer’s name mislead consumers? Not always. AG says only clear, intentional misuse risks trade mark revocation in the PMJC v Castelbajac fashion law clash.
