Amazon, Brexit, GDPR, Gleissner, Novichok, Trump: our most-read stories of 2018

The WTR Premium Daily email will be taking a summer break over August, with the full intelligence and daily email service for subscribers recommencing on Monday September 3. As we head into our break, here’s a look at the most popular articles and legal updates we have published over the past 12 months – with Amazon overtaking Apple and Google to be named the world’s most valuable brand topping the table.

Throughout August, we will continue to publish our exclusive in-house interviews and data features, as well as posting our twice weekly news round-up. Of course, any major trademark industry developments will be covered by World Trademark Review too. But in the meantime, here are the stories and legal updates that have received the most reads in 2018 so far.

The top 25 World Trademark Review articles are:

1. Amazon overtakes Apple and Google to be named world’s most valuable brand
2. Amazon under fire for banning sale of Google Chromecast and “fulfilling” sales of fake and copycat streaming devices
3. “We’re running out of good trademarks” – groundbreaking study reveals 81% of common words are registered marks
4. “A registration doesn’t necessarily trump earlier use”: takeaways from Dulwich Hamlet’s trademark dispute
5. WHOIS access charges, NGOs take aim at watch list plans and INTA applauds ‘Brand India’: news round-up
6. Massive British American Tobacco deal sets new record and demonstrates the potent power of brands
7. K-pop superstars T-ara vow to fight for rights to their name; experts predict bitter legal battle ahead
8. ICANN releases new WHOIS specification plan as GDPR countdown nears zero
9. Sound the alarm bells: WHOIS blackout “likely” following GDPR enforcement date in May
10. “I wish the US president had opposed my trademark” – applicant of registered Trump mark on treating IP as art
11. A critical test for ICANN: ensuring GDPR compliance while preserving access to WHOIS
12. Is the Brexit fog lifting? UKIPO confirms plan for “free” conversion of EU trademarks to UK register
13. WTR Industry Awards 2018: winning trademark teams and individuals announced
14. Novichok trademark flurry, gift shop seeks IT'S COMING HOME mark and IHOb is no more: news round-up
15. How the legal profession underutilises paralegals: exclusive interview with Deborah Hampton of Chemours
16. Brexit agreement paves way for new unregistered design right, addresses treatment of trademarks
17. Registered trademark protection helps US companies to innovate and grow, new study reveals
18. “No surprise” – significant gender pay gap reported at UK law firms with highly rated trademark practices
19. Christian Louboutin declares red soles victory as European court hands down long-awaited decision
20. Sunrise registrations in ‘.app’ TLD soar, but some major brands remain on the sidelines
21. In-house perspectives on diversity in the trademark industry: “All of us in this field need to do more”
22. “WHOIS as we know it could go dark”: assessing ICANN’s proposed GDPR compliance models
23. IP firm announces Dublin office due to “uncertainty of Brexit” as negotiations on intellectual property begin
24. As SERIAL trademark is refused, research reveals podcast industry lags behind in brand protection
25. "Infamous troll" Michael Gleissner involved in 5% of all live contested trademark cases in United Kingdom

The top 25 legal updates so far this year:

1. Heavy blow for Crocs: General Court confirms cancellation of clog design
2. Hearing evidence from outside the European Union in opposition proceedings
3. CARTIER mark cancelled by EUIPO
4. Two stripes are certainly not enough: adidas successfully defends three-stripe mark
5. Starbucks successful in COFFEE ROCKS case
6. CIPRIANI case: are drinks in Class 32 and bar and restaurant services in Class 43 similar?
7. adidas wins latest dispute against H&M in Hague Court
8. Blow for Prada as General Court allows registration of THE RICH PRADA
9. ECJ interprets Article 7(1) of Directive 2008/95 in SCHWEPPES case
10. General Court: no likelihood of confusion between marks consisting of same two letters in different order
11. Changing attitudes to letters of consent - what brand owners need to know
12. ECJ rules that repair clause applies to replica wheel rims
13. ECJ overturns outsourcing procurement by EUIPO
14. Victoria's Secret fails to prove bad faith in Beijing High Court
15. Liberal approach to registrability of three-dimensional marks
16. CJEU decision on KENZO ESTATE leaves winery with sour grapes
17. Birkenstock unsuccessful on appeal: 'patterned sole' mark held invalid
18. EUIPO escapes liability in public procurement case as ECJ partially sets aside General Court judgment
19. General Court confirms likelihood of confusion between 'jumping cats' marks
20. General Court's METAPORN decision: why adult entertainment and telecommunication services are similar
21. Crushing blow for colour combination marks
22. ECJ clarifies test to determine whether use of earlier sign is significant
23. General Court follows holistic approach to evidence of use; dangers of Article 128(7) highlighted
24. ECJ: no time limit for production of evidence in invalidation proceedings based on absolute grounds
25. Paris Court of Appeal orders cancellation of FRANCE.COM marks and transfer of 'france.com' domain name