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Analysis

2020 changed everything – for brands and trademark professionals

In the latest in our series of Saturday opinion columns we reflect on how the perception of brands changed irrevocably in 2020, leading to greater expectations on corporate social responsibility and social action.

2020 changed everything – for brands and trademark professionals<strong> </strong>
EUIPO filings in 2020: all the key stats and figures you need to know
22 Jan 2021

EUIPO filings in 2020: all the key stats and figures you need to know

With last year’s figures now available, despite a tumultuous 2020, trademark application volumes at the EUIPO hit a record high – as this week’s data analysis reveals.

iaidō launch adds new player to the IP legal services provider market
22 Jan 2021

iaidō launch adds new player to the IP legal services provider market

Matching business intelligence with a case management system infrastructure, the dual launch aims to provide innovation that the service provider landscape is currently lacking.

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21 Jan 2021

How to manage the brand risk of social media’s ‘cancel culture’

An online spat between authors highlights the brand risk associated with social media influencers and cancel culture, one brand expert says. Read more

20 Jan 2021

IACC urges Biden administration to hit the ground running on intellectual property

The IACC expects the Biden administration to take an ‘evolution’ not ‘revolution’ approach towards IP policy and urges it to build on efforts to fight fakes. Read more

20 Jan 2021

As Trump administration ends, trademark experts reflect on the highs and lows

Today officially marks the end of the presidency of Donald J Trump. After an unprecedented four years, WTR looks back at the brand-related positives and negatives of his time in office. Read more

20 Jan 2021

Iancu bids farewell to USPTO; trademark experts provide wishlist for successor

Andrei Iancu, director of the USPTO, has said farewell to the office, confirming that his tenure is coming to an end alongside the Trump administration. Read more

19 Jan 2021

How to wield trust to protect your brand online in an evolving threat landscape

In this guest analysis Bill Taylor, chief marketing officer at OpSec Security, explains why and how trust should be placed at the heart of brand protection efforts. Read more

18 Jan 2021

The notorious markets you need to have on your policing radar

The latest USTR list provides crucial intelligence for rights holders, with eight new physical markets added. Read more

16 Jan 2021

Under-resourced and under-appreciated: now is the time for trademark teams to raise their corporate profile

In the first of a series of Saturday opinion columns we consider what 2021 will look like for corporate trademark professionals, and how they should respond. Read more

15 Jan 2021

How lawyers tackled infringing Michael Jordan Chinese translation marks that were too old to invalidate

GEN Law Firm partner Steve Zhao and associate Pei Lyu reveal the intricacies of the arguments that made them successful in the Shanghai court. Read more

15 Jan 2021

Analysis of the top representatives of Chinese applicants at USPTO reveals strange ebb and flow in workloads

Trademark data shows peculiarities in the mega filers’ activity, particularly within Jonathan Morton’s portfolio. Read more

14 Jan 2021

Renault disappears and Aston Martin returns: brand lessons from two teams in the 2021 F1 season

As Renault F1 and Racing Point rebrand to Alpine F1 and Aston Martin respectively, WTR asks brand experts whether these are savvy moves or will cause consumer confusion. Read more

14 Jan 2021

New censorship-free internet system launches: what rights holders need to know

A new decentralised internet naming system has been launched today, promising a censorship-free online space in which “no person or organisation can block, censor, or cancel your subdomain”. Read more

13 Jan 2021

Tracking fakes: revealing the most popular regions for buyers of counterfeit goods

New research from WTR reveals where people searching for counterfeit goods are residing, uncovering a significant difference between brands. Read more

13 Jan 2021

US Supreme Court denies certiorari to parody case, leaving Ninth Circuit open to forum shopping, expert says

Trademark experts say that the move has left the Ninth Circuit as the “go-to circuit for declaratory actions for non-infringement”. Read more

12 Jan 2021

Costs and budget cut worries at the fore as research reveals toll of pandemic on IP practice

NovumIP has published its ‘IP industry outlook 2021’ report, which charts the toll of the covid-19 pandemic on IP operations. Read more

8 Jan 2021

Proud Boys™ – far-right group's trademark could face cancellation, legal experts claim

Talking to WTR, the owner of the Proud Boys registered trademark (and former member of the group) reveals how the rights have been used to protect the organisation and stop unauthorised merchandise. Read more

8 Jan 2021

How the French IP office educates the public on IP systems

Pascal Faure, CEO of INPI, explains how the office engaged the public in IP matters in 2020 through online courses and annual awards. Read more

8 Jan 2021

Early trademark data reveals 2020 to be a record year despite the covid-19 pandemic

Despite the impact of the covid-19 pandemic across the globe last year, trademark filings recovered from an initial downturn and actually grew significantly in the second half of 2020. Read more

8 Jan 2021

Counterfeit vaccines highlight dark web’s role in illicit supply chains

As nations begin the roll-out of covid-19 vaccines, there is a risk of bad actors cashing in on the unprecedented demand through dark web marketplaces. Read more

7 Jan 2021

Rebranding opportunity and risk in the spotlight as Pfizer launches new logo

With the eyes of the world on Pfizer, WTR spoke to experts on what the pros and cons might be for undergoing a rebrand at such a pivotal moment. Read more

7 Jan 2021

US trademark litigation levels slump in 2020: most active law firms revealed

This time last year, we reported that trademark litigation filings in federal district courts had hit a four-year high, outpacing patent cases for the second straight year. However, 2020 was very different. Read more

6 Jan 2021

“I used to call myself Cinderella”: INTA’s first African-American officer reflects on her personal journey and diversity in the trademark profession

In November last year, Deborah Hampton made history when she was elected to be the first African-American officer at INTA. She sits down with WTR to discuss her journey and the state of diversity in the industry. Read more

5 Jan 2021

Suggestion of applying contributory liability for counterfeit sales to e-commerce platforms proves divisive

Submissions to the USPTO on the possible application of contributory and/or vicarious trademark infringement liability to e-commerce platforms have revealed a clear division between the positions of e-commerce companies and rights holders. Read more

4 Jan 2021

New year, same wait for WHOIS data access clarity as governments look to exert pressure

While efforts to develop a global access system for WHOIS data continue, recent developments in the United States and the European Union suggest that governments are willing to require more of registries and registrars. Read more

23 Dec 2020

“We are committed to increasing the integrity of the trademark register”: USPTO evaluates recent initiatives

USPTO Commissioner for Trademarks David Gooder considers the successes of this year’s programmes and what remains to be done in 2021. Read more

18 Dec 2020

China trademark litigation: all the statistics you need to know

In a new annual article, we delve into infringement data to track trends and identify key figures Read more

17 Dec 2020

WTR Brand Elite hits three-year high as share values rebound strongly

The WTR Brand Elite project tracks how a defined set of brand-focused companies with industry-leading trademark teams perform against stock market indices. Read more

17 Dec 2020

“Not sure it is the right time”: practitioners question Chile’s move to approve the Madrid Protocol

Local experts have expressed concern that the country’s existing legal structures may not be ready to handle international registrations after joining the Madrid Protocol. Read more

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Proud Boys™ – far-right group's trademark could face cancellation, legal experts claim

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Iancu bids farewell to USPTO; trademark experts provide wishlist for successor

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As Trump administration ends, trademark experts reflect on the highs and lows

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Tracking fakes: revealing the most popular regions for buyers of counterfeit goods

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Under-resourced and under-appreciated: now is the time for trademark teams to raise their corporate profile

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Hui Huang
Partner
Beijing, China
Wanhuida Intellectual Property
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