RPM review analysis: inside glimpse into Madrid changes; covid-19 impact on trademark practice; and much more
Everything we covered on WTR over the past seven days – and all you need to know from the world of trademarks to set yourself up for the start of another busy week.
Monday 7 December
This week we were pleased to announce that the second WTR Connect series of digital events – covering five days of strategic content – will take place in March 2021, with registration once again free to WTR subscribers. Read more
The Madrid System is poised for significant changes. A guest analysis by Jessica LeGros, a partner at Baker & McKenzie and chair of the MARQUES international trademark law and practice committee, provided an inside glimpse into discussions about future policy. Read more
In the first part of a new series, WTR presented exclusive insights from the brand protection and IP teams in the legal department of Superdry on how covid-19 has shaped their trademark practice this year. Read more
Plus:
- ‘.io’ Policy no BETR for complainant (International)
- Baiting and switching or not, as the case may be (United Kingdom)
Tuesday 8 December
Tuesday’s news round-up focused on Moncler’s acquisition of the Stone Island brand, Amazon’s joint counterfeiting lawsuit with Yeti, Fiji’s new trademark law, WIPO trademark growth, and much more. Read more
After a Latvian court ordered that trademarks owned by Grigorius Holdings SIA – an entity related to millionaire Michael Gleissner – be placed under prohibition, a lawyer involved in the case revealed to WTR that a future auction is an opportunity for brand owners to purchase rights at a nominal rate. Read more
Plus:
- What is couscous like? Lots of things, says the General Court! (European Union)
- USPTO Examination Guide: post-Booking.com, ‘generic.com’ terms still face uphill battle for registration (United States)
Wednesday 9 December
We considered what the conclusion of the first phase of ICANN’s rights protection mechanisms (RPMs) review means for brand owners, with a guest analysis from Susan Payne, head of legal policy at Com Laude | Valideus, exploring the positive and negative outcomes. Read more
With the online RPMs review now set to focus on the URDP, one legal expert called for a focus on ensuring accuracy in the data that underpins it. Read more
WTR sat down with Starbucks’ Batur Oktay to hear how the company’s IP team has handled the numerous challenges raised by covid-19, including budget cuts and counterfeit raids. Read more
We discussed INTA’s ambitious new campaign partnering with the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles to promote the value of trademarks and the dangers of counterfeit goods to young people. Read more
Plus:
- Double examination of trademark applications: National Trademark Office develops worrying new practice (Colombia)
- New IP office in Ukraine - key points and concerns (Ukraine)
Thursday 10 December
As the end of the Brexit transitional period nears, with the United Kingdom to find itself no longer governed by EU law, HGF’s Lee Curtis and Suzan Ure highlighted six key practice points for local advisers to be aware of in the new year. Read more
Continuing our new series on the impact of covid-19 on trademark practices around the world, WTR presented takeaways from the principal counsel at ESPN and the assistant general counsel of trademarks at Harley-Davidson. Read more
Among ongoing registry responses to the pandemic, this week we reported on the Slovakian IP office teaming up with the EUIPO to provide financial support to SMEs, while the IP offices of Finland and South Africa announced various closures. Read more
Plus:
- EUIPO finds no likelihood of confusion between purely figurative marks (European Union)
- First virtual broadcast of counterfeit goods destruction ceremony (Thailand)
- Global data analysis reveals Angola’s varying trademark landscape (International report: Africa)
- The inside view of TIPO’s take on inherent and acquired trademark distinctiveness (International report: Taiwan)
Friday 11 December
Friday’s news digest looked at the Chinese IP agency fined for fraud, the USPTO appointing a new policy chief, Authentic Brands Group acquiring a stake in an event producer, the authorities seizing a shipment of counterfeit 3M surgical masks, and much more. Read more
When it first launched, Amazon’s IP Accelerators programme received a lot of hype, not least for the creation of an elite panel of vetted law firms. But WTR data analysis suggested mixed results in terms of how much of a boost practices actually gained. Read more
Plus:
- The Synlait case: Supreme People’s Court emphatically supports letters of consent (China)
- ‘picture.com’ case: transfer is out of the picture under the UDRP (International)
Saturday 12 December
We delved into the WTR archive to present a selection of articles focused on creating, protecting, managing and monetising fashion, luxury and apparel brands, with insight from IP experts at Crocs, Lacoste, Maus Frères and Moncler, among others. Read more