Russian individual’s Western trademark spree; Amazon annual Brand Protection Report; EU increase in intentional counterfeit purchases; 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.
The Long Read
Dannemann Siemsen’s Jose Werner explains why notice and takedowns are not enough on their own and may cause more harm than good in some cases.
Monday 6 June
A new service from OpSec Security takes down over 2,500 infringing NFTs.
INTA sides with an application for COVIDIOT in an amicus brief on morality and freedom of speech.
Plus:
- Landmark decision on platform liability issued (Argentina)
- Youth organisation overcomes refusal to register ‘slang’ mark (Lithuania)
Tuesday 7 June
Malaysia seizes over $21.4 million in counterfeit goods, the USPTO terminates Rospatent’s Patent Cooperation Treaty functions, the China National IP Administration releases its annual report on registration numbers, and much more.
EUIPO executive director Christian Archambeau meets with the Ukraine IP Office at a digital event.
Plus:
- Coveted well-known trademark status conferred on DHL mark (India)
- Taiwan passes amendments to Copyright Act, Trademark Act and Patent Act to strengthen IP protection (Taiwan)
Wednesday 8 June
Rights holders worried about possible attempts to hijack their brands are warned of a Russian individual filing 100 well-known Western marks.
A new study from the EUIPO reveals a significant increase in the number of young people intentionally buying counterfeit products.
Plus:
- ‘.au’ direct launched - what you need to know (Australia)
- The Emerson case: a new approach to tackling bad-faith trademark squatting in China? (China)
Thursday 9 June
Amazon publishes its second annual Brand Protection Report, revealing takedown figures and a $900 million investment in anti-counterfeiting.
Trademarks are the most widely used IP right in the United Kingdom, according to groundbreaking UKIPO research.
Plus:
- Trademark Office must accept oppositions under extended deadlines due to pandemic, directs Delhi High Court (India)
- Clarifications on the need for ACA recordal of IP rights (Kenya)
- How strong trademarks such as NIKE and MARLBORO can fail in cybersquatting cases (Market Insight: Domain name policing and enforcement)
- A look at the first year of the Polish IP office’s fast-track programme (Market Insight: Poland)
- IP Court upholds refusal to undermine US mark (Market Insight: Russia)
- Scandinavian music streaming success is losing out to NFT sales (Market Insight: Scandinavia)
- Amazon Technologies loses out on distinction between suggestive or descriptive (Market Insight: Taiwan)
- Taking off our attorney hats in support of World Anti-Counterfeiting Day (Market Insight: United States)
Friday 10 June
Drew Hirshfield confirms his USPTO departure date, a Chinese trademark agency is fined for celebrity-related applications, INTA calls for action on fakes, and much more.
WTR Connect’s Asia Anti-counterfeiting event offers insights from the likes of Amazon, ASICS, Dyson and the LEGO Group.
Plus:
- Board of Trademarks limits parties entitled to request non-use cancellation (Thailand)
- Delay in enforcing trademark measured from when infringement became actionable (United States)
Saturday 11 June
Muted brand responses to recent mass shootings in the United States offer a genuine test of whether companies can stay out of the debate at a time when consumers demand that they take a stance, argues this week’s opinion column.
WTR Special Report: Optimising law firm operations
WTR’s latest Special Report reveals the top representative filers in key jurisdictions, presents feedback from market-leading brands on what they look for in their legal partners and details key data points on trademark practice economics.