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Banking/Finance

Why dropping the Mastercard name was a killer move from the IP team

We reflect on the innovative steps that earned Mastercard the title of this year’s WTR Financial and Professional Services Team of the Year.

Why dropping the Mastercard name was a killer move from the IP team
<em>WTR</em> Brand Elite hits three-year high as share values rebound strongly
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.

Computing and software brands share price plunge continues downward pressure on <em>WTR </em>Brand Elite performance
23 Nov 2020

Computing and software brands share price plunge continues downward pressure on WTR Brand Elite performance

The WTR Brand Elite indices registered a two-point drop in the month ending 30 September – their first fall in seven months. The latest results returned a similar decline.

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11 Jan 2021

No love lost in General Court invalidity action based on goodwill in UK unregistered trademark

In these invalidity proceedings against the mark JCE HOTTINGUER based on the unregistered earlier national trademark HOTTINGER, the EU General Court considered the conditions for the application of Article 8(4) of Regulation 207/2009. Read more

14 Dec 2020

General Court confirms that FOREX is descriptive

In a case that highlights the EUIPO’s common practice of favouring partial cancellations, the General Court has confirmed that Forex Bank AB’s mark FOREX is descriptive for certain goods in Classes 9 and 16. Read more

23 Nov 2020

Only a few weeks left to make nominations for the 2021 WTR Industry Awards and WTR 300 projects

There's not long left to nominate corporate trademark professionals for recognition at the WTR Industry Awards 2021 and in the next edition of WTR 300: The World’s Leading Corporate Trademark Professionals. Read more

18 Nov 2020

TARGET VENTURES case: Board of Appeal erred in finding that application was not filed in bad faith

In a decision that provides a useful review of the criteria for assessing whether an application has been filed in bad faith, the General Court has annulled a decision of the EUIPO rejecting an application for a declaration of invalidity of the mark TARGET VENTURES. Read more

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26 Oct 2020

Still time to nominate for the 2021 WTR Industry Awards and WTR 300 projects

There is still time to nominate corporate trademark professionals for recognition at the WTR Industry Awards 2021 and in the next edition of WTR 300. Read more

16 Oct 2020

Fighting counterfeits during a pandemic, monetising brands and picking external counsel – takeaways from the second week of WTR Connect

The highlights from the second week of WTR Connect include insight into the record-breaking filing levels in key Asia-Pacific jurisdictions, how Microsoft’s tech philosophy spurs the trademark department and strategies to bring down enforcement costs. Read more

9 Oct 2020

Dispelling counterfeit myths, prioritising budgets, navigating political conflicts – WTR Connect week one takeaways

We present highlights and learnings from the first week of WTR Connect, including how to prioritise enforcement budgets, fight fakes on Weixin and navigate brands through turbulent political times. Read more

5 Oct 2020

WTR Industry Awards 2020 winners revealed as corporate excellence celebrated

The winners of the WTR Industry Awards 2020 have been announced in a series of online ceremonies, with winners including the trademark teams from 3M, Amazon.com, Entertainment One, Tommy Hilfiger and Unilever. Read more

Analysis

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24 Sep 2020

Computing and software companies driving positive growth in latest WTR Brand Elite results

Companies that invest in their brands and are supported by leading trademark teams have maintained their positive momentum in the latest WTR Brand Elite, registering their sixth month of stock value growth. Read more

23 Sep 2020

Inside Philip Morris International’s covid-19 anti-fraud campaign: lessons for brands, consumers and policy makers

WTR talks to PMI’s director of illicit trade prevention, as well as one of its brand partners, to get the inside track on how its anti-fraud campaign was conceived and what has been learnt about the way that criminal networks have adapted their tactics to take advantage of the pandemic. Read more

11 Sep 2020

Russia exhibits strong filings growth on the back of changes to its intellectual property system

Back-end work continues to improve the registry and trademark landscape. Subsequently, there has been a noticeable uptick in local brands pushing for the protection of their rights. Read more

2 Sep 2020

WIPO’s Global Innovation Index breaks new ground as brand value included for first time

This year's index is the first in 13 years to consider brand value, an important inclusion that will strengthen the argument for the importance of brands to national innovation. Read more

Research

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28 Aug 2020

Economies are battered but many major offices set for record trademark numbers

As the data continues to be updated, we are able to get a better understanding of the extent of the coronavirus’ impact on the trademark ecosystem. Read more

31 Jul 2020

Revealed: Jonathan Morton, Nyall Engfield and Benjamin Becker are top China representatives at USPTO

A year on from the USPTO's domicile rule change, new data shows the leading China-based representatives on trademark applications at the agency. Read more

17 Jul 2020

UK is battling Brexit negotiations and the coronavirus, but it is still on track for its biggest trademark year yet

The first week of July was the busiest the UKIPO has ever seen, putting to rest any fears that the coronavirus pandemic would have lasting effects on application levels. Read more

3 Jul 2020

Trademark strategy is an early focus of the world’s top disruptors

Analysis of this year’s disruptor list reveals that these start-ups defy the typical IP filing process. Read more

Insight

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16 Jan 2020

Online brand protection takeaways: tales from the trenches

Throughout 2019 WTR hosted a number of events that provided practical, strategic brand protection takeaways. Below are some of the key action points and insights. Read more

25 Feb 2019

The digital revolution and the future of India’s financial service brands

India's banks operate in one of the world's most active fintech markets. As fraudsters try to take advantage, financial companies must be ready to stop brand infringement. Read more

25 Feb 2019

Challenge, reform and opportunity for Mexican business – a legal perspective

Mexico’s unique business position makes it an attractive investment location. While this brings challenges, it also signals opportunity with the reform of the Industrial Property Law. Read more

25 Feb 2019

All in the name: 101 ways to avoid having a weak mark

Until recently, Italian banks traditionally had highly descriptive names but fell victim to the inherent weakness of those names as trademarks. Banks are now seeking more distinctive names to improve their image and strengthen their brand. Read more

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