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Holden brand retired; EUIPO coronavirus extension; Japan GI cancellation – news digest

In our latest round-up, we look at Amazon car seat criticism leading to calls for legal reform, New Zealand being added to the TMview roster, US and China battling over the WIPO director general position, and much more.

28 Jan 2020

Japan Patent Office launches Trademark Fist, IP firm coronavirus response, and EUIPO updates Brexit information: news digest

In our latest edition, we look at Pablo Escobar’s IP being put up for sale, the Singapore registry visiting Turkey, Malta joining DesignClass, the Tajikistan IP Office giving its annual trademark update, and much more.

14 Jan 2020

Amazon law enforcement data pledge, Muji trademark blow, and Lazada IP takedown stats: news digest

In our latest round-up, we look at Italian football club Fiorentina taking the lead in blockchain anti-counterfeiting, a SUSSEX ROYAL application being filed at the USPTO, the EUIPO launching its annual user satisfaction survey, and much more.

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20 Dec 2019

Relief for Japan Patent Office as “best troll” Ikuhiro Ueda drastically slows trademark filing activity

The world’s most prolific trademark filer, Ikuhiro Ueda, has slowed his activity in recent months. Experts tell WTR that the slowdown will “recover reliability” in Japan’s trademark system, but there is uncertainty whether it is permanent. Read more

19 Dec 2019

A year in review: trademark experts in Asia-Pacific reveal their expectations for 2020

With the Summer Olympics taking place in Tokyo and the protection for geographical indications on the horizon in Russia, we head east to determine what experts in Asia and Oceania have learned from 2019 and how brand owners in these jurisdictions can best prepare for the next 12 months. Read more

15 Nov 2019

Recent design revisions in Japan

15 Nov 2019

Protecting and enforcing design rights: Japan

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Anti-counterfeiting

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30 Nov 2018

Finnish IP office launches chatbot, Lazada signs MOU and JPO fakes campaign: news round-up

In our latest round-up, we look at luxury brands avoiding Black Friday discounts, Edible Arrangements filing a trademark lawsuit, a huge counterfeit haul in Paraguay, and much more. Read more

2 Nov 2018

Azerbaijan pledges IP reforms, plain packaging in Singapore, and Ecuador plans mediation center: news round-up

In our latest round-up, we look at the JPO offering a souvenir certificate for long-time rights holders, fashion brands stepping up their tech game, a new director at the Tunisian IP Office, and much more. Read more

18 Oct 2018

“Leveraging the law is not the whole solution”: interview with Philip Morris’ Herman Cheung

In an exclusive interview, the tobacco giant's Manager of Illicit Trade Prevention talks to WTR about the importance of anti-counterfeiting efforts as the company transitions to a smoke-free future. Read more

11 Apr 2018

Customs concerns: counsel identify significant room for improvement in India, Iran and Turkey

Trademark counsel have had their say on the efficiency of customs authorities across the globe – with some of the largest importers of counterfeit goods giving cause for continued concern. Read more

Brand management

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11 Apr 2019

Video game industry may face digital overhaul, but Nintendo can always call upon Mario

Big Tech has dipped its toes into the industry, posing a risk to traditional manufacturers. We take a deep dive into one of the market’s biggest players, Nintendo, to understand how its brands have helped the company sustain its success. Read more

1 Feb 2019

Asahi’s acquisition of Fuller’s shows value of brands in overseas expansion

This Japanese company's purchase is only one of a number of deals in the industry, with key players bolstering their premium beer portfolios. Read more

5 Jul 2018

Federer logo clash with Nike highlights contractual pitfalls for sports stars

This week the Wimbledon tennis tournament got underway, with media reports noting how reigning champion Roger Federer “stunned onlookers by turning out on Centre Court in Uniqlo gear”. The focus then turned to the absence of his often-used RF logo, which is caught up in an ownership wrangle. Read more

3 Oct 2017

MLB’s top TTAB user, Thai IP Office gets an upgrade and Russia to introduce “Made in Prison” label: news round-up

In this news round-up, we look at how India may remove the controversial Goods and Services Tax exemption for unbranded food products and how the Chicago Cubs are tackling an increase in counterfeiting. Read more

Enforcement and litigation

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20 Dec 2019

Relief for Japan Patent Office as “best troll” Ikuhiro Ueda drastically slows trademark filing activity

15 Nov 2019

Recent design revisions in Japan

15 Nov 2019

Protecting and enforcing design rights: Japan

5 Jul 2019

New JPO commissioner, USPTO updates scandalous guidelines, and Kardashian copycat lawsuit: news digest

In our latest round-up, we look at IP Australia announcing examination delays, the Portuguese registry updating its fees, the Crips street gang apologising for a trademark dispute, and much more. Read more

Goverment/policy

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9 Sep 2019

No safe bets – what the potential Philip Morris-Altria merger tells us about the tobacco industry

Major players are pulling out all the stops to diversify their portfolios, expanding geographically as well as investing in and buying up other businesses. However, no matter how you look at it, there are significant challenges ahead. Read more

12 Sep 2018

Trademark procedures and strategies: Japan

The Examination Guidelines for Trademarks also play an important role in the examination of trademark applications at the Japan Patent Office (JPO). The most recent revisions to the examination guidelines took place in April 2017, which include clarifying the criteria for judging the similarities between trademarks. Read more

3 Jun 2018

Japan’s filing trends are distorted by a single applicant, while brands plummet in value: exclusive data analysis

In this week’s country data report, we highlight Japan’s unusual distribution of applications by trademark class, analyse the volatile values of the leading Japanese brands, and much more. Read more

6 Apr 2018

Trademark offices prepare for the future as users give poor performance grades

The performance levels of the Chinese, Brazilian and Indian trademark offices have clear room for improvement but change could be afoot. Read more

Law firms

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23 Jan 2019

You get what you pay for? Variances in law firm hourly rates revealed

New research has revealed the variance in the hourly rates charged by law firm practitioners for trademark-related work in key jurisdictions, with the hourly rate for a partner ranging from $30 to $880. Read more

IP offices

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1 Oct 2019

Asia’s top filers reveal strong growth prospects

World Trademark Review takes a deep dive into the top Asia-Pacific trademark offices and how they are modernising their systems to better protect applicants and streamline procedures. While this has positively affected filing levels, economic performance and domestic businesses will be key going forward. Read more

25 Jan 2019

JPO apologises for data leak, Brunei joins TMview, and Absolut accused of trademark bullying: news digest

In our latest round-up, we look at the Japan Patent Office apologising after an accidental data leak, a sauce company suing Wendy’s, counterfeit fans reacting to Alibaba’s latest Taobao claims, and more. Read more

4 Jan 2019

Trolls on the rise, Brexit disruption and China’s domination: data trends of 2018

Having just rung in the new year, it is the perfect time to look at the trends which have characterised the trademark landscape in 2018, and discuss what is to come in 2019. Read more

4 Dec 2018

AI examinations and a new manual: the JPO end of year review

It has been another busy year for the trademark division at the Japan Patent Office, especially in the development of examinations. Read more

Portfolio management

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11 Apr 2019

Video game industry may face digital overhaul, but Nintendo can always call upon Mario

1 Feb 2019

Asahi’s acquisition of Fuller’s shows value of brands in overseas expansion

This Japanese company's purchase is only one of a number of deals in the industry, with key players bolstering their premium beer portfolios. Read more

5 Jul 2018

Federer logo clash with Nike highlights contractual pitfalls for sports stars

1 Mar 2018

Registries are alive with the sound of trademarks

Registrations for sound trademarks are becoming more prevalent at major IP registries around the world. We look at some of the opportunities for sound marks, as well as common challenges and how to overcome them. Read more

Trademark law

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29 Oct 2019

Groundbreaking research reveals significant risks in AI analysis of trademark registers

A new study looking at how AI is used by IP offices warns that “the seductive appeal of the all-seeing algorithm should be resisted” due to current limitations. Read more

12 Apr 2019

Serial trademark filer Ikuhiro Ueda speaks out: “I am the best troll”

Yesterday we reported on notorious trademark filer Ikuhiro Ueda, who has personally filed over 100,000 trademark applications. Today, in an exclusive interview with WTR, Ueda claims his filings are part of an ambitious plan to overhaul the global IP system. Read more

11 Apr 2019

The Ueda Files: the world’s most prolific trademark filer and a conundrum for brands

An incredibly prolific trademark filer in Japan, Ikuhiro Ueda, is causing headaches for brands, according to experts. In an exclusive investigation from WTR, we reveal the staggering scope of this portfolio-building exercise. Read more

11 Apr 2019

The Ueda Files: the world’s most prolific trademark filer and a conundrum for brands

latest

Relief for Japan Patent Office as “best troll” Ikuhiro Ueda drastically slows trademark filing activity

A year in review: trademark experts in Asia-Pacific reveal their expectations for 2020

Recent design revisions in Japan

Protecting and enforcing design rights: Japan

Twitter

25 Feb 2020

@WTRmagazine RT @MarksmenTweets: Diversity in e-sports, new @INTA taskforce, #intellectualproperty paid David Beckham’s salary – INTA 2020 Europe day tw… Read more

25 Feb 2020

@WTRmagazine RT @WebTMS: What brand owners can learn from Harry and Meghan's #sussexroyal situation - some great insight and advice here: World Trademar… Read more

24 Feb 2020

@WTRmagazine RT @OpenLegalCom: 専門家に言わせるとSussex Royalの問題は、どのように商標が使われるかはっきりコミュニケーションしなかったことらしい。これは他の団体でも重要ポイントらしい。 The end of Sussex Royal: lessons from… Read more

24 Feb 2020

@WTRmagazine RT @INTA: U.S. Democratic presidential candidates Michael Bloomberg and Pete Buttigieg have the highest number of filed or registered trad… Read more