Region: Poland

There are a limited number of colours available for registration and single-colour marks are hard won in Poland. A recent application by a popular e-commerce site illustrates the obstacles in the way – and potential rewards – of obtaining such registrations.

29 September 2022

While the Polish Patent Office has provided little in the way of guidance when it comes to trademarks in the metaverse or connected to NFTs, a closer examination of the few registrations that have been filed provides some early clues in this burgeoning area of protection.

15 September 2022

In-depth data procured from Polish IP courts reveals valuable insights into the state of IP enforcement in Poland.

25 August 2022

After six years in wait, the EUIPO’s Grand Board is now examining an invalidation motion filed by the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs against the British supermarket chain Iceland.

04 August 2022

Robert Lewandowski has gained worldwide fame, however, intentionally or otherwise, he seems to have a decentralised IP strategy, not directly owning any registered marks related to his identity. Such an approach may lead to confusion and a lack of a cohesive action.

28 July 2022

A proposal for a new act that will diverge Polish IP regulations from that of the wider European Union is being questioned by practitioners. The new act may have unintended consequences for brand owners, and possibly increase the number of oppositions.

21 July 2022

A new act proposes to simplify trademark proceedings in Poland; however, the effective acceleration of trademark proceedings cannot be based on the shortening of the parties’ deadlines.

14 July 2022

A 2020 case in which a court ruled that preparing a genuine commercial plan for a mark does constitute use, even if no sales are made or advertisements taken out, is attracting much commentary over whether this principle might be more widely applied.

30 June 2022

Brand owners and trademark practitioners doing business in Poland need to stay alert so as not to be caught out by provisions for the translation of documents. Fortunately, a deep dive into case law provides clear guidance on this area.

16 June 2022

The office’s accelerated programme has reduced processing times significantly. Despite this, it has received little uptake suggesting that perhaps swift examination is less of a priority for rights holders than might have been believed.

09 June 2022