Region: Switzerland

This decision of the Swiss Federal Administrative Court shows that, while prima facie evidence of notoriety may be sufficient, it must be strong enough to convince the court that the mark was well known before the date of application of the later trademark.

27 August 2020

Featured in IP office tools and services

The director general of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) shares the innovative tools and services it has launched or is developing for the future.

25 August 2020

This decision of the Federal Administrative Court will be welcome news for global companies registered in Switzerland which seek to protect signs that incorporate geographical indications and use Switzerland as the starting point of their international filings.

22 July 2020

In a move that indicates major progress towards the enhanced protection of Swiss geographical indications, the Federal Council has proposed the ratification of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on appellations of origin and GIs, and to amend the Trademark Protection Act accordingly.

16 July 2020

Switzerland has revised its copyright rules, which now provide remuneration for all authors of copyrighted works used online and allow digital use in the fields of research, education and the preservation of cultural heritage.

18 June 2020

As the number of offerings in the market continues to grow, a name and logo are no longer always sufficient to differentiate a product or service. It is therefore hoped that Switzerland will enable the better protection and recognition of shapes as trademarks, in particular those relating to a product’s packaging and not the product itself.

28 May 2020

Switzerland is a desirable place to start a business as a 3% increase in the number of registrations of new business names within the first nine months of 2019 shows. However, statistically, only a few new business owners think about protecting their business name as a trademark.

09 April 2020

Featured in World Trademark Review Yearbook 2020/2021

Any natural or legal person can apply for trademark registration in Switzerland (restrictions apply to geographical marks).

17 March 2020

After weeks of lobbying, Daren Tang of Singapore has won the nomination to be the next director general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

04 March 2020

In a victory for German liquor company Mast-Jägermeister SE, the Swiss Federal Administrative Court has overturned a decision of the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property refusing to register a figurative trademark consisting of a stag and a Christian cross.

04 March 2020