News
All the latest news and views.
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EU Trade Marks And Designs In The Event Of “No Deal” Between The EU And The UK
September 2018
The UK Government has announced how it plans to treat European Union (EU) trade mark and design rights in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal covering their future relationship.
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BA Data Breach
September 2018
This morning news has started to come out providing details of one of the first significant data breach to be reported under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) since its coming in to force in May this year.
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P&G to attempt to trade mark acronyms: WTF or NBD?
August 2018
Consumer products group Proctor and Gamble have filed trade mark application for terms such as "LOL" (Laugh Out Loud), "NBD" (No Big Deal) and even WTF (we’ll leave you to Google that one) to presumably be used to market products. It has been reported that the plan is to use the acronyms to market soap, detergents and air fresheners in an attempt to persuade under 35’s to buy such products. The filings were made by P&G in April and are apparently yet to be approved by the USPTO.
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Ain’t no sunshine in September: ASA rule June, July and August are British summer months
August 2018
Holiday agent Tui’s advert for the “perfect summer holiday” in September and October has been deemed misleading to consumers.
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Brexit Impact on .eu Domain Names
August 2018
A statement by the European Commission has outlined that following Brexit on 29 March 2019 the EU regulatory framework regarding .eu domain names will no longer apply to the UK
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PCT collaborative search and examination (CS&E) pilot project run by the IP5 offices
August 2018
On 1 July 2018, the IP5 Offices (EPO, KIPO, USPTO, JPO and SIPO) launched a pilot project to test a collaborative approach to international searches under the PCT, particularly with a view to assessing user interest for such a new PCT product and also look at the expected efficiency gains for the participating offices.
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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Aims to Stop Sales of “Jeep-Like” Vehicle in US
August 2018
The ‘Willys MB’ truck (also known as a “Jeep”) is a well-known vehicle manufactured by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), first manufactured in 1941. FCA has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, requesting a ban on a “nearly identical copy” of it’s Jeep vehicle by the Indian manufacturer, Mahindra known as the ‘Roxor’, on the basis of trade mark infringement and copying of the Jeep’s trade dress.
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Placement of “unhealthy” food advertisements come under heavy scrutiny
August 2018
Several ASA decisions published today highlight the continued focus by the ASA on advertising high fat, sugar or salt products (“HFSS”) to children.
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Inspiration or copying: Aldi in the news again
August 2018
Family run sausage manufacturer Heck and yogurt maker The Collective are leading a public relations campaign against the German discounter after they both allege that Aldi is selling products “almost identical” to those made by the independent producers.
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CJEU confirms Art 3(a) criteria for determining SPC protection
July 2018
In order for an SPC to be valid the relevant product must be “protected by” the basic patent. The meaning of “protected by” has been the subject of much debate, especially in relation to combination products.
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