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IP Ingredients Blog, Parts 1-10

March 2024

Welcome to our new blog series, IP Ingredients, created by our Food & Drink Team. This blog will explore the latest IP news, updates, and discussions in the food & drink sector.

Understanding how intellectual property is relevant to your food or drink company, and how to leverage different IP rights for business success can be tricky.

To help you untangle some of these issues, HGF attorneys Jennifer Bailey and Tanya Waller, together with other members of HGF’s Food & Drink team, are launching a new series of articles, “IP Ingredients”, which provides an introduction to IP in the food and drink field as well as giving lots of practical advice.

Part 1: Can you patent a recipe?

In the first edition of the series, “Can you patent a recipe?”, we consider what an invention is, and how to spot potential inventions in your research that could lead to valuable IP.

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Part 2: Sippin’ Success with Trade Marks

In the second edition of this series, “Sippin’ Success with trade Marks” , we discuss how trade marks play a vital role in safeguarding a brand’s identity.

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Part 3: An Appetite for Designs

In the third edition of this series, “An Appetite for Designs” , we discuss Registered Designs.

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Part 4: Why should I care about copyright?

In the fourth edition of this series, “Why should I care about copyright?” ,  we discuss how copyright may not be a core IP asset of your business, it’s still worth having an understanding of where rights may subsist.

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Part 5: New Year’s Resolutions

In the fifth edition of this series, “New Year’s Resolution’s” ,  this edition is about businesses reflect on their strategies, including whether their IP portfolio is in good shape.

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Part 6: Geographical Indications: “What’s in a [place] name?”

In the sixth edition of this series, “Geographical Indications: “What’s in a [place] name?” , we discuss Geographical indications.

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Part 7: Data in food and beverage patent applications – Why, What, & How much?

In the seventh edition of this series, “Data in food and beverage patent applications – Why, What, & How much?” , we discuss why, what and how do you get data for your food or beverage patent application.

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Part 9: Protecting a food or drink manufacturing process

In the ninth edition of this series, “Protecting a food or drink manufacturing process” , we discuss how you can patent a process.

Part 10: Coffee Corner with SeaGrown – Harvesting success in seaweed farming

In the tenth edition of this series, “Coffee Corner with SeaGrown – Harvesting success in seaweed farming” , we discuss how Wave and Laura set up their business ‘SeaGrown’

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Latest updates

Stripped of Stripes; Browne v Adidas

Back in March, we reported on the US and EU decisions in the ongoing disputes between Adidas and Thom Browne (see Retail Scanner article here). In May, the US appeal …

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Iceland Foods v the Icelandic government goes to the EU General Court

When one thinks of Iceland, you may envision picturesque glaciers and hot springs, or you might think of prawn rings and frozen party food. The ongoing trade mark tussle between …

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Wrapping Up Your IP: Tips for E-Commerce Protection

Many of us would have turned to online shopping for Christmas gifts. Online shopping, whilst hugely convenient, does have its pitfalls. The main issue being not being able to physically …

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Hermès-Inspired Hacks: Using your trade mark ‘outside of the box’

French luxury goods manufacturer, Hermès International, almost lost protection for its signature ‘H’ figurative trade mark earlier this year when the EUIPO’s Cancellation Division issued a decision to revoke the …

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Case Law Round Up

2024 has been a busy year for trade marks, with a number of significant decisions being issued by the UK courts, including Tesco v Lidl, Thatchers v Aldi and the …

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The SkyKick Decision: The Importance of Origin Function

SkyKick UK Ltd and another (Appellants) v Sky Ltd and others (Respondents) [2024] UKSC 36 before Lord Kitchin, Lord Reed, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lord Hamblen and Lord Burrows.  Judgment given on …

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