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IP in the news

September 2018

A surprisingly busy summer of IP. Here is our round-up of the bigger legal headlines.

Switching a swoosh for a square: keep your eye on the ball

Roger Federer switches sponsors from Nike to Uniqlo but iconic “RF” trade mark was not present at his first match of Wimbledon as the ownership rights lay with Nike rather than Federer. Will Federer/Uniqlo pay a hefty price for transfer of ownership?

Fast Fashion: EU-wide

The recent decision in the case of OTB v Zara serves as a useful reminder that an infringement of third party IP rights can result in a claim in the courts in one EU member state for an injunction and damages in all EU countries where the products have been sold.

Nestle loses appeal in “KitKat” case

The Court of Justice of the European Union handed down its judgment on the “KitKat” case, resulting in Nestlé (the maker of the KitKat) losing its EU trade mark for the shape of its chocolate wafer product. The basis of the decision being that Nestlé had failed to provide sufficient evidence that the KitKat shape mark had acquired distinctive character throughout the EU.

Placement of “unhealthy” food advertisements come under heavy scrutiny

A breakdown of several ASA decisions published that highlight the continued focus by the ASA on advertising high fat, sugar or salt products to children.

Fiat Automobiles aims to stop sales of “Jeep-Like” vehicle in US

FCA has filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, requesting a ban on a “nearly identical copy” of itst 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.

Latest updates

HGF Ranked #1 in the UK for Trade Mark Portfolios in the 2025 Trade Mark Filing Trends Report by Clarivate.

HGF has achieved the #1 ranking for the UK for trade mark portfolios in the newly released 2025 Trade mark Filing Trends report by Clarivate, recognising the firm as a …

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The EPO Board of Appeal comments on the scope of the morality exclusion from patentability

The recent decision, T1553/22 of the Board of Appeal required the Board to consider the scope of the exclusions from patentability under Article 53(a) EPC. The invention in this case …

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IP Ingredients: Summer Case Law Review 2025

As the British summer swings once again between sunburn and showers, it’s a great time to take stock of what the first half of the year has delivered by way …

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Celebrating exam success at HGF!

We are once again delighted to share that our colleagues have achieved success in their recent exams! Their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to professional development have paid off, and we …

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Is the Supreme Court denial in Thatcher’s case a fatal blow against lookalikes?

The dispute between Thatcher’s Cider Company and Aldi Stores Limited has been long running and has sparked legal controversy along the way. On 4th June 2025 the Supreme denied Aldi …

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HGF ranked among Europe’s top patent firms in IP STARS Patent Rankings 2025

HGF has once again made a bold mark in the latest Managing IP Stars 2025 firm rankings, with top-tier recognition across multiple jurisdictions for our patent expertise. This year’s results …

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The Enlarged Board of Appeal has today issued its decision in seminal case G1/24

G1/24, described as one of the most important cases in decades, relates to how claims of patents are to be interpreted by the Boards of Appeal and, by extension, all …

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