Category: Regions

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The Rise of Class Actions in Influencer Marketing: What Brands Need to Know To Protect Themselves 

By Paavana L. Kumar of Davis+Gilbert LLP, Jordan Thompson of Davis+Gilbert LLP, Amy Marcus of Davis + Gilbert and Allison Fitzpatrick of Davis+Gilbert LLP on Posted in Advertising & Marketing, Branding, Copyright, Counterfeit Goods, Online Content, United States
Authors: Allison Fitzpatrick, Paavana Kumar, Jordan Thompson and Amy Marcus.  Class actions targeting prominent brands using influencers to advertise their products on social media are on the rise, accusing brands and their influencers of failing to properly disclose paid endorsements.  A series of recent cases targeting brands and their influencers rely on a similar set … Continue Reading

Major setback for Tiktok’s trademark rights in India

By Gaurav Bhalla of Ahlawat & Associates on Posted in Advertising & Marketing, Asia Pacific, Branding, Case Studies, Copyright, Legislation, Online Content, Trademarks
By Gaurav Bhalla of Ahlawat & Associates The Bombay High Court recently affirmed the order of the Registrar of Trade Marks whereby TikTok’s application for declaration of its mark as well-known in India was disallowed. Interestingly, this decision (by the Bombay High Court) was not on merits but rather had a heavy influence of sovereignty … Continue Reading

Uber’s Opposition Fails the Grade in Tutors Trade Mark Dispute

By Jessica Bell of Kalus Kenny Intelex and David Cinque on Posted in Australia, Branding, Copyright, Protection & Enforcement, Trademarks, United States
Jessica Bell – Lawyer, Kalus Kenny Intelex, Melbourne Australia David Cinque – Special Counsel, Kalus Kenny Intelex The Australian Trade Marks Office has permitted the registration of the trade mark UBER TUTORS after finding that transport and delivery giant, Uber Technologies Inc (Uber Tech) failed to oppose the mark’s registration under the Trade Marks Act … Continue Reading

Law 5103/2024: The New Legislative Framework – Provisions for the promotion of Greek-Language Music

By Kriton Metaxopoulos of A. & K. Metaxopoulos and Partners Law Firm and A. & K. METAXOPOULOS AND PARTNERS LAW FIRM on Posted in Europe, Legislation, Protection & Enforcement
By A. & K. METAXOPOULOS AND PARTNERS LAW FIRM On 18/04/2024 the Greek Parliament has enacted Law No. 5103/2024 dealing with the protection and promotion of Greek-language songs as an element of cultural identity. The new law introduces provisions in the form of, on the one hand, guidelines and, on the other hand, obligations for … Continue Reading

Different Kinds Of Cool That Still Just Don’t Register: Why Birkenstocks & Melted Rink Ice (AKA Water) Aren’t Copyrightable

By James P. Flynn of Epstein Becker Green on Posted in Advertising & Marketing, Branding, Copyright, Europe, Trademarks, United States
By James P. Flynn, Epstein Becker Green In 2015, the Wall Street Journal observed why Birkenstock sandals might be considered cool: “It’s a taboo thing,” said New York-based stylist Brian Coats, who dresses Jimmy Fallon. “The fact that Birkenstocks are so uncool makes them cool.” The unstylish stereotype tied to Birkenstocks, said Mr. Coats, has … Continue Reading

Beauty is in the eye…lash extension: Beauty salon’s actions to remove two trade marks dismissed by the Australian Trade Marks Office

By Jessica Bell of Kalus Kenny Intelex on Posted in Australia, Branding, Copyright, Patents, Trademarks
Jessica Bell, Kalus Kenny Intelex, Melbourne Australia A recent trade mark stoush in the eyelash extension market highlights the importance of registering trade marks in all states of Australia, and ensuring that trade marks that intend to be used are registered as soon as possible. The Australian Trade Marks Office (ATMO) recently dismissed two related … Continue Reading

Trademark Opposition Proceedings in Canada: Proposed Changes Now in Place

By Marie Lussier of Fogler Rubinoff LLP on Posted in Canada, Copyright, Foreign Protection, Protection & Enforcement, Trademarks
By Marie Lussier of Fogler Rubinoff LLP In July 2024, I discussed proposed changes to trademark proceedings in Canada. Following a public consultation period, revised Regulations came into force on April 1, 2024 that incorporate those proposed changes. The changes aim to improve the efficiency of dispute resolution proceedings in Canada. Time will tell if … Continue Reading

Charting a Course on AI Policy: the U.S. Copyright Office Speaks! 

By Gregory (Greg) J. Krabacher on Posted in Artificial Intelligence, Copyright, Legislation, Privacy Compliance, Protection & Enforcement, Trademarks, United States
By Gregory J. Krabacher, Epstein Becker Green  Recently, the U.S. Copyright Office published the second of an intended three-part report entitled “Copyright and Artificial Intelligence.” Here are those three parts:   Collectively, this report – I’ll refer to it here as the “AI Report” –  is intended to provide the Copyright Office’s perspective on fundamental questions … Continue Reading

Greek Monuments in Advertising

By Elena Nikolarea of A. & K. Metaxopoulos and Partners Law Firm on Posted in Advertising & Marketing, Branding, Copyright, Europe, Famous Marks, Foreign Protection, Trademarks
By Elena Nikolarea, Associate at A. & K. METAXOPOULOS AND PARTNERS LAW FIRM  It has become quite common for advertisers of different kinds of products or services, both in Greece and abroad, to intend to use photos and/or videos of Greek archaeological monuments (such as the Acropolis etc.) for their promotional campaigns.  In this regard, … Continue Reading

Katy v Katie: The importance of reputation and early brand protection  

By Jessica Bell of Kalus Kenny Intelex on Posted in Australia, Legislation, Trademarks, United States
By Jessica Bell, Lawyer – Kalus Kenny Intelex, Melbourne, Australia Pop star Katy Perry has successfully appealed a Federal Court ruling over the use of an Australian designer’s trade mark registration for the words KATIE PERRY. The recent decision by the Full Court of the Federal Court unanimously overturned Justice Brigitte Markovic’s findings in Taylor … Continue Reading

De-Cluttering in the New Year! Pilot Project in Canada to Cancel Trademark Registrations for Non-Use

By Marie Lussier of Fogler Rubinoff LLP on Posted in Canada, Copyright, Trademarks
By Marie Lussier In January 2025, the Registrar of Trademarks launched a pilot project in which it sends notices to certain registrants asking them to show use of their registered mark, failing which their registration is to be cancelled. These notices are subject to the same modalities as those issued at the request of a … Continue Reading

New Year’s Resolutions?: Intellectual Property Questions That May–Or May Not–Get Decided In 2025

By James P. Flynn of Epstein Becker Green on Posted in Artificial Intelligence, Copyright, Legislation, Online Content, Protection & Enforcement, United States
As we head into a new year after a US election year, we are sure to see two things in the media, all kinds of articles on New Year’s Resolutions and all kinds of articles on what we can anticipate occurring in the inaugural year of the new administration.  So I thought that I would … Continue Reading

Trouble brewing? Australian coffee brand grounds global giant in landmark trade mark case

By Jessica Bell of Kalus Kenny Intelex on Posted in Australia, Branding, Case Studies, Protection & Enforcement, Trademarks
In a recent Federal Court decision, Justice Michael Wheelahan has dismissed claims against Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd (Cantarella Bros) by international coffee giant, Koninklijke Douwe Egberts BV (KDE), that its Vittoria glass coffee packaging was too similar to the famous Moccona coffee jar.… Continue Reading

Special Circumstances: Lessons from Canada’s Federal Court on Trademark Non-Use

By Marie Lussier of Fogler Rubinoff LLP on Posted in Canada, Case Studies, Franchises, Protection & Enforcement, Trademarks
A recent decision of the Federal Court, Trial Division in Little Brown Box Pizza, LLC v. DJB (2024 FC 1592) provides guidance on the question of special circumstances that can excuse an absence of trademark use in Section 45/summary cancellation proceedings. The Court’s analysis and findings should be particularly useful to U.S./non-Canadian brand owners looking … Continue Reading

Greek influencers caught on regulator’s radar

By Asterios Syssilas of Α&Κ Metaxopoulos Law Firm on Posted in Advertising & Marketing, Europe, Legislation, Online Content
The Greek Ministry of Development and Investments, which is the government authority monitoring the advertising activities and enforcing consumer protection laws, participated in the pan-European initiative for screening influencers carrying out advertising activity on social media platforms (“EU sweep on influencers”). The goals of the sweep have been on the one hand to identify influencers … Continue Reading

THAT’S NOT TRUE: Thoughts, Novel or Not, On Truth, Context, & Defamation

By James P. Flynn of Epstein Becker Green on Posted in Case Studies, Protection & Enforcement, United States
Defamation cases are hard ones in the real world. Recent US matters involving Dominion Voting,  Sara Palin, and even Cheetos show that these cases continue to interest the general public as well as legal cognoscenti. Resolving these lawsuits is dependent on understanding concepts of truth, accuracy, fact, opinion, and all manner of issues that define … Continue Reading

PERSONALITY RIGHTS – THE POWER OF INFLUENCE, ITS MISUSE AND PROTECTION

By Abhijeet Das of LexCounsel Law Offices and Pragya Jain of LexCounsel Law Offices on Posted in Asia Pacific, Copyright, Privacy Compliance, Trademarks
INTRODUCTION Publicity rights play an important role in India based on the culture of celebrity worship and the importance of the name, image, and likeness of sports, television and media personalities, political figures, musicians, etc. Indian intellectual property laws do not directly or explicitly recognize personality rights, but several regulations and provisions address the same. … Continue Reading

Can Design Patents Be Invalidated?

By Daniel H. Bliss of Howard & Howard on Posted in Legislation, Patent Infringement, Patents, United States
Suppose you have a design for an ornamental appearance of an article and start producing the article. Subsequently, you receive notice from an owner of a design patent that you are infringing their patent. You conduct a prior art search and find some references related to the design. Can you invalidate the design patent through … Continue Reading

New Greek law (5103/2024) for the protection and enhancement of Greek music

By Kriton Metaxopoulos of A. & K. Metaxopoulos and Partners Law Firm on Posted in Copyright, Europe, Legislation, Protection & Enforcement
On 17/04/2024 the Greek Parliament enacted Law No. 5103/2024 dealing with, among other issues, the “protection” and “enhancement” of Greek Music. The Law introduces a minimum threshold of 40% Greek music (as defined in the Law) that is performed in public in various places such as casinos, malls, etc.  It has both been praised as … Continue Reading

One Sheet To Rap Sheet: Evaluating Proposed Federal Rule For Using Lyrics & Creative Writing To Prove Crimes

By James P. Flynn of Epstein Becker Green on Posted in Legislation, Protection & Enforcement, United States
In a list of Music Industry Terms Every Artist Should Know, “One Sheet” is defined as a “single-page document that highlights an artist’s new music and summarizes their bio, stats, and achievements. It’s given to media, promoters, or anyone else who can further the artist’s career in some way — for example, by hiring them … Continue Reading

Case Law Update: The Australian Federal Court’s approach to non-English word trade marks

By Denise Wightman of Kalus Kenny Intelex and Jessica Bell of Kalus Kenny Intelex on Posted in Australia, Branding, Case Studies, Protection & Enforcement, Trademarks
In her recent decision in Caporaso Pty Ltd v Mercato Centrale Australia Pty Ltd [2024] FCA 138 (Caporaso v Mercato), the Honourable Justice Charlesworth of the Federal Court of Australia has demonstrated how Australian courts approach the use of non-English words as trade marks in Australia.… Continue Reading

Can a Slide Show Be Considered a Printed Publication to Prevent Patentability?

By Daniel H. Bliss of Howard & Howard on Posted in Case Studies, Legislation, Patent Infringement, Patents, Privacy Compliance, Protection & Enforcement, United States
Suppose you have an invention and disclose it in a slide show to an audience attending a conference. Can this slide show be considered a printed publication to prevent the invention from being novel and patented? Are there protective measures that can be taken to prevent the slide show from being considered a printed publication? … Continue Reading

Proposed Changes to Canadian Trademark Regulations: Enhancing Efficiency and Addressing Official Marks

By Marie Lussier of Fogler Rubinoff LLP on Posted in Canada, Legislation, Trademarks
As discussed in my short article of July 10, 2024, important changes to the Canadian Trademark Regulations have been proposed. The changes have not yet come into effect and are still subject to change. The consultation period closed on July 8, 2024. In future articles, I will discuss comments that are being debated and next … Continue Reading

Important Amendments to Canadian Trademark Regulations

By Marie Lussier of Fogler Rubinoff LLP on Posted in Canada, Legislation, Protection & Enforcement, Trademarks
On June 8, 2024, proposed amendments to Canada’s Trademarks Regulations were published in the Canada Gazette. The public consultation period is open until July 8, 2024, and comments will be posted on the Canada Gazette website following the end of the consultation period. A coming-into-force date has not yet been set but the Canadian Intellectual … Continue Reading
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