Tag: intellectual property

Can Non-English Language Trademarks Be Refused Registration Based on the Foreign Equivalents Doctrine?

By Dan Bliss of Howard & Howard Suppose that you want to register your trademark that is in a non-English language on goods or services for your business in the United States. Will your non-English language trademark need to be translated to English to determine its registrability? If so, can your English translation trademark be … Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

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

Can Trademarks Be Too Descriptive for Registration?

By Daniel H. Bliss Suppose you want to register a trademark that identifies a source of goods/services for your business. What if the trademark describes an ingredient, quality, feature, function, characteristic, or purpose of your goods/services? Can your trademark be too descriptive to obtain a registration from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office? The answer … Continue Reading

Trademark Opposition Proceedings in Canada: Proposed Changes Now in Place

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 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

Can U.S. Trademark Registrations Be Cancelled for Genericness?

By Daniel H. Bliss Suppose that you have obtained a U.S. trademark registration for your trademark on goods or services for your business. Can your trademark registration be cancelled with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office based on genericness? If so, what is the appropriate time period for assessing whether a trademark is generic? Is … Continue Reading

IP myths vs. reality: What you don’t know could cost you

Written by: Aaron Fishman, Andrew Jenkins, Sean Mellino Intellectual property (IP) is often misunderstood, leading to costly mistakes for businesses and individuals alike. Many assume that once they create something, they automatically own the rights everywhere, or that patents and trademarks offer blanket protection. In reality, IP is a complex legal landscape governed by factors … Continue Reading

Greek Monuments in Advertising

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, 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 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

Is There Liability for Removing or Altering Copyright Management Information from a Copyrighted Work?

By Daniel H. Bliss Suppose you have uncovered a copyrighted work from another that contains copyright management information such as a copyright notice. However, you want to remove or alter this copyright management information. Should you remove or alter any copyright management information from the copyrighted work? The answer is NO because there is liability!… Continue Reading

Infringement of Trademark by Metatag and Keywords 

By Abhijeet Das, Partner, Pragya Jain, Associate and Ashish Kumar, Associate, LexCounsel Law Offices  Introduction  Post-pandemic, there has been a significant rise in digital marketing worldwide. Companies are utilising platforms (“Platforms”) like Google Ads and various social media networks to connect with prospective customers. To showcase their products or services on these Platforms, businesses often … Continue Reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

Technovations & Labor Practices: Little Known IP Law For Developing Countries

Some years back, a young Kenyan graduate, working as an intern for a public state corporation, developed an innovative solution that earned his employer a global innovation award. However, his application for intellectual property rights was ignored by his employer, who continued to bask in the fame and glory of the global award. Was the … Continue Reading

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

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

New Guidance on the Subject of Comparative Advertising and Dilution of Goodwill

In 2023, the Federal Court of Canada released its decision in Energizer Brands, LLC and Energizer Canada Inc. v. Gillette Company (2023 FC 804). The decision clarifies some of the laws applicable to comparative advertising in this country and should guide the conduct of parties that engage in this form of commercial activity. Energizer sued … Continue Reading

Comma, Comma, Comma, Comma, Comma Chameleon: How Punctuation Can Color IP & Other Legal Rights

“[T]he comma…this capricious bit of punctuation…” United States v. Ron Pair Enterprises, Inc., 489 US 235, 249 (1989) (O’Connor, J, dissenting) For want of a comma, we have this case.” O’Connor  et al. v. Oakhurst Dairy et al.,851 F.3d 69, 70 (1st Cir. 2017) “But, when pressed, I do find I have strong views about … Continue Reading

Australian Intellectual Property Reforms Ahead

2024 appears to be a year of change in the Australian Intellectual Property realm, with the adoption by IP Australia of the Madrid Goods and Services List and the introduction of the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Regulator Performance) Act 2023. Adoption of the Madrid Goods and Services List In January 2024 IP Australia announced that … Continue Reading

Court clarifies process for CMO equitable remuneration

Introduction This case(1) concerned a collective management organisation’s (CMO’s) application for the temporary determination of related and neighbouring rights and copyrights. This was for equitable remuneration for public reproduction of intellectual works by catering businesses (ie, coffee shops). The judgment also dealt with the presumption of management and protection representative authority for CMOs.… Continue Reading
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