Intellectual Property

Recent Articles

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  25/04/2025

  United Kingdom

  “Parasitic packaging”: The ongoing battle against ‘copycat’ products

  ‘Copycat’ products have attracted attention in recent years with high profile court actions, especially the infamous caterpillar cake wars, hitting the headlines. However, even with brand owners fighting back, the issue of copycats remains rife.The British Brands Group (“BBG”) recently conducted a comprehensive review[1] of copycat products and their “parasitic packaging”, uncovering the alarming number of products on the UK market which closely mimic well-known brands. These imitations not only threaten the originality and reputation of established brands but...

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  23/04/2025

  International

  Navigating keyword advertising from a Singapore and European trade mark perspective

  In this increasingly digitalised world, how should organisations approach internet keyword advertising and avoid trade mark infringement whilst doing so? In this update, we not only discuss how the Singapore High Court recently dealt with this issue in East Coast Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd v Family Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd [2024] SGHC 102, but also provide a European perspective on the decision.  The Singapore DecisionEast Coast Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd v Family Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd [2024] SGHC 102 concerned a trade mark infringement claim by a claimant who was the registered proprietor of a...

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  16/04/2025

  Germany

  IP in the coalition agreement: anything to be concerned about?

  This article provides an overview of the IP topics covered in the new coalition agreement. While the word "innovation" was mentioned 76 times in the Traffic-Light Government's 2021 Coalition Agreement, the new coalition agreement in 2025 only mentions the word 49 times. While the Traffic-Light Coalition Agreement talked about a "decade of innovation", there is now talk of an "innovation boost". But does the word choice also mean that the new coalition government is devoting less attention to the issue? The new coalition agreement is still innovation-friendly and announces a national IP strategy....

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  07/04/2025

  Europe

  EU Designs Practice Alert: Upcoming changes to renewal deadlines and renewal fees

  From 1 May 2025, new rules on EU registered design renewals will come into effect. Design holders should take note of the following changes, which could directly impact their EU design filing strategies and the optimal timing of any upcoming renewals.New renewal periodsThe new EU Design Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/2822) will alter the way renewal periods for EU registered designs (“EURDs”) are calculated.  Under the new rules coming into effect from 1 May 2025, EURDs will be due for renewal on every 5th anniversary of the registration expiry date, up to final expiry on the...

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  20/03/2025

  Spain

  The Spanish Supreme Court allows the “Alicante torpedo”

  1. SummaryOn 14 January 2025, the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that both the EUTM Court and the Alicante Court of Appeal shall have suspended the trademark infringement proceedings ex officio, even though the defendant had not requested the suspension, until the EUIPO decides on the invalidity request filed after the infringement claim was brought.2. Details on the caseLast July 2018, the wine company Vega Sicilia initiated infringement proceedings against Bodegas Sanviver, S.L. on the basis of its EUTM No 3181971 “Unico”, granted in 2013 to distinguish goods in class 33 (wines), in...

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  07/03/2025

  Europe

  CJEU empowers Patent Infringement Claimants: Member States have Jurisdiction over non-EU infringement of a European Patent (EP)

  On 25 February 2025 the CJEU handed down its decision on BSH Hausgerate GmbH v Electrolux AB, confirming for the first time that EU member states have jurisdiction over infringement of a European Patent (EP) in other EP states, including countries outside the EU (such as the UK). This follows on from the decision by the UPC last month in Fujifilm Corporation v Kodak GmbH & others, which found the UPC also had jurisdiction over infringement of an EP in non-member states. The cases addressed infringement in Türkiye and the UK respectively, which are both EPO members but not part of...

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