Consumer Products (all)

Welcome to the home of the consumer products sector on Law-Now.

On this page you can access the very latest updates from CMS' consumer products sector experts, including FMCG, food and drink, health and beauty and retail. These Law-Now updates cover all aspects of the supply chain and real industry issues, such as improving yield, cutting costs and reducing environmental impact. As consumer product legislation differs around the world, you will find updates from CMS' industry experts here.


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Recent Articles

  •  
    14/03/2024
    Europe

    “Pre-branded” spare parts: CJEU has its say in Audi trade mark case

    The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has given its ruling following a referral from the Regional Court of Warsaw, in a trade mark infringement claim brought by Audi (Audi AG v GQ, Case C-334/22). Audi’s complaint related to spare radiator grilles sold by the defendant (GQ) which featured an element designed to accommodate an emblem or badge representing Audi’s logo. The CJEU found that a spare part of this nature – which was essentially customised with the intention of having a particular third party trade mark affixed to it – could potentially infringe that...
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  •  
    13/03/2024
    England and Wales

    Not Frying So High: EU General Court Rejects “MYBACON” Trade Mark Appeal

    Introduction Food company Myforest Foods Co. sought to register the trade mark “MYBACON” for its plant-based food product. Both the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the EUIPO’s Board of Appeal rejected its application on the grounds that  the mark is deceptive (Myforest Foods Co. v EUIPO, Case T‑107/23). Determined to press on with its appeal, Myforest brought the case before the EU General Court (GC) but it has been unsuccessful. The EU General Court agreed with the EUIPO that the mark “MYBACON” was likely to mislead the public...
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  •  
    07/03/2024
    Belgium

    Belgian Competition Authority publishes study on consumer goods price trends in Belgium and neighbouring countries

    FR
    Since 2013, the Belgian Competition Authority (the "BCA") has been mandated with additional jurisdiction over competition and price trends.Book V of the Code of Economic Law provides for a system in which:the Price Observatory analyses prices and margins, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Minister, and identifies any structural problems in the market; andin the event of structural market problems, problems with prices or margins, or abnormal price trends, the Collège de la Concurrence (Competition Board) may, at the request of the Price Observatory, issue decisions on...
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  •  
    07/03/2024
    England and Wales

    Calvin Klein ad controversy: nudity, empowerment, and untargeted display

    The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has partially reversed its controversial ruling on a Calvin Klein ad featuring singer FKA Twigs, prompting questions about censorship, objectification, and the ever-evolving boundaries of advertising.The posters, displayed in April 2023, featured FKA Twigs wearing an unbuttoned shirt revealing part of her breast and buttocks. In January, the ASA banned the ad, citing concerns that it "centred on FKA Twigs' physical features rather than the clothing" and presented her as "a stereotypical sexual object." This decision sparked widespread criticism, including...
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  •  
    04/03/2024
    United Kingdom

    The building blocks of Lego’s registered Community design remain strong

    In a decision likely to be appreciated by design rights holders, the General Court of the European Union (“GC”) confirmed the Lego toy brick’s status as a registered Community design (“RCD”) in its judgment of 24 January 2024 - despite some aspects of the design being dictated by technical function.BackgroundIn 2010, Lego registered an RCD for “Building blocks from a toy building set”.In 2016, relying on Article 25(1)(b) of Council Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 of 12 December 2001 on Community designs (the “Regulation”), German toy company Delta...
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  •  
    23/02/2024
    United Kingdom

    Latest UK consumer law developments

    In January 2024, the Department for Business and Trade published its response to a 2023 consultation entitled “Smarter Regulation: Improving consumer price transparency and product information for consumers” (“Consultation”). The Government consulted with the ultimate aim of improving the quality and accessibility of information provided to consumers and enabling them to make informed decisions about products they purchase. For more information about the Consultation, please refer to our previous Law-Now: UK Government announces Consultation on consumer protection reforms.Soon...
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