More details are emerging about the new procedure for complaining about a company’s registered name which come into force on 1 October 2008. As we have previously reported, under this procedure, parties can object to company names which are the same as a name in which they have goodwill, or are so like their name [...]

Posted: August 20th, 2008 under Intellectual Property.
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Regular readers will recall the stories we posted about the Melton Mowbray pie being granted the status as a protected regional product and that the name Newcastle Brown Ale ceased to be a protected regional product as production was moved from the area where it had been brewed and become iconic. It is still a [...]

Posted: August 11th, 2008 under Intellectual Property.
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Nike has signed an endorsement deal with US race horse, Big Brown, over seven years reported to be worth $80 million. Nike technicians created a unique horseshoe for Big Brown featuring Nike’s patented air cushioning system using gas pressurised in an aluminium and polyurethane structure. Read more about this here http://www.theonion.com/content/news/nike_signs_big_brown_to_90_million 

Posted: June 5th, 2008 under Intellectual Property.
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The heirs to the Steve McQueen legacy acting through family trusts have taken action in a New York court to prevent the use of the name ‘Steve McQueen’ and his likeness by Belstaff USA Corp according to news reports from the US. The name and image are being used on various types of clothing such [...]

Posted: June 5th, 2008 under Intellectual Property.
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In a case originating in Holland, the European Court of Justice has paved the way for Adidas to prevent the use of two stripes as decoration on clothing, on the basis of its trade mark consisting of three stripes.
Trade mark law across Europe was harmonised by an EU Directive, and the Dutch court made a [...]

Posted: April 14th, 2008 under Intellectual Property.
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