The European commission has just issued a press release about the actions in 2008 by EU customs to enforce intellectual property rights at the external borders of the EU. The press release can be found here http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/1106&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en.
Detentions of counterfeit goods by Customs reached an all time high again - at 49, 000 - surpassing the [...]

Posted: July 14th, 2009 under Intellectual Property.
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This old chestnut has been in court again. The law about what information in a business is regarded as confidential and so must not be taken or used by an ex-employee is complex. The practical effect of the law often seems at odds with commercial common sense depending on the circumstances. In the most recent [...]

Posted: June 22nd, 2009 under Business Advisory Services, 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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