Re-draft of Copyright Directive passed by EU Parliament
After two years of heated debate, the European Parliament have voted in favour of new copyright laws, said to provide IP owners with better protection in the digital age. The proposal for the EU...
View ArticleRangers 3 – unofficial street vendor 1 – Rangers finally win battle to...
In a game lasting much longer than 90 minutes, Rangers have beaten the opposition, a seller of unofficial merchandise, and won by successfully registering a trade mark for “RFC”. The application to...
View ArticleDiamonds are not always a girl’s best friend
A beautician from Gloucester has been threatened with legal action by jewellery giant Tiffany & Co (“T&Co”). Tiffany Parmar applied to trade mark the name “Cotswold Lashes by Tiffany” but the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Can you have copyright in taste? Trade mark law provides the answer…
The European Court of Justice appears to have looked to trade mark law to answer the question; can taste be protected by copyright? The question was asked by the Netherlands Court of Appeal. The...
View ArticleCounterfeits this Christmas
With the festive season in full swing, a brand new designer handbag is likely to be on a few Christmas lists. But do you know your Plada from your Prada? It was reported last year that around 2 million...
View ArticleNot so sweet like chocolate
After a 4-year battle, it has been held that Cadbury UK Limited’s (“Cadbury”) UK trade mark (“UKTM”) is a single mark, not a series of marks. This follows in a long line of Kit for Kat between Nestle...
View ArticleSentencing for breach of interdict in intellectual property actions
Intellectual property (IP) assets, whether in the forms of patents, designs, trade marks, copyright or trade secrets are very valuable assets. It is important that IP owners take steps to protect and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Google’s €50m GDPR fine – what are the practical lessons?
While the €50m fine may be the most eye-catching part of the French data protection regulator’s recent action against Google, the size of the fine will be of little relevance to most organisations. Of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
EU adopts adequacy finding in relation to Japan
The European Commission has announced that it has adopted an adequacy decision in respect of Japan, simplifying the process for transferring personal data between the EU and Japan. The adequacy...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A toast to protecting your Intellectual Property in Scotland on Burns Day
Scotland has always punched above its weight when it comes to innovation and the creation of valuable IP rights. Many Scots and their friends all over the world will today be celebrating and raising a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
MCLOST: MCDONALD’S LOSES ITS ‘BIG MAC’ TRADE MARK IN EUROPE
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) recently ruled against McDonald’s in a hard fought legal battle against Irish fast food chain ‘Supermac’s’....
View ArticleClik here to view.
A double measure of success for the Scotch whisky industry
The Scotch whisky industry is celebrating two recent successes. Exports of single malt and blended Scotch whisky hit a record high growing by 7.8% in 2018 to £4.7 billion. The industry has also won a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Trade Mark Opposition “Game of Thrones”…
HBO, which broadcasts the award-winning “Game of Thrones” series, was unsuccessful in their opposition to a Wiltshire brewer’s “Game of Stones” trade mark application. Not even an enterprise with 7...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Government proposes new rules on the use of drones
The Government has set out the changes to the law it plans to make in response to the drone related disruption at Gatwick last December. Today’s announcement takes the form of two distinct proposals:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Brexit: no deal and data protection – what do you need to do to prepare?
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, then on that day (whether 12 April or the date on which any further extension to the Article 50 notice period expires) the UK will become a third country for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
GDPR – our top five to-dos 12 months in
The General Data Protection Regulation came into force on 25 May 2018. As GDPR approaches its first birthday, what should be on your to-do list? Check your privacy notice and register of processing...
View ArticleGDPR – key developments in the last 12 months
Data protection law doesn’t stand still. Since GDPR came into force last May, we’ve seen new guidance from the Information Commissioner, enforcement action from regulators, and a number of important...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Artistic Licence in Domain Name Disputes
Scottish artist Jack Vettriano successfully recovered the domain name, www.jack-vettriano.co.uk, which had been registered by a third party in China and used to sell fakes of his works. The Lying Game...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Mediation – A choice or an order?
Mediation is usually a voluntary process. Parties agree that they will meet together at a time chosen by them with an agreed neutral mediator facilitating the discussion. That agreement to mediate...
View ArticleGlobal Financial Innovation Network – 12 month review
GFIN reviews progress to date and sets out future priorities The Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN) was established last summer by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) together with eleven...
View Article