The reform of the EU trademark system has been ongoing since 2008 and is finally ready for publication. The updated rules aim for a more efficient and cost effective trademark registration process. The dual…
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On 1 August 2015, the second part of OHIM's (Office of Harmonization in the Internal Market) updated Guidelines entered into force.
Since 2013, the Knowledge Circles of OHIM which involves staff from different…
The General Court of the European Union (EGC) decided that the invisible character of a product - in this case a cookie - does not relate to the appearance and therefore cannot taken into account in the…
The General Court of the European Union (EGC) decided that that a likelihood of confusion between the word/device mark “Master” of Modern Industrial & Trading Investment Co. Ltd and the earlier trademark “Coca…
The French Trademark Office “L'Institut national de la propriété industrielle (INPI) and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) refuseregistrations of the slogan „Je suis Charlie“.”An image of…
Christmas is a time for tranquility, contemplation and the family. But, it is also a time of consumption: Many people receive a 13th salary or holiday bonus which they spend on presents, decoration and at…
The European General Court (EGC) ruled that the three dimensional shape of the Rubik‘s Cube as a Community trademark is valid (Judgment dated 25 November 2014; Case No.: T‑450/09). Background of the Case and…
The Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) celebrated its 20th anniversary on 17 November 2014 in the new auditorium of OHIM's premises, in Alicante, Spain. On this day OHIM commemorates 20 years…
As and from 1 October 2014, the Office of Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) will begin examining the classification of international registrations designated in the European Union (EU), for vague terms.…
On the basis of the convergence program the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) is trying to align the official practice of the national trademark offices in Europe. The aim of the program is…
The Industry-Level Analysis Report of the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Office of Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) was presented by the European Observatory on Counterfeiting and Piracy in…
OHIM’s Second Board of Appeal decided on 29 January 2014 that Parobook is to be registered because no liklihood of confusion to Facebook is given (Case R 254/2013-2).
Introduction
In order to assess whether…
Just a few days before Europe headed into the 2010 Christmas break the General Court released a range of decisions that had a very festive topic as if the Court had scheduled it right on time to get into the…
A trademark is obtained in most countries via a registration (not mere use). The protection of a trademark covers only the territory and the goods and services for which the trademark was registered.
On a…