On 26 April we celebrate the annual World Intellectual Property Day. The event was launched in 2000 by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to “raise awareness of the impact of patents, copyrights, trademarks and designs on daily life” and to “celebrate the creativity and contribution of creators and innovators to the development of societies …
Tag: trademark
International Women’s Day: #BreakTheBias copyrighted?
International Women’s Day is just around the corner. On 8th March of each year, women around the world are celebrated and paid tribute to the struggle and emancipation of women. What is Women’s Day? The holiday finds its roots in the early 20th century before the beginning of the First World War. At that time, …
National Tulip Day
National Tulip Day: legally relevant? In January, the tulip season starts and the official kick-off will take place this year on 15 January with various events, if that is allowed under the COVID-19 measures. The tulip has been an important export product for the Netherlands for centuries, although it is not originally a …
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in The Netherlands
With your company, you successfully and carefully create value with your intellectual property for years to come. The purpose of this article is to point out to you, as the owner of intellectual property rights (such as trademarks, copyrights, designs and patents) in the Netherlands, the possibilities of enforcing these rights and of combating infringement. …
The “use” requirement in trademark revocation cases in China
The “use” requirement in trademark revocation cases in China based on non-use for three consecutive years A trademark right is an intellectual property right that increases its value through actual use and the commercial benefits derived therefrom, meaning that its actual use by the trademark holder occurs out of a commercial need which therefore enhances …
“Copyright is for losers”…but it could be useful
Banksy went to Court and partially won. “Copyright is for losers” once wrote the secretive street artist ironically, however, a few weeks ago Pest Control (the company responsible for managing Banksy’s artworks) sued an Italian company for trademark infringement. The Italian company 24 Ore Cultura organized an exhibition – The Art of Banksy. A visual …
Michael Jordan wins legal rights to his Chinese name 乔丹
Qiaodan Sports, a Chinese sportswear company, recently lost three of its registered trademark in a lawsuit against American famous basketball star Michael Jordan. The three revoked trademarks are demonstrated as “乔丹”, literally using Jordan’s Chinese name in Chinese characters, covering a wide range of products such as sports clothing, beverages and even Christmas tree decorations. …
IP-intensive industries and the economy of the European Union
Intellectual Property intensive industries in the European Union are well alive and have a growing importance for the economy. This is the general conclusion of a report written by the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office), along with the EPO (European Patent Office), and published in October 2016. This report, based on research and surveys …
Interlocking G’s trademark – Gucci vs. Guess
Gucci vs Guess In its judgement issued on 11th October 2016, the General Court dismissed two appeals brought by the Italian luxury brand Gucci. This case is interesting because it gives us an example of the scope of protection that a registration of letter signs provides.
Open, Alibaba… But not to Counterfeiting
There has already been controversy surrounding the operations of Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holdings. Taobao, a platform under the Alibaba portfolio, has been accused of allowing vast amounts of counterfeit goods to be knowingly sold by users of the website. These allegations did not rise to a threatening level until the Chinese Government itself …