When Passing Off Gets Prickly
(1) Henry Martinez t/a PRICK (2) Henry Hate Studio & Prick Tattoo Parlour Limited -v- (1) Prick Me Baby One More Time Limited t/a PRICK (2) Gynelle Leon Warning to…
Artist sues Kendrick Lamar & SZA for Copyright Infringement
An independent artist, by the name of Lina Iris Viktor, recently claimed that Kendrick Lamar copied her gold patterned paintings in the ‘All The Stars’ video made for the film…
Grumpy Cat wins $710,000 in copyright and trade mark infringement claim
Anyone would be grumpy if their IP was infringed, cat or otherwise, and so it comes as no surprise that Grumpy Cat Limited recently sued the owners of US coffee…
Your copyright or mine? How to deal with joint ownership of copyright works
Have you ever worked on a commercial project with a friend, colleague or even a lover? When it was finished, were you clear on who owned the creative output? The…
Taxi! Distinctiveness when it comes to trade mark registrations can often catch brands out
Trade marks are funny things really, they’re best described as “signs” or “signifiers of origin” and essentially they’re the way that consumers identify you. Because of this, they need to…
Small print, big potential – the importance of a set of Terms & Conditions
People love saying things like: “don’t sweat the small stuff”, “go with the flow” and “why don’t you just chillax”. Something which is worth noting however is that these people…
The importance of trade mark registration – even if your brand is still a baby
So I’ve just had a baby. Strictly speaking, it was actually my wife who had the baby, I mainly just cheered her on and let her squeeze my hand. It’s…
Keep it secret, keep it safe – whether it be a new invention, a unique recipe or even a pitch to a potential client
My wife loves Lord of the Rings. I can take it or leave it, to be honest. The films (at the risk of sounding like a millennial, I’m not really…
Brexit: Implications for Copyright Law
Brexit Brexit Brexit, a word that was non-existent five years ago is now on everyone’s lips. So what does it mean? Well, as we all now know, Brexit means Brexit.…
The distinctiveness dilemma, what to avoid when applying for a trade mark
Puma has recently had its trade mark application for FOREVER FASTER refused in relation to footwear and sports goods. The EU General Court found that the mark was a simple…
You say TOSCANO, I say TOSCORO, let’s call the whole thing a protected geographical indication
Catchy title I hear you say, well yes, protected geographical indications are catchy, so catchy that they can be a complete block to your trade mark application, even if the…
Contracts, contract, contracts – what do they do and why do we need them?
Let’s say that you and I are friends, we’ve known each other for ages, we trust each other and recently we’ve decided to work together on a business venture. Maybe…
A Christmas present from Briffa – 5 top tips for the perfect brand name
A Christmas present from Briffa – 5 top tips for the perfect brand name. Choosing the ideal brand name is no mean feat. For it to be truly valuable to…
Acid/Briffa seminar explores alternative design protection through copyright
At a recent ACID and Briffa event following the disappointing Trunki decision (PMS International Limited v Magmatic Limited [2016] UKSC 12), speakers explored IP enforcement in continental Europe and examined…
A PUSH or a PUNCH? Apparently it’s all the same
Different words? Different meanings? Different outcomes at 3.00am outside a nightclub? Well no actually, at least from the point of view of a trade mark application. The EU General Court…
Protecting your IP – simple tips
That looks familiar? Simple advice on how to protect what’s yours The recent case of Tuesday Bassen (an illustrator and designer) against Zara (a multi-national fashion designer) reported reecently by…
