Looking for a perfect Autumn treat? Visit the Fragrance Floor at Fortnum and Mason. I was there recently to visit our Client Grossmith an experience worth going out of your way for. Grossmith is a one of England’s oldest perfume houses and has been revived in recent years by Simon Brooke, great grandson of the…
DetailsOh dear oh dear, what is the matter with McDonalds? Their corporate website is full of warm and fluffy statements about how seriously they take their corporate social responsibility. They are into ‘Recycling’, ‘Reusing’ and Supporting youngsters and the community.’ Really – how come then that they are facing a string of copyright infringement suits…
DetailsThe Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) have ruled that hyperlinks can infringe copyright within the EU. In 2011, GS Media published a report regarding nude photos of Britt Decker, the copyright of which was owned by Sanoma (who run Playboy in the Netherlands), the report referred to a link to locate the…
DetailsI love my local hardware store on Upper Street. As a pretty hopeless diy-er with the occasional need I first set foot inside encouraged by the bold sign in the window which said: ‘IF WE DON’T HAVE IT YOU DON’T NEED IT’. True to the sign once inside their emporium the staff are knowledgeable and…
DetailsThe popularity of cocktails and cocktail bars shows no sign of abating with cocktails being sold more and more in many bars and pubs alongside the more standard drinks. Here’s a picture of the London Cocktail Club window on Essex Road which I took on my way home from work which I just think is…
DetailsThe Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) has issued a record monetary penalty of £400,000 against telecommunications group TalkTalk under the Data Protection Act 1998. The fine is for serious contraventions of TalkTalk’s security obligations as a data controller under the Act which occurred in 2016 and which were well publicised. The decision is an indication that…
DetailsIt was last January that the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) published its consultation on changes to registered design fees within the UK. A little over 9 months later, from the 1 October 2016, the reduced fees are born. The introduction of these reduced fees follows a number of recent developments to the registered…
DetailsWhile the questions around the implications of Brexit for registered EU trade marks and designs have been well-publicised, the issue of domain names has been discussed less but the position is equally uncertain; many EU domain ‘extensions’ require that registrants must be based in the European Economic Area or the EU or have some other…
DetailsIt can be very powerful for a company to have a sound that is synonymous with its brand. Without anything being said, a consumer can hear a few notes or a short jingle (e.g. ‘Intel’ and ‘Nokia’ have European sound trade marks) and may then instantly recall his/her associated feelings towards that brand. However, as…
DetailsApple better “Watch” out… Swatch has successfully opposed Apple’s application for the trademark iWatch in the UK. Swatch said that on account of their reputation as a quality Swiss watch maker that the name “iWatch” was too similar to their own trademarks of “iSwatch” and “Swatch” and that Apple’s use of that name would likely…
DetailsTobias McFadden a German national, wished to promote his business and website by allowing free open access to his Wi-Fi connection. In 2010, copyrighted content owned by Sony was downloaded, via McFadden’s Wi-Fi connection. Sony commenced proceedings, with the aim for McFadden to be liable for third party copyright infringement. The CJEU (Court of Justice…
DetailsThe long awaited repeal to Section 52 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 is due to take effect on 28th October 2016. From that date 3D works which have been mass produced and in respect of which registered and/or unregistered design rights has expired may benefit from full copyright protection, which is the…
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