EU

After registered protection is obtained, how can an IP right holder further develop and strengthen a brand? One way is by developing a family of marks.

The EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD) have published their annual report on seizures of counterfeit goods in the European Union. Here, we summarise some of its key findings.

While slogans are a widely used advertising and branding tool, they are not easy to protect as trademarks in the EU due to their often-laudatory nature, as Perrine Waendendries explains. 

With sponsorship of major events, such as this summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, costly and highly competitive, many companies seek other ways to grab the public’s attention. But ‘ambush marketing’ can pose risks as well as opportunities, as Maxime Schoots discovers. 

As sports lovers worldwide eagerly await the launch of the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in Paris this July and August, a complex game of IP protection is unfolding behind the scenes, as Frouke Hekker discovers.  

As the excitement builds for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, companies across the globe are eager to share their enthusiasm and support for the world's largest sporting event. But, is it possible to do that legally if you are not an official sponsor of the Games?

Influencer marketing has become big business in our social media-driven world, but how should brand owners best navigate this digital phenomenon? Ariane De Croo explores the thin line between private and professional content creation to offer some advice. 

In November 2023, the EU General Court considered the likelihood of confusion between the trademark application for 'Nivea Skin-Identical Q10' and the existing 'SkinIdent' registration, as Florence Chapin explains.

Negotiators from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU have reached a political agreement on the reform of EU Geographical Indications for agricultural products, wines and spirits. Florence Chapin outlines its implications.  

Who is liable for the sale of counterfeit goods on e-commerce platforms, such as online marketplaces? In our 14 November webinar, our experts took a deep dive into EU case law on liability for the sale of counterfeit goods online and share monitoring and enforcement best practices for online marketplace brand protection.

Despite the amount of thought and creativity behind the ‘look’ of a product, there is often a lack of clarity on how to effectively protect a product’s appearance or packaging. Julia Schefman set out the options for protecting a design, including the benefits of a cumulative approach.

Conflicting older trademark registrations may not necessarily block the registration of your chosen brand name. Noé Himmelreich explains how an in-use verification search can help you to assess legal and commercial risk.