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Friday, 22. March 2019

Tic Tac triumphs: CJEU rules on plastic container

Whether they’re orange or white, bought in the check-out line in your local supermarket or in bulk on a shopping spree abroad, we all know Tic Tac and – most importantly – the practical container they come in, which fits perfectly in your pocket. But few people probably consider the details of the package design and its value for the Tic Tac brand, not to mention the battles being fought behind the scenes to ensure the protection of something as simple – yet important – as a little plastic container. This container has been the subject of a lengthy dispute between the Tic Tac manufacture, Ferrero, and a Polish competitor, BMB, who makes a similar mint candy called “Mik Maki”, sold in a similar container – a dispute, which now finds it ending with a ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU
Thursday, 31. January 2019

McDonald’s loses “Big Mac” trademark

Up until now, the only place to go when craving a Big Mac, has been the nearest McDonald’s. But this may change with a recent ruling from the EU trademark office (EUIPO), stating that McDonald’s...
Friday, 22. December 2017

Apple wins trial concerning EU trademark rights...

The technology giant Apple has recently won a ruling at the European Court of Justice concerning their trademark rights. The dispute began when the Chinese competitor Xiaomi – a company...
Friday, 18. August 2017

New EUTM regulation applies from 1 October 2017

In March 2016, The European Parliament’s and the Council’s changes of the earlier European trademark tegulation came into force, which - among other things - resulted in the change of name for...
Tuesday, 23. May 2017

IP Strategy - The power of knowledge

Monitoring the IP activities of your competitors can provide you with powerful insights
Friday, 27. January 2017

Nestlé loses case in the EU Court of Justice...

The food manufacturer Nestlé has recently tried to obtain international trademark rights to the characteristic shape of their well-known product, the Kit Kat bar. The product represents a bar,...
Wednesday, 2. November 2016

Nintendo applies for sound mark

Trademarks are more than just names and logos – they can also be slogans, colors, or, as the headline implies, sounds. In the EU, it is a requirement that a trademark can be...
Friday, 21. October 2016

What does Brexit mean for your IP rights?

Brexit has been a fact ever since the Brits voted to leave the EU in June 2016. For the moment, Britain is still a member of the union, and from a legal viewpoint, the situation is thus...
Friday, 23. September 2016

Graceland Randers convicted of infringing Elvis

Elvis has, as we all know, left the building – but the rights to his name, image and the estate Graceland in Memphis are alive and well. This was proven by a new verdict from the Danish Maritime...
Friday, 8. July 2016

Widened protection of trade secrets

For a lot of companies, trade secrets and knowhow is the key to success. It’s the knowledge and expertise that gives them a head start on the market and separates them from the competitors. It’s...
Friday, 3. June 2016

Apple loses dispute over ”iPhone” in China

The Beijing Municipal High People’s Court has recently ruled in favor of a Chinese company in a trademark dispute over the name “iPhone”. Apple filed for a trademark registration of...
Wednesday, 4. May 2016

UK closing loophole on furniture replicas

In Denmark, as in most of the EU countries, furniture and other industrial designs are protected in 70 years after the death of the creator. In the UK, however, there is a particular rule in the...
Thursday, 21. April 2016

International design registrations

Since 2008, it has been possible for Danish citizens and entities to file an international design application through the Haag system. The Haag system consist of 3 international agreements,...
Friday, 1. April 2016

CJEU widens protection for Adidas’ stripes

The German sports gear company, Adidas, has been subject to a new decision from the Court of Justice in the European Union (CJEU). The case demonstrates that well-known trademarks are offered a...
Tuesday, 22. March 2016

TRADEMARK REFORM: NEW RULES FOR EU MARKS

In December 2015, EU enacted a trademark reform, which brings a string of changes to EU trademarks. The reform comes into effect on 23 March 2016 and contains changes on e.g. application fees,...
Wednesday, 20. January 2016

Should your EU trademark be amended?

Trademarks are registered in classes, and a trademark is only protected in the classes for which it has been registered. Goods and services are categorized according to the Nice classification,...
Wednesday, 13. January 2016

DO SUPERMARKETS IN DENMARK VIOLATE COPYRIGHTS?

Lately there has been quite a few stories about Danish supermarkets selling products that look like other popular designs. The designer Susan Liebe was recently in the media’s spotlight, as she...
Monday, 14. December 2015

DANISH COMPANY LOSES TRADEMARK DISPUTE TO INTEL

Trademarks can be a complicated affair, as it is possible - in Denmark - to obtain a trademark right through both registration and commencement of use. As a rule, the scope of protection is...
Tuesday, 3. November 2015

CHINA LOWERS FEES FOR TRADEMARK REGISTRATIONS

On September 1st 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission entered into agreement about the reduction of fees for applying for a Chinese trademark....
Friday, 9. October 2015

MICHAEL JORDAN OUTPLAYED BY TRADEMARK RULES

As we have mentioned before, the Chinese trademark world is a complicated affair, and it requires great skills to navigate the sea of Chinese trademark copyists. Their elbows are sharp as knives...
Monday, 24. August 2015

TWO ARRESTS IN CASE INVOLVING POPCORN TIME

Ever since the release of Popcorn Time a few years ago, the amount of users has exploded. All over the world, people are streaming newly released movies and the newest episodes of popular TV shows...
Friday, 26. June 2015

CJEU: The LEGO figure is a Trademark

In a recent verdict, the European Court of Justice (CJEU) determines that LEGO’s well known mini-figures are trademark protected, and that the design of the figures are not merely for technical...
Wednesday, 8. October 2014

Supreme Court clarifies rules for patent trials

When patent and trademark offices, like the European Patent Office (EPO), make decisions on whether or not to grant a patent or a trademark, they are acting as the public administration. ...
Wednesday, 1. October 2014

Montana loses dispute over shelving unit

Since 2004, the Danish furniture companies Montana Møbler and ABC-Reoler have been at war. The dispute revolves around shelving units, and whether or not ABC-Reoler has infringed Montana Møbler’s...
Friday, 8. August 2014

NEW REPORT ON EU CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT OF IPR

“Innovation and creativity are the engines of our economy. It is important to provide right-owners with the certainty that the fruits of their inventions will be protected. The competitiveness...
Tuesday, 5. August 2014

Apple could get a trademark on their store layout

A trademark is usually something we associate with a logo or a slogan, but trademarks are much more than that. A new ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union (the CJEU) shows that...
Monday, 28. July 2014

Pandora wins dispute over the word “joy”

Over the years, the Danish jewelry company Pandora has grown to an impressive size. Pandora gained most of their popularity when they started selling charms - small pendants for bracelets,...
Thursday, 26. June 2014

Tivoli Gardens are not just fun and play

The Danish Tivoli Gardens is more than just rollercoasters and merry-go-rounds. The amusement park is known for being very protective of their trademark, and during the last couple of years Tivoli...
Tuesday, 24. June 2014

NEW DANISH RULING ON REPLICA FURNITURE

Danish consumers are very fond of designer furniture, and interior products are purchased like never before. Design classics like “The Swan” and “The Egg” by Danish designer Arne Jacobsen are...
Thursday, 15. May 2014

Google can be forced to delete information

The internet never forgets. Especially not Google. It is common knowledge for anyone who has ever tried to "Google" themselves and found information or pictures, that they wish didn’t exist online...
Thursday, 1. May 2014

Customs declaration is a TM infringement

A trademark right consists of many things – e.g. the sole right to sell, import and export goods under your brand – so called “commercial use” of the trademark. But what if the commercial use...
Friday, 25. April 2014

Google attempts to trademark the word “Glass”

Some time ago, Google announced that they were producing a wearable computer with an optical head-mounted display – the Google Glass. A set of high-tech glasses, that would make most tech fans...
Tuesday, 22. April 2014

Foreigner's copyrigths in the USA

Most right holders, whether their rights regard trademarks, patents or design, know that the registration process of obtaining proprietary rights can cause quite the headache. Proper filing must...
Friday, 28. March 2014

Brand hijacking: Register your trademark in China!

Counterfeiting is a thriving global industry, currently estimated to a value of USD 1 trillion. Cost of productions is low, demand is growing, and the legal consequences are almost non-existent in...
Thursday, 27. March 2014

US ruling may cost Pfizer as much as $3 billion

Two weeks ago, a district court in Virginia found a pharmaceutical patent invalid, potentially opening the door for cheaper generic versions 18 months sooner than expected. The patent is...
Wednesday, 26. March 2014

First-to-file principle fauls Pinterest

Since 2010 the social media site Pinterest has been growing in popularity. Users all over the world log on to the website to share “pins” – images and short texts for everyone to see. The subjects...
Friday, 7. March 2014

Michael Jordan too famous to congratulate

As a famous person you have a certain value to both your name and your face. Therefore, as a main rule, business owners and other commercial parties are not allowed to use neither name nor face of...
Friday, 28. February 2014

Court agrees with Rolex: Watch will be destroyed

“As long as it’s for your private use, you’ll be fine”. This used to be the phrase residents of the EU sought comfort in, when buying counterfeit goods from countries outside the EU, often...
Friday, 21. February 2014

CJEU ruling: Links not part of Exclusive Rights

Over the years, the nature of linking have been widely discussed. Courts around the world, even within the EU, have handed Down conflicting verdicts, making the legal regulation of linking quite...
Friday, 31. January 2014

Bilka convicted of selling counterfeit Polo shirts

On January 10 2014 the Danish Maritime and Commercial Court gave its verdict in a case between The Polo/Lauren Company L.P. (hereafter Ralph Lauren) and Dansk Supermarked A/S (hereafter Dansk...
 

Copyright ©

Copyright protects books, music, movies, photographs, source code for software and other forms of "works".

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PATENTS

A patent is an exclusive right to use an invention commercially as the patent protects the technical principles which are the basis of the invention.

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TRADEMARKS ®

A trademark is a sign which can distinguish your goods and services from those of your competitors. It can be both words or logos - or a combination of the two.

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DESIGNS

The design protection applies to the visual embodiment of a product or parts thereof. With a design registration it is possible to obtain exclusive rights to the aesthetic design of a product for up to 25 years.

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