Trade Marks

Designs in AI 2021 – Sarah Neil shares an update on the progress in the UK’s review of artificial intelligence and intellectual property   As we have mentioned in previous articles how having a range of IP, including Designs, is an important part of a strong portfolio in the protection of your AI business. The… Read more »

Trade marks in AI 2021 – Sarah Neil shares an update on the progress in the UK’s review of artificial intelligence and intellectual property   As we have mentioned in previous articles trade marks in AI are an important part of a strong portfolio in the protection of your AI business. The ever accelerating landscape… Read more »

Appeals to the Appointed Person in the UK – the unappealing truth (part 3) This is an expanded version of an article that was written by the author and  first published in IPKat in March 2021. This forms part of a series of articles A further 19 decisions have issued since the second article in this series and… Read more »

Trademark assignments and the transfer of the goodwill seem, well, oh-so dull, until they are not. Ian Gill reports on a recent cautionary tale from the UK. This is an expanded version of an article that was written by the author and  first published in IPKat in February 2021 Scott Hallsworth (‘SH’) is a renowned Australian chef… Read more »

Things got heated in a recent trade mark case where the UK Intellectual Property Office refused to grant protection to Tefal for it’s so-called ‘Famous Red Spot’. The decision for this case can be read here. Background on the Tefal mark  In 2018, Tefal filed an application to register its ‘red dot’ as a trade… Read more »

UK IPO unveils new scheme for protecting Geographical Indications in the UK Until now, Geographical Indications (GIs) have been protected in the UK via protection afforded under EU law, but this scheme ceased to cover the UK at the end of the Brexit transition period. It has now been confirmed that GIs will be protected… Read more »

AA Thornton support Admiral Group in successful sale of the Penguin Portals and Preminen businesses We at AA Thornton are very proud to have supported the superb team at Admiral Group with their IP and trade mark needs over many years and, in particular, to have recently assisted them on the IP side of the… Read more »

Impact of the end of the Brexit Transition Period on Tribunal Proceedings The Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020 and the UK IPO has issued a new practice note covering some new aspects of UK IPO trade mark and registered design practice in relation to tribunal proceedings such as cancellation actions or oppositions…. Read more »

Retail team member Sarah Neil follows up on her last article to assess how the Appointed Person considered the issue of the ‘senior user’ on appeal.   Introduction We previously reported the first instance decision in an opposition between ABP Technology Limited (“ABP”) and Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc (“VTB”) relating to the marks STEALTH and… Read more »

Trade mark rights IN THE RED! Automotive team member, Rachel Havard considers the CJEU’s recent judgement on genuine use of Ferrari’s TESTAROSSA trade mark.   The concept of “use it or lose it” We all probably need a bit of nostalgia in our lives, more than we ever did, and brand names/trade marks play a… Read more »