Organisation: EUIPO

Third-party lions free to roam: General Court reverses decision on monopoly over trademarks depicting same animal species

The General Court has maintained that in complex trademarks, the main figurative element cannot per se provide monopoly over an entire animal species, regardless of its application to the packaging.

01 August 2024

Empowering innovation: the collaborative efforts of the EUIPO and EUIPN

EUIPO representatives examine the role that the office plays in shaping a cohesive and robust IP environment across Europe, and the lasting impact that this has on the collective and global IP system.

31 July 2024

GIs for craft and industrial products at the EUIPO: pioneering protection for artisanal excellence

EUIPO representatives explain how the office is preparing for an expanded, centralised GI remit to future-proof Europe’s cultural heritage.

30 July 2024

Celebrating 30 years of innovation and protection: the EUIPO’s journey

As the EUIPO celebrates its 30th anniversary, representatives of the office reflect on the journey that it has been on – from the early days of the OHIM to today’s use of AI and future challenges under a new strategic cycle.

29 July 2024

Claiming X: lessons from the controversial rebrand that cost Twitter $3.2 billion in brand value

With Elon Musk’s X Corp facing litigation in the United States, a registration refusal at the EUIPO and a loss of $3.2 billion in Twitter/X brand value, experts reflect on the company’s current brand strategy – and the challenges of promoting and protecting a single letter mark like X.

24 July 2024

RUBETTES EU mark registered in bad faith by fellow musician

The EUIPO Cancellation Division has upheld a declaration of invalidity filed by Alan Williams, former vocalist for the pop group The Rubettes, against an EU word mark application for RUBETTES on the grounds of bad faith.

23 July 2024

bet365 secures figurative mark in limited classes – excluding betting

The Fifth Board of Appeal held the figurative BET365 mark did not lack distinctiveness for specific goods and services in Classes 16, 35 and 42, after the mark was refused for, among other things, betting and gambling services in Class 41.

18 July 2024

Legal Updates you may have missed: when the EUIPO Board of Appeal gets it wrong

In the final instalment of our series highlighting recent Legal Updates that you may have missed, we take a closer look at the times the EUIPO Board of Appeal has erred in its judgment.

17 July 2024

Legal Updates you may have missed: fashion and luxury courtroom defeats

The third instalment in our series highlighting Legal Updates you may have missed asks what we can learn from recent trademark defeats for Kurt Geiger, Hermès, Timberland and Vans.

16 July 2024

General Court: evidence of distinctiveness not relevant in assessing absolute ground of refusal of 3D shape under Article 7(1)(e)

A recent judgment of the General Court provides guidance on how to interpret Article 7(1)(e) of the EU Trademark Regulation and the relevance of evidence claimed to demonstrate that the relevant public perceives a 3D shape as a trademark.

16 July 2024