Ip world
Copyright and contractual liability: choosing the right side
Paris Court of Justice – January 1, 2025
CROC’S shoe design canceled before the European Office
A new case involving the company CROCS, Inc. and its iconic shoe design demonstrates how important it is to file designs well in advance of their disclosure to the public.
A crocodile is very deceptive
Opposition decision – EUIPO – January 14, 2025
Chimeras and morality
A recent decision by the European Patent Office shows the importance of this criterion and illustrates what needs to be considered.
Start collecting evidence of use for Canada
In January 2025, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office launched a pilot project that could have an impact on your trademarks.
The number of proceedings pending before the Unified Patent Court has reached the 700 mark
As of January 1, 2025, 635 cases had been registered, an increase of 10% in recent weeks.
Unitary patent: implementation of EU sanctions against Russia
The latest information on the EPO's precautionary measures against Russia
Is BRAD PITT your new representative at the EUIPO?
Warning: Fraud also affects official trademark authorities! Click here to learn more...
The European patent makes a foray into Central America
After Tunisia, Morocco, Cambodia and Laos, the European patent continues its extension beyond geographical Europe.
Katie Perry or Katy Perry?
Since 2009, pop singer Katy Perry and fashion designer Katie Janes Taylor (née Perry) have been at loggerheads in Australia over the artist’s name taken by the former, Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson.
Fraudulent registration of the name of the sculptor Pompon
Mr. T.H, manager of the French city of Dijon's museum stores, registered the name POMPON as a trademark. A company applied to the INPI for a declaration of invalidity on the ground of bad faith.
Saudi Arabia joins the international design system
Saudi Arabia joined the Hague System, bringing the number of countries covered by this WIPO-managed international design protection scheme to 99.
European universities step up their patenting activities
Accounting for more than 10% of patent applications submitted to the European Patent Office (EPO) across Europe, European universities play a major role in innovation.
Study of the French Patent and Trademark Office on French ETO and SME patent applicants
Discover the conclusions of the INPI report on the dynamics of French mid-cap companies and SMEs filing patents between 2019 and 2023.
Google condemned again
On September 10, 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) confirmed a record fine of 2.4 billion euros imposed on Google for abuse of a dominant position.
New Deep Tech Finder
The European Patent Office (EPO) has launched a new tool to promote Deep Tech innovation.
Recent decisions on parasitism
In our profession, actions for unfair competition or parasitism are what's left when you cannot justify intellectual property rights and therefore cannot act for infringement.
Record sentence of Linkedin for breach of the GDPR
The European Union fined LinkedIn 310 million euros for non-compliance with the GDPR.
The end of donations disguised as assignments
The courts are becoming increasingly careful when it comes to assigning intellectual property rights - patents, trademarks, designs and even copyrights.
The misuse of the “patented formula” label
The Paris Court of Appeal ruled on accusations of unfair competition between the French company Sovedis and the British company Hydrachem, both active in the distribution of water disinfection tablets
As of September 1st, Romania becomes the 18th state participating in the unitary patent
Romania filed its instrument of ratification of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Agreement on May 31, 2024.
No X trademark for Elon Musk in the European Union
Elon Musk's company X.Corp attempted to register the mark "X" as a trademark in the European Union, intended to replace the TWITTER brand in classes 9, 41 and 45.
On September 1, Romania becomes the 18th country to take part in the unitary patent scheme
Just in time for the 1st anniversary of the implementation of the unitary patent, Romania initiated ratification of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) agreement on More information here:
Subtle changes in Japanese patent practice
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) has published its 2024 Activity Report, a compilation of statistical information and policy findings from the year 2023...
Lindt vs. Comité des Champs Elysées – Cour de cassation – May 16, 2024
Every year, the Champs Elysées committee illuminates the famous avenue using electronic devices.
First anniversary of the unitary patent
On June 1, the unitary patent celebrated its first anniversary. It is time to take stock.
Qatar joins the international trademark system
From August 3, 2024, it will be possible to designate Qatar in an international trademark or to base an international trademark on a Qatari national trademark.
Patent filings : 2023 figures from the European Patent Office
The economists at the European Patent Office (EPO) have published the Patent Index 2023. Here are a few data points we have selected as interesting trends.
New e-Soleau portal
This April, the French IP Office (INPI) will be launching a new e-Soleau portal.
Original stools
STAMP company sued the French retail store chain La Foir'fouille, accusing it of infringing its copyright in the famous Tam Tam stool, in the absence of design rights, which had lapsed.
Protection refused for virtual portraits
For once, this decision does not relate to the possible copyright of an AI on creations, but the refusal to protect them as trademarks at the EU level.
PUMA’S reputation reaches its limit
PUMA attempted to oppose the European Union's figurative mark BERTRAND PUMA, which covered goods in classes 7, 9 and 11 relating to the bakery industry.
An orangutan does not denigrate
An interesting decision was rendered by the Paris Court of Appeal last December in a dispute between Ferrero and Rigoni di Asiago.
When a quantum claim leaves you skeptical
Where a cream is presented as "a new path to cosmetic rejuvenation for the skin born from quantum science"...
What’s new in domain names
New domain name extensions will soon be available. They are open to everyone, with no particular restrictions.
Transferring intellectual property rights to a company: a few rules to be aware of
The purpose of this communication is to draw your attention to the tax aspects to be observed in the event of a contribution in kind of an intangible intellectual property asset to your company.
The end of 10 days: Changes to the calculation of European Patent Office limitation periods
Read more here
Is Artificial Intelligence patentable?
Wouldn't computer programs be patentable? What about "Artificial Intelligence"? Read our article:
OPT-IN or OPT-OUT?
Some information and reminders on the Unified Patent Court (UPC) and on the opt-out to discover in this article.
PERFECTO : a clothing brand, not a garment !
PERFECTO is a registered clothing brand, and that it is not possible to use this term as a common name.
The Digital Service Act (DSA) comes into force
A new European Union regulation came into force on August 25, setting out rules for digital platforms to ensure that legal principles applicable offline are respected online.
Unitary patent: what are the launch results?
The unitary patent came into force on June 1, 2023, as did the Unified Patent Court (UPC).
Artificial intelligence x Photography
At a time when AI is shaking up the world and all artistic fields, our client PHOTO MAGAZINE published a special issue last March-April on the theme "Should we be afraid of AI?"
Copyright protection for a work of street art
Court of Appeal - July 5, 2023
Geographical points of vigilance
A few reminders about geography and trademark law. Some are well known, others a little less so.
Pay attention to GDPR compliance
It has now been almost 5 years since you heard about the GDPR and the need to comply with this regulation concerning the collection of personal data.
Why should you file a patent or register a trademark?
According to the INPI, France is the European champion in terms of trademark application, with 100,000 applications filed per year at the INPI.
A red card for CR7
Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo holds several trademark rights, particularly at European Union level, including a CR7 trademark for drinks, filed in February 2022.
Is the unitary patent for you?
A few days before the start of the sunrise period and the start of preparations for the Unified Patent Court (UPC), it seemed important to us to review the counterpart of the UPC.
Will the French Patent Office align itself with the EPO on the patentability of software?
Unlike the European Patent Office (EPO), the French Patent Office (INPI) has always taken a relatively strict approach to the patentability of computer-implemented inventions, also […]
The most notorious (chocolate) rabbit
Do you know this rabbit? Sold by Lindt for a long time and successfully, it is protected in particular as a three-dimensional mark. As […]
Change of practice in the US
The United States Office (USPTO) has just introduced a new rule which, as of December 3, 2022, limits the time limit for responding to an objection from the Office.
Rififi among Marseille firefighters
The Departmental Fire and Rescue Service of Bouches du Rhône was recently the victim of cybersquatting for its domain name pompiers13.fr. (firefighters)
Intellectual property at the origin of 82 million jobs in the European Union
Intellectual property is responsible for nearly 30% of jobs in the EU over the period 2017 to 2019.
NFT and metaverse: how to classify?
The emergence of new technologies and new products can sometimes be a real headache when it comes to filing a trademark to protect them.
How to prepare for the Unified Patent Court
Initially announced for April 1, 2023 the Unified Patent Court (UPC) should finally start on June 1, 2023.
Copyright and artificial intelligence
An American artist has just registered his copyright for a graphic novel generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Kris Kashtanova indeed created this graphic novel from […]
Mr. Daniel Druet fails to have the paternity of his works recognized
We told you about the action brought by the sculptor Daniel Druet against the Galerie Perrotin, its publishing house and the Monnaie de Paris for […]
What the Global Innovation Index reveals in its 2022 edition
The global index published by WIPO, the World Intellectual Property Organization, ranks the innovation capacity of around 130 countries each year.
Montenegro becomes a member of the EPO
Montenegro's membership took effect on 1 October 2022.
The DIOR SADDLE bag is not a valid figurative mark
In March 2021, CHRISTIAN DIOR COUTURE filed as a three-dimensional trademark the following design representing the shape of its “Saddle” bag.
For the EPO, the inventor must be human
The reputation of the Beatles is not that of the trademark
Following the filing of a French trademark The Beatles, an opposition had been filed by Apple Corps, owner of the Beatles trademark whose notoriety was […]
4 millions European patents published
The number of patent applications published by the European Patent Office (EPO) has just passed the 4 million mark.
First decision from the French Patent Office on a patent opposition
On May 23, 2022, the Director General of the French Patent Office issued the first decision on an opposition to a patent. This procedure was […]
Turmoil in the contemporary art world
A lawsuit is currently pending in the French courts between the French sculptor Daniel Druet and the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan regarding the paternity of […]
A new law in the United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates has issued a new Federal Trademark Law that came into effect in January 2022.
NFT, an intangible asset that is not so secure
If the NFT, or non-fungible token, is known for its security and traceability, recent news has shown that its security is quite relative.
The international trademark system extended to new countries
On April 4, 2022, the Government of Chile filed its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol.
Louis Vuitton condemned for counterfeiting
For once, the trunk-maker was condemned by the Paris Court of Appeal last March for having used a clasp created by a designer without authorization.
The European Patent Office is ready to grant a European patent
The European Patent Office is ready to grant a European patent, will it be possible to benefit from the unitary effect?
Trainee’s invention, attribution clarified
Article L.611-7-1 of the Intellectual Property Code (IPC) introduced by the December 15, 2021 ordinance finally clarifies the attribution of the invention developed by a trainee.