Following the Prime Minister’s triggering of Article 50 today, 29 March 2017, we have 2 years until the legislative reality of Brexit and its implications will truly impact IP owners. However, there are steps that brand...more
- Post-Daimler: Are Non-U.S. Companies Safe from Suit in U.S. Courts? What if the Non-U.S. Parent Registers to Do Business in a State? - Rules of the (International) Road: Choosing and Appointing a Distributor ...more
Trademark rights exist on a country-by-country basis, and the laws in the United States differ in a number of significant ways from other markets. As a result, it is critical that before any non-U.S. company seeks trademark...more
On 23 June 2016 the United Kingdom electorate took the historic decision in a national referendum that the country should leave the European Union. How will that impact EU trade marks (known until recently as Community trade...more
On June 23, in the popularly-termed “Brexit” referendum, the United Kingdom voted to exit the European Union, a decision which will have wide-ranging effects, including potential effects on intellectual property rights in the...more
As you may have heard, the United Kingdom voted this week to leave the European Union. This has left many wondering what impact Brexit will have on their intellectual property rights in the UK and the European Union. In the...more
Surprising many commentators and pundits, the UK voted to exit the European Union. That exit raises questions as to whether IP filings made through the European offices will continue to provide protection in the UK during and...more
In a few hours, citizens of the United Kingdom will have to answer Yes or No to the question: “Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?” A lot has been said on the...more
Pre-AIA and Post-AIA Issues Presented by the On-Sale Bar - The “on-sale” bar to patentability refers to a sale or offer for sale of an invention that can invalidate the patent for that invention. The...more
On March 23, 2016, new rules came into effect substantially amending the Community trademark system in the European Union (the “amended Regulations”). Below we discuss a number of points potentially relevant to U.S. brand...more
As of March 23, 2016, the “Community Trade Mark” (CTM) is going by a new name: the “European Union Trade Mark” (EUTM), reflecting the evolution of the European Community into the European Union. By force of Regulation No....more
No matter where you look in the world, it’s a certainty that a dispute is ongoing over someone’s intellectual property (IP). The theft of ideas is nothing new, but just as important to those investing abroad is knowledge of...more
USA FDI News highlights the FAQs arising from your projects - from how to finance a deal to selecting the right visa or tax strategy and more. We want to keep USA FDI News interactive and relevant to your international...more
The European Union’s (EU) trademark regulations are undergoing a significant overhaul as of March 23, 2016. For starters, the terminology is changing: the title “Community Trade Mark” or “CTM,” will be replaced by “European...more
On March 23, 2016, Regulation (EU) 2015/2424 of the European Parliament and of the Council will take effect, introducing changes to the process for applying for and maintaining Community Trade Mark (CTM) registrations in the...more
The European Union recently adopted new legislation introducing miscellaneous reforms to EU trade mark law. The reforms are numerous and include the adoption of a new designation for the Community trade mark itself and...more
Significant changes are coming to the Community Trade Mark or “CTM” starting in 2016. Since 1996, the CTM has provided a unitary trademark registration system to protect trademarks within the European Union, which now has 28...more
The European Union has recently amended its trademark law which may impact the protection given by European Union Trademarks (formerly known as Community Trademarks). These reforms will also cover EU designations of...more
Among several other changes in the European Union Trademark (EUTM) system (formerly referred to as the Community Trademark (CTM)), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (formerly known as OHIM) will provide a period...more
“Be creative!” is an important piece of advice which you often hear from European trademark lawyers. Today, more than ever, this recommendation should be taken seriously. The reason is very simple: the Community trademark...more
The story begins in the UK in 1935, when a worker at Rowntree’s York factory put an idea in the suggestion box for a snack that “a man could take to work in his pack.” This idea ?led to the famous four-finger Kit Kat...more
After more than eight years of discussions, the long-awaited EU trademark reform is almost here. The new European Trade Mark Directive (further harmonizing the trademark laws of the 28 member states of the European Union) and...more
The UK's Intellectual Property Enterprise Court recently handed down its judgment in The Sofa Workshop Ltd v Sofaworks Ltd. The case highlights the difficulties that the international nature of Community trade marks (“CTMs”)...more
Under a new Community Trade Mark (CTM) rule, trademarks filed in black and white, or greyscale, may no longer be protected if the mark is used predominantly in color. The CTM system creates a unified trademark registration...more
Foley Hoag was recently delighted to announce the arrival of two IP attorneys to our Paris office, Catherine Muyl and Alice Berendes. We asked them to tell us a few things we may not know about trademarks in France. Here...more