Region: Europe

Morality v freedom of expression: the COVIDIOT decision

This decision of the EUIPO’s Grand Board may be seen as a ‘high-water mark’ in applying the Article 7 absolute grounds for refusal.

25 June 2024

EUIPO considers genuine use of 3D bottle shape mark

When assessing the evidence of genuine use, individual pieces of evidence should not be analysed in isolation, but together, in order to identify their most likely and coherent significance.

24 June 2024

BUREK KING found to be confusingly similar to BURGER KING

The decision reiterates that the conceptual difference between two marks will generally not outweigh the visual and aural similarities between them.

24 June 2024

How to scale anti-counterfeiting to thousands of cases annually

Featured in Anti-counterfeiting and Online Brand Enforcement: Global Guide 2024

IP crime amounts to 2.5% of world trade, and the rise of online marketplaces has only made it easier for unauthorised sellers to profit from counterfeit goods. A mass targeted enforcement trial in Türkiye has proven effective at resolving cases quickly, but it remains to be seen whether this strategy could be implemented in other jurisdictions.

24 June 2024

Greece: Collaboration and enforcement actions needed to handle surge in digital and offline fakes

Featured in Anti-counterfeiting and Online Brand Enforcement: Global Guide 2024

Greece remains a popular hub for counterfeit goods entering mainland Europe, posing risks to public health and brand reputation. Additional pressure from the rise of digital marketplaces warrants more attention from enforcement authorities and better collaboration with rights holders to curb the uptick in infringing products, on and offline.

24 June 2024

Germany: EU directives, international treaties and domestic initiatives boost IP protection

Featured in Anti-counterfeiting and Online Brand Enforcement: Global Guide 2024

German anti-counterfeiting authorities have found their work in national legislation harmonising with EU initiatives and contracted international treaties (eg, the Paris Convention). This sturdy foundation supports the country’s border measures, criminal prosecution, civil enforcement and infringement prevention.

24 June 2024

Romania: Customs continues to tackle flow of counterfeits across non-EU borders

Featured in Anti-counterfeiting and Online Brand Enforcement: Global Guide 2024

Romania’s borders with non-EU countries mean that the pressure and urgency of Customs’ anti-infringement efforts is heightened. A system combining domestic and EU laws is proving effective at stemming the tide of fake goods entering by land and sea.

24 June 2024

Italy: Stronger enforcement continues to dovetail with augmented border control and harsher punishments

Featured in Anti-counterfeiting and Online Brand Enforcement: Global Guide 2024

Over 20 specialised IP courts utilise Italy’s laws – particularly the Code of Industrial Property – to halt infringement and prosecutive infringers. Concurrently, national customs and border control efforts continue the good fight against the flow of offline fakes.

24 June 2024

General Court provides primer on scope of review and genuine use

An accumulation of items of evidence may allow the necessary facts to be established, even though each of those items, taken individually, would be insufficient to prove genuine use.

21 June 2024

Meet the IP Hall of Fame inductees of 2024 – Klaus Grabinski

As the most senior judge at Europe’s new Unified Patent Court, Klaus Grabinski has the eyes of the world’s patent profession on him.

20 June 2024