A decision rendered by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on March 2, 2017, affirming a General Court ruling and potentially ending a nearly twenty-year legal battle, is a reminder to trademark owners that what is generic in...more
By now you have undoubtedly heard that in the Brexit Referendum held on June 23, 2016, the majority vote was in favor of United Kingdom leaving the European Union. Notwithstanding the outcome of the vote, it is presently...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
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
Owners of pattern and three-dimensional marks should take note of the substantial burden of proving acquired distinctiveness of their marks through use throughout the European Union. On April 21, 2015, Louis Vuitton’s...more
The European Court of Justice’s June 2012 decision in IP TRANSLATOR changed the way trade mark specifications are interpreted. OHIM’s application of this decision led to inconsistent interpretations of trade mark...more