Blog & News

Trade mark oppositions – Zara v. House of Zana

Zara is in the news after filing a notice of opposition against a UK trade mark application for ‘House of Zana’. But what is a notice of opposition and why…

The Most Popular Fakes In The World

  Counterfeit products are everywhere. From the tacky, replica football jerseys you find on holiday to pristine copies of handbags, shoes and watches that are near-impossible to tell apart from…

Can you protect your greeting cards?

Greeting cards have long been a tradition in the UK. They serve as tangible memories that can remain with you long after the event that they celebrate or the experience…

How do I protect confidential information?

The Easter Bunny pulled off his annual stunt again on Sunday. Not bad given the global supply chain issues. However, what may seem like a logistical miracle of designing, making,…

Ed Sheeran wins in the High Court

Ed Sheeran has come out on top in his long-running copyright infringement dispute with Sam Chokri. The case goes back to 2017 when Chokri’s lawyers accused Sheeran’s best-selling song “Shape…

Meghan Markle and the Archetypes Trade Mark – or what you can and cannot trade mark

I was browsing social media during my commute, happily listening to a Harry Potter audio book, when I spotted an article about Meghan Markle. Usually I skip over the gossip…

IP Clauses In Employment Contracts And Assignments

If you have a contract of employment, there’s a good chance it includes a section that deals with intellectual property (IP) rights. The IP clause will likely state that all…

Bad habits lead to ….?

As a number of readers will no doubt be aware, Ed Sheeran is currently awaiting the outcome of a High Court case regarding the copyright ownership in the song “Shape…

How is my music protected by copyright?

Disputes over the ownership of songs and recordings are all too common, but they’re usually entirely avoidable. Given the creative nature of the writing and recording process, it’s not surprising…

Trade mark essentials, Waitrose vs Asda

Recent reports have suggested that Waitrose has sent a letter of claim to Asda objecting to Asda’s soon to be launched “Just Essentials” range. Waitrose is the owner of various…

How To Protect Your Product Design

What is a ‘product’ anyway? Most of us understand the word product to mean ‘something that has been produced’ (i.e. manufactured or made). The EU law regulating the protection of…

How To Get A Trade Mark For A Game

A trade mark is a registered monopoly right in a mark, such as a word or logo. It is an incredibly important asset for any company or brand to own…

High Court affirms decision of UKIPO in ‘Wonder Woman’ trade mark appeal

Background The appellant, DC Comics (Partnership), is the owner of the trade mark WONDER WOMAN, associated with the superhero character. DC Comics opposed the registration of the trade mark WONDER…

Oh I, Oh I, Oh I …… Oh Why?

Last month Ed Sheeran once again found himself embroiled in a copyright infringement dispute over one of his songs. This time it was the 2017 hit single Shape of You.…

Iconic Moon Boot shape lacks distinctiveness…

…according to the EU General Court, despite the fact that over 20 million pairs have been sold, and they have even been displayed in museums such as the Louvre. The…

Can you copyright a band name?

Here is a question that every aspiring musician asks themselves at one point or another, as did I when sitting on my drum throne (yes, us drummers are musicians too)…

Slim pickings in NAH v KBF

Sticking with the food theme of my recent blog posts, NAH, a retailer of sauces and other food items, applied for summary judgment against KBF, a company which markets foods…

How do I protect my brand?

I grew up listening to a young red-headed musician playing piano and guitar. But, unlike Ed Sheeran, my little brother didn’t have the stress of becoming a global star and…

Changes to the intellectual property laws in Russia and what this means for you

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing economic sanctions imposed against Russia have meant that any business activity relating to these markets has been impacted in several ways. In…

How To Protect My Clothing Designs

With the rise of fast fashion, social media and online shopping, more than ever, fashion designers are facing issues trying to protect their work from copycats. It can be daunting…

The importance of securing a registered trade mark

Trade marks are a key staple in the toolkit companies have to protect the goodwill in their business – all too often we are advising clients in circumstances where there…

Should I Trade Mark My Business Name?

One of the most common questions we receive from startups, and even established SMEs, is: “Should I trade mark my business name?”. A trade mark is a vital, valuable commercial…

How To Protect A Design Idea

Firstly, let me start with an apology for the misleading title. As an intellectual property lawyer, I am constantly asked how to protect an idea. Unfortunately, my answer involves explaining…

China Tang trade mark dispute – choose your brand name carefully

A recent decision finding that a Chinese takeaway named ‘China Tang’ infringes the trade mark of a high-end Central London restaurant with the same name, is likely to have significant…