Blog & News

Bitcoin & Fiduciary Duties

Whether Bitcoin developers owe fiduciary duties to Bitcoin owners remains a hot topic. The recent market turbulence caused by crypto asset holders suffering cyber-attacks continues to result in litigation on…

Andy Warhol, copyright and fair use

Andy Warhol (who passed way in 1987) was an artist who was an important contributor to the pop art movement that took flight in the 1950s. He created multiple silkscreen…

AI vs Copyright

It seems that the whole world has been talking about artificial intelligence (AI) over the past few months. All aspects are being discussed and scrutinized in the court of public…

In The Style of who?

Earlier this year, the owner of online fashion brand In The Style, Adam Frisby, successfully defended an action brought against him by Paul Clement. Back in 2021 Mr Clement accused…

Fight Against Counterfeits Steps Up

The EU Intellectual Property Office has released an analysis report on its operation ‘Fake Star’ “The sale of counterfeit clothes, shoes and accessories in the EU: a profitable market for…

It was Rebecca Vardy….

Defamation cases often capture public attention particular when they involve celebrities and even more so when those celebrities are married to prominent England international football players. Of course, we are…

Latest battle to have trade mark rights for mānuka honey unsuccessful

A group of New Zealand premium honey producers have lost another bid to trademark the word ‘MANUKA’ after the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) dealt a blow to…

What’s next in the Lidl v Tesco trade mark saga?

The trademark saga between discount supermarket chain Lidl and retail giant Tesco has captured the attention of both the legal and business communities. Lidl’s recent victory in a trademark lawsuit…

Still in the game – lessons in surviving a trade mark opposition

You may or may not have come across the very popular sitcom Still Game however, if you haven’t, I can assure that most people in Scotland have. Unfortunately Jack Daniel’s,…

Intellectual Property Guide – UK

Intellectual property (IP) refers to the legal rights that protect the creations of the human mind. These creations can be anything from inventions, literary and artistic works, to symbols, names,…

Katy Perry’s trade mark dispute with an Australian fashion designer with the same name

Recently there were fireworks after the singer Katy Perry lost her trade mark dispute with the designer called Katie Perry. In 2019 the Sydney based designer, Katie Perry (also known…

Band Agreements – Do it before it’s too late!

What do Abba, One Direction and Oasis all have in common? They were all bands … and they all broke up … in quite spectacular fashions. It is essential you…

Is this design dictated by its technical function?

A common question we get asked is ‘what is the difference between a registered design and a patent?’. Simply, one of the main differences is that a registered design right…

Updated guidance from the UKIPO on NFTs, virtual goods and virtual services

The UK IPO has published updated guidance on UK trade mark classification of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), virtual goods and virtual services, including those in the metaverse. When applying for a…

Maxed out of air

For fans of Formula 1 you will be familiar with the current world champion Red Bull driver Max Verstappen. However, what some of you may not know is that Max…

High Court gives Umbro the boot

The recent case of Iconix Luxembourg Holdings Sarl v Dream Pairs Europe Inc and Top Glory Trading Group Inc [2023] EWHC 706 (Ch) has highlighted the importance of trade mark…

Ed Sheeran and Marvin Gaye – Coincidence or Copying?

Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is set to face a copyright trial again – this time over allegations that his hit song “Thinking Out Loud” copies significant elements of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s…

The Complete Guide to Design Rights

  What Are Design Rights? Design rights can protect the shape, configuration or appearance of the whole or part of a product. In the UK, the two main design rights…

Do I need terms and conditions for my online business?

In recent years, with an especially prominent surge during and following the pandemic, the internet has become an increasingly popular platform for businesses to sell their goods and services. With…

Tony Hawk, what’s in a name?

I was never great at skateboarding, either in real life or on a PlayStation 1. But when you think of skateboarding the one name that springs to mind is Tony…

Understanding Essential Terms and Policies

Starting a new business can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. There are various different terms and policies that you may need to ensure your business is compliant…

What are the requirements for changing ownership of a trade mark?

As I recently explained, a trade mark is a registered intellectual property right which provides the mark owner with a monopoly right over the registered mark in the goods or…

What does a colour variation mean for your trade mark?

A trade mark is a sign used to distinguish the goods and services of one undertaking from those of another. In other words, a trade mark enables consumers to identify…

Toblerone moves mountains in Switzerland

Toblerone is an IP practitioner’s dream product. It has it all. The iconic name and logo are protected as trade marks, the design and layout of the packaging is protected…