Intellectual Property

The dangers of using look-a-likes in your ads – Ariana Grande sues Forever 21

If you ask a celebrity to endorse your products and they turn you down, you can’t get over your disappointment by simply engaging a look-a-like model to do the job.…

Preparing your business for investment, why IP is the key

Most businesses require third party investment at some point. In fact, the majority of start-ups are “bootstrapped” from inception and this can significantly limit their potential to hire new staff,…

Brexit breakdown of your IP rights!

So it’s been over 3 years now since the June 2016 Brexit vote. It is still unclear what’s going to happen although there’s no doubt that everyone is pretty sick…

Online Influencers #advertisingrules #fail

I think we can all accept that for most brands advertising has moved beyond traditional print and media. Instead consumers are constantly being told what to buy by a wide…

Nike v Kawhi play-off

Basketball star Kawhi Leonard is taking on Nike, his former sponsor, in a trade mark dispute over his personal logo. Kawhi originally designed his signature logo, “KLAW”, in his college…

BRIFFA – music lawyers

Here at Briffa, we specialise in all forms of Intellectual Property Law, but we also offer specialist advice in particular areas and industries which have their own unique set of…

IP on Board – Protecting Creativity in the Auto Industry

The auto industry is rich in IP. Trade marks protect all-important brand names, logos and taglines. Registered designs protect things like trade dress, upholstery patterns and the shape and design…

Primark threatened over legal action over ‘fake’ Veja trainers

Primark has been threatened with legal action after producing a ‘copycat’ version of Veja’s popular trainers. This is not the first time that Primark have been threatened by a footwear…

Rock band sued for over-use of llamas

Yes, you read that right. The American rock band Fall Out Boy are being sued by puppet maker Furry Puppet Studio for the excessive use of, well, llamas. The puppet…

Obtaining IP protection vs. maintaining a healthy cash flow

A business generating significant revenue doesn’t automatically entitle that business to survive the next 12 months – business must also ensure that cash flowing into the business is greater than…

Considerations for Crafting A Cease and Desist Letter

We have written before about using cease and desist letters to prevent others from infringing on your intellectual property. There is no doubt that a well-written letter making a formal…

BriffaWay – It’s never too early to get the right prescription: How to get good legal advice

We get over 100 calls to the office every month from folk looking for help with their business and sorting out their intellectual property rights. The Briffa team is ready…

BriffaWay – What has the EU ever done for IP? Chapter 2

By the end of the 18th century, the Cornish pasty had established itself as the staple diet of working men across Cornwall. This pre-Tupperware quick fix for lunch was enjoyed…

Cannabis: Business opportunity or just smoke

I subscribe to an excellent publication which promotes the stories of small and successful emerging business called Courier Magazine. The October edition ran a long feature on the cannabis economy…

UK #MeToo scandal hitting the headlines

Over the last few days it has been difficult to escape the widespread coverage of the anonymised injunction obtained by Sir Philip Green preventing publication by The Telegraph newspaper of…

Support Gay Marriage Cake: Freedom of expression gives right not to supply

In November 2016 we reported on a case about a bakery in Northern Ireland who had turned down an order for a cake emblazoned with the message ‘Support Gay Marriage’.…

BriffaWay – A tale of how we will retain our sense of humour after Brexit no matter what

Last month I introduced you to a new series for #BriffaWay which I described as a personal reflection on our European journey. The series entitled ‘What has the EU ever…

Walk the Walk: New rights to protect runway models?

As we prepare for Brexit and the prospect of loss of intellectual property rights we had taken for granted until now, a big thank you Exeter University academics who have…

Do I need a music manager?

To be successful in the music industry, you need to surround yourself with good people. A good manager will always be a key member of your team. Having a manager…

Do I need a music lawyer?

To be successful in the music industry, you need to surround yourself with good people. This doesn’t only include talented musicians and engineers – if you want to make a…

Safestlye and SafeGlaze avoid seeing double in glazing row

Over the last few decades the double-glazing salesman have been the target for jokes and have had to put up with a good deal of criticism and negative stereotyping. Despite…

Trade mark co-existence – what is it and will it work?

Picture the scene, you have spent days, weeks or even months choosing the perfect brand name and after a few clearance searches you discover, to your horror, that someone else…

Blockchain in media royalties

Blockchain is the latest buzzword on everyone’s lips and it’s not hard to see why; the technology has the potential to completely change how we create, secure and transfer intangible…

Can you give a shiatsu? Comparative advertising amuses

It almost 20 years ago that Virgin Atlantic, then a relative newcomer and challenger brand ran the advertising campaign declaring ‘BA don’t give a shiatsu’ on giant bill boards strategically placed…