Analysis: the Specsavers referral and trade mark reputation The referral of questions to Europe's top court on acquired distinctiveness in colour show how far the assessment of a trade mark’s reputation has expanded By Simon Crompton January 31 2012
Commission investigates Samsung over 3G patents The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into whether Samsung Electronics breached EU competition law by enforcing standard-essential patents for 3G technology By James Nurton January 31 2012
Specsavers case referred to Court of Justice of the EU The Court of Appeal in London has referred five questions to the Court of Justice over the role of colour in a trade mark infringement case and non-use of a mark By Simon Crompton January 31 2012
Unitary patent on Council agenda Heads of government at today’s EU Council meeting will be discussing the euro, youth unemployment and boosting enterprise - but they may also find time to break the deadlock on the planned unitary patent By James Nurton January 30 2012
How your business will be affected by data protection proposals Lawyers have criticised a planned overhaul of data protection rules in Europe, saying it will lead to much greater burdens for businesses By James Nurton January 27 2012
Managing IP Global Awards 2012 – shortlists revealed Free access: The nominations for Managing IP’s Global Awards 2012 have been announced By Managing IP Correspondent January 27 2012
EU rapporteur resigns over ACTA "manoeuvres" The European Parliament’s rapporteur for the international anti-counterfeiting deal ACTA has resigned after the agreement was signed by the EU and a group of its member states By Simon Crompton January 27 2012
Q&A: Patents at the EPO A comprehensive guide to filing and protecting your patent at the EPO. By Andrew Hammond of Valea By Managing IP Correspondent January 27 2012
Courts may force Irish ISPs to block sites Rights holders will have powers to demand that ISPs in Ireland block websites accused of infringing copyright if the government amends legislation before the end of January By Ed Conlon January 26 2012
Pfizer blocks CTM for Viaguara Pfizer has succeeded in preventing Polish company Viaguara from registering its name as a Community trade mark for energy drinks and alcohol By Emma Barraclough January 25 2012
Legislators use Twitter to retreat from anti-piracy laws By Managing IP Correspondent January 20 2012
Nike loses trade mark case at Court of Justice The Court of Justice of the EU has set aside a ruling by the General Court over trade mark transfers and rights of opposition, which itself disagreed with OHIM’s Board of Appeal By Simon Crompton January 19 2012
ISPs welcome EU consultation on takedown procedures European ISPs say new plans from the European Commission to harmonise practice on taking down copyright-infringing websites are long overdue, even though they could leave them with more responsibility to police the net By Simon Crompton January 18 2012
Trade mark owners speak to MEPs Ever wanted to tell your representatives exactly what you want from them? Trade mark owners had the opportunity to do just that last week By James Nurton January 16 2012
Interview: Dominic McGonigal on reforming collecting societies Dominic McGonigal is head of government relations at PPL, a UK collecting society that licenses recorded music on behalf of performers and record companies. He talks to Emma Barraclough about codes of conducts, plans ... By Emma Barraclough January 16 2012
Commission told that rules allow look-alikes “to flourish” Rules within EU member states on so-called look-alikes vary so greatly that the practice is able to flourish in parts of the European Union, says a report prepared for the European Commission By Emma Barraclough January 13 2012
Quiz 2011: answers and winners No one got all 20 answers right in Managing IP’s quiz of the year’s news. But two entrants shared the prize with 19 correct answers By Managing IP Correspondent January 13 2012
Trade mark examination with a view In the first article in a new series, Emma Barraclough finds out what a typical day for an OHIM examiner involves By Emma Barraclough January 09 2012
Woolf’s works enter public domain As the clock counted down to 2012, the estates of artists, creators, authors and composers prepared to see their incomes wane as copyright works slip out of protection By Emma Barraclough January 05 2012
