Search results for

Until 2017, it was clear from several decisions of the Austrian Supreme Court that trade marks registered in bad faith were invalid and therefore could be successfully attacked any time and that asserted rights based on them would be rejected as immoral. However, the decisions went further: the mere use of that sign was held to be inadmissible and therefore could be forbidden as such without any other reason.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has launched the ASEAN Patentscope making up-to-date online ASEAN patent data available to patent search firms, patent attorneys and innovators seeking to commercialise their innovations in the ASEAN region.

As the date of the UK's exit from the EU approaches, and given the proposed mirroring of registered EU rights on the UK Register but not pending applications, it is now particularly relevant to consider filing a UK application alongside any EU applications.

On September 18 2018, the Seychelles registrar general handed down an important trade mark decision. The case involved an application by a Seychelles company called Intelvision Limited to register the trade mark Intelvision (stylised) in Class 38, and an opposition to that application by the US company Intel Corporation.

A trade mark registration No 570712 was obtained by a Russian R-line company in relation to goods in Class 12 and services in Class 36. Volkswagen AG appealed against the registration of that trade mark.

A defendant in preliminary injunction proceedings heard before a Greek court, relating to the infringement of a pharmaceutical patent, may raise an objection to the patent's validity. This option is not free from difficulties as the Greek court, which has jurisdiction to grant an injunction, is not a specialised IP court which has jurisdiction to try the same case in ordinary proceedings, but a court having general jurisdiction on civil and commercial matters.

The name of the castle of Ludwig II of Bavaria, Neuschwanstein, was filed as a European trade mark by the Free State of Bavaria in many classes of goods and services (3, 8, 14-16, 18, 21, 25, 28, 30, 32-6, 38 and 44). As its validity was contested, the question arose as to whether such a name was descriptive of the geographical origin of the goods and services claimed in the application.

In Vietnam, granted patents can be amended in limited circumstances under provisions found in the Law on Intellectual Property (IP Law). For example, Article 97 of the IP Law gives the patent owner the right, among other things, to request rectification of errors made by the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) in the granted patent.

HALAL is usually seen on the packaging of some food products and on signs of some establishments. Halal is a religious matter and is dealt with by Islamic religious organisations. Halal (also spelt hallal or halaal) refers to what is permissible or lawful in traditional Islamic law. Halal certification by accredited entities guarantees that the product has passed international standards from preparation to packaging and handling. It has become a seal that the products comply with Islamic dietary requirements or Islamic lifestyle and for quality, cleanliness and health standards.

Andrei Iancu is one of our 50 Most Influential People in IP. He has changed the mood at the USPTO since taking over as director – and he’s not done yet