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In a recent case relating to a product (a medical device) that treats coughs, some interesting issues were raised regarding parallel imports, repackaging and unfair competition.

Ramon Confectionary, a famous entity in Russia, filed trade mark application number 2013705310 in respect of goods in class 30 (pictured below).

The UK’s departure from the EU threatens to disrupt IP practice in the country – and patent and trade mark firms are already taking steps to mitigate the potential damage. James Nurton reports

International trade mark number 1109244 (filed as a shape mark on the basis of a German registration with proven secondary meaning) was filed in class 30 for "chocolate goods also with fillings" and shows a piece of chocolate in the form of a pyramidal stump having on the top surface impressed a stylised star. The protection for that mark was rejected by the Patent Office and the Appellate Court. So its owner restricted the list of goods by inserting after "goods" the words "in tabular arrangement" and at the end "except pralines". It was found that that shape mark is neither inherently distinctive nor that acquired distinctiveness is proven, although it is marketed in Austria under the trade mark Schogetten packaged as a bar.

Michael Loney and Natalie Rahhal analyse five IP decisions issued in Canada, two from the Supreme Court and three from the Federal Court

Plain packaging has become a hot topic in Turkey as controlling the consumption of tobacco has been one of the top priorities of the Turkish government. The government has adopted the 2015-2018 National Programme and Action Plan for Tobacco Control, which stipulates the implementation of necessary provisions related to plain packaging into the relevant legislation.

Brexit affects IP in many ways. James Nurton and Kingsley Egbuonu identify five areas where urgent action is needed to provide clarity and ensure a smooth transition

Trade mark owners need to weigh up various factors when deciding where to bring an infringement action. Sahira Khwaja, Alastair Shaw, Leopold von Gerlach, Ewa Kacperek, Marie-Aimée de Dampierre and Alexis Valot compare procedures and practices in France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom

To further improve examination quality, the Taiwan IP Office (TIPO) recently amended the examination guidelines regarding inventive step, among other changes. The new guidelines were implemented on July 1 2017.

Practitioners have welcomed Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) amendments to the patent regime to spur innovation and improve the quality of patents granted