The COVID-19 pandemic and possible effects on the use requirement of trademarks
The infection protection measures during the Covid-19 pandemic led to significant cuts in the sale of goods and services. In many cases, this also affects the genuine use requirement of trademarks. The article examines the cases in which there could be a legitimate reason for non-use according to Art. 19 TRIPS (also e.g. Sec. 26 … Read more
BREXIT – The impact of Brexit for EU trademarks and designs
The end of the transitional period which followed BREXIT on February 1, 2020 will terminate on December 31, 2020 and it appears that the EU and UK may not reach a trade agreement for the time after December 31, 2020. Thus, we would like to inform you – very briefly – about the most important … Read more
Revue Francophone de La Propriété Intellectuelle
Transformation of the EU Directive in Germany and its impact on the German Trademark Act: published in the legal review Revue Francophone de La Propriété Intellectuelle, No.10 of June 2020
Important changes in German trademark law as of May 1, 2020
As from May 1, 2020, trademark cancellation/invalidity proceedings at the German Patent and Trademark Office are provided as a new cost-effective alternative for trademark proprietors to act against third party’s conflicting trademarks. After May 1, it would not only be possible to file an opposition or a civil court action against a younger trademark registration, … Read more
Innovative, non-traditional trademarks: “Red Shoes”
An important new feature to create uniqueness in the field of corporate identity and corporate design Our firm has recently managed to obtain a graphically non-representable trademark called “Other trademark” (Sonstige Marke) registered at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office, which we would like to call avantgarde: The special thing about this so-called other … Read more