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Imitations and image rights: You look familiar?
Attention comedians! Imitations of famous personalities, although common practice in the audiovisual market can create problems from the standpoint of image rights. Encarna de noche, by Martes y Trece, the unforgettable characters in Homo Zapping, the Guignols, or internationally, Saturday Night Live sketches, are just a few examples of imitations of well-known characters that form […]
The key to patenting software: first solve the problem, then write the code
The Spanish legal system does not consider computer programs to be inventions as such, so that, in itself, software is not patentable. However, inventions implemented using a computer, this is, computer programs that solve a technical problem can be registered as patents. Therefore, the key to registration is the ability to demonstrate that executing the […]
The Influencers’ Code of Conduct comes into force on January 1, 2021: are you aware of your obligations?
Autocontrol and Asociación Española de Anunciantes (Spanish Advertisers’ Association or AEA) agree on the ethical standards that should be applied to advertising by influencers from January 1, 2021. It clarifies doubts about ‘safe’ labels such as “ad” or “sponsored by”, when they should be used and the contractual obligations that members should follow. We summarize […]
Messi wins the battle against the mark ‘Massi’ after a decade-long dispute
The Court of Justice of the European Union has dismissed the appeals filed by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Spanish company J-M.E.V e hijos S.R.L., in a dispute that has lasted for almost a decade and which finally recognizes that the world-famous F.C. Barcelona player, Lionel Andrés Messi Cuccittini, holds exclusive […]
Banksy case: registration of a trademark in bad faith and the price of anonymity
In a recent decision, the EUIPO has cancelled street artist Banksy’s trademark for the well-known artwork ‘Flower Bomber” for being filed in bad faith. The EUIPO ruled that at the time the application was filed, the artist had no intention of using the sign as a trademark and that he only used it subsequently to […]
During lockdown applications for utility models to stop viruses grew in Spain
During the state of emergency, at least 110 applications for utility models were filed for products related to the fight against the pandemic. For individuals and small and medium-sized companies, utility models are an attractive way of protecting rights given the speed at which such applications are processed. The COVID-19 crisis led Spain to declare […]