Blog
Statement of use of a trademark: a requirement in the USA that does not exist in the EU
The use of a trademark is crucial to preserve the rights in the mark. However, whereas in the US the statement of use is essential to maintain the registration, in the EU, it does not exist. Let’s take a look. The registration of a trademark grants the exclusive right to use a particular sign to […]
Cultural appropriation: are there legal mechanisms to stop this from an intellectual property standpoint?
Trying to provide effective, balanced and adequate protection of traditional cultural expressions and recognizing the intellectual property rights that local communities and indigenous peoples hold with regard to those expressions pose a real challenge in legal terms. It is common knowledge that using a trademark, a patent or a design of another business may cause […]
Deep fakes: the media and the legal system is under threat
The exponential increase in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate audiovisual content is forcing us to re-think the risks involved in the proliferation of deepfakes. The quality of this synthetic content is such that it can generate situations or conversations that never existed, blurring the line between real and make believe, just like […]
Shape up your mark: the intricacies of protecting the appearance of a product as a trademark
Is your product different? Does it have a unique shape that sets it apart from competitors? If so, perhaps you want to think about protecting that particular shape as a trademark. It is an effective strategy for companies that want to stand out in a saturated market. Although the procedure to register a product’s shape […]
Architecture and Intellectual Property: Is it possible to protect a building?
Architecture encompasses a range of disciplines. Design, functionality, technique and, at times, good taste, come into play to achieve a result that comprises all of these in one: the building. But who does the “work” belong to? Can you protect a building? Imagine (for a joyful moment) that you are the architect of your favorite […]
How do you register an international trademark?
The Madrid System to register international trademarks is governed by the Madrid Agreement (1891) and the Madrid Protocol (1989) and is administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) located in Geneva, Switzerland. This system offers the owner of a trademark in one of the member States the possibility of extending protection of the mark to […]