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 […]

Counterattacks in procedures for the declaration of invalidity of a trademark before the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office

Since January 14, the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office (SPTO) has been responsible for hearing applications for invalidity and revocation of trademarks. We take a look at the biggest risk faced by applicants seeking invalidity of a trademark on relative grounds. The SPTO has the power to declare the signs invalid where it considers that […]

Morcilla de Burgos: Can Protected Geographical Indications and collective trademarks coexist?

Both Designations of Origin (DO) and Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) are essential to ensure that the goods that they protect comply with strict quality criteria and come from a specific geographic location. In addition, collective trademarks identify goods or services of members of their association with respect to third parties. However, can the two coexist? […]

Right to be forgotten: developments with regard to de-referencing in the light of inaccurate information

A recent judgment by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has introduced relevant developments where the right to be forgotten is exercised based on the inaccuracy of the information included in the referenced content. Many people will be curious to know what information comes up when they search for their name on […]

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