WIPO PROOF – Protect the Products of your Innovation
Registered intellectual property rights, such as patents, registered designs, or trade marks, are a powerful deterrent to competitors who may be “inspired” by your brand or technology. This is in large part because they are considered prima facie valid; this means, in essence, that they are valid until proven otherwise (usually by the person you’re … Read More
by Mark Smith
Parallel Goods and Exhaustion of Rights after Brexit
First things first: what do “parallel trade” and “exhaustion of rights” mean? When goods that are protected by intellectual property (IP) are placed on the market by the IP owner, or with their permission (e.g. by a licensee or distributor), the IP owner “exhausts” their rights in that territory. This means that they cannot stop … Read More
by Mark Smith
EU Trade Mark and Design Rights in the UK after the Brexit Transition Period
If you’re wondering what will happen to your registered EU trade mark and design rights in the UK at the end of the Brexit transition period – currently set for 31 December 2020 – here’s the answer. Whatever happens with the ongoing negotiations between the EU and the UK, your EU-level trade mark and design … Read More
by Mark Smith