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If you are looking for practical insights and intelligence on design law in different jurisdictions, the International Comparative Legal Guide published by glg Global Legal Group is a valuable source of information.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruld that the layout of an Apple Store in general may be eligible to be registered as a trademark (Case C-421/13 dated 10 July 2014). Background of the Case and Subject Matter In 2010, Apple obtained from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) the registration of a three-dimensional trademark consisting of the representation, by a design in color, of its so called “flagship stores” (see below) for retail store services featuring computers, computer software, computer peripherals, mobile phones, consumer electronics and related accessories and demonstrations of products relating thereto.
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AAAAaaaaThe World Customs Organization (WCO) published the Illicit Report 2013.It includes six chapters, each dedicated to one thematic area: Drugs, Revenue, Intellectual Property Rights, Environment, Security and the Customs Enforcement Network (CEN).

Renewable Energy2The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published the Global Challenges Report on June 11, 2014. The study deals with the climate change as one of the biggest global challenges of our time. Therefore, the study analyzes the patent landscapes of four Climate Change Mitigation Technologies (CCMTs): Biofuels, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy.
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The European General Court (EGC) decided that “JUNGBORN” cannot be registered because there is likelihood of confusion to the older German trademark “BORN” (Case T-401/12, July 11, 2014). Introduction Likelihood of confusion is assessed on the basis of if there is a high risk that the targeted consumers must assume that the relevant goods and services derive from the same or connected companies. Therefore, various factors need to be taken into account. On the one hand side, the specific goods and services of the applied for mark and the earlier sign need to be evaluated. On the other hand, the script, sound and meaning of the two trademarks have to be compared. Background of the Case and Subject Matter
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Best german brands Interbrand, started in 1974 with its approximately 40 offices around the globe, is one of the biggest and oldest brand consultancy companies around the world. Every year, Interbrand conducts and publishes various studies relating to brands, their value and the impact on companies and consumers.This year they published for the first time a ranking of the 50 best German Brands. The new study published on 6 June 2014 relates to the “Best German Brands 2014″, which does not just give an in-depth insight, but also an overview about new trends and developments. Automotive Brands in Germany
The question if and which slogans and claims can receive trademark protection is topic of a lot of disputes in Germany and throughout the European Union. Slogans Introduction The protection of slogans is very interesting for brand owners, because slogans are a key element in advertising. The consumers identify themselves with the slogans or associate a slogan with certain products and services. Therefore, slogans are eye catchers and indirectly help to encourage people to choose certain goods or services over others. In principle, slogans can be protected as trademarks. However, many applications fail if they are purely descriptive or lack distinctiveness. Examples
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Currently, all eyes are on the World Cup in Brazil. Of course, a lot of people would like to participate in the big success of the soccer game between the different nations. But, to advertise and promote with the World Cup without a license can be a legal disaster and very expensive. Fact is that FIFA has protected a lot of logos, words, titles, symbols and other trademarks in relation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup which it will use, or allow others to use, under a formal agreement. (one of the protected trademarks: German trademark register number: 011529311 ).

World Cup

The WIPO Global Brand Database offers a new search feature. The new function makes it possible to upload an image and search for visual similarities to other images. Global Brand Database The Global Brand Database contains about 11820000 documents with information about internationally protected trademarks, appellations of origin and armorial bearings, flags and other state emblems as well as the names, abbreviations and emblems of intergovernmental organizations. The Global Brand Database also permits without charge, synchronized, brand-related searches across multiple jurisdictions. Different search features make it easier to find the results you are looking for. Image Search Function
ConvergenceOn the basis of the convergence program the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) is trying to align the official practice of the national trademark offices in Europe. The aim of the program is to provide transparency, legal certainty, and predictability for the benefit of examiners and users.   Background The reason for this project are the different procedures of the offices’ handling practice in relation to black/white trademarks, which has led to confusion. While some of the offices rule that black/white trademarks are protected in every color, others assume, that the protection is only for the black/white trademarks. Results of the Project
The German Federal Patent Court (BPatG) decided on 8 April 2014, that the word/design mark “München – in Bayern” cannot be registered because there is likelihood of confusion to the older word/design mark “FC Bayern – München”. Also the application was filed in bad faith (Case 27 W (pat) 546/13). Introduction Likelihood of confusion must be assessed on the basis of if there is a high risk that the targeted consumers assume that the relevant goods and services derive from the same or connected companies. Also, an application is filed in bad faith, if the applicant knows and deliberately wants that his trademark is confused with another, older trademark. Background of the Case and Subject Matter