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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 French Trademark Office “L'Institut national de la propriété industrielle (INPI) and the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) refuseregistrations of the slogan „Je suis Charlie“.”

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The German Federal Patent Court clarified with its judgment (Judgment dated 5 August 2014; Case No.: 27 W (pat) 18/14) in the case “BOSCH” vs. “boshi” that likelihood of confusion is only given if various factors are cumulatively applicable: The similarity of the goods and services, script, sound and meaning of both trademarks and the reputation of the older trademark. Background of the Case and Subject Matter
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), a specialized agency of the United Nations headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, has just published the Global Innovation Index (GII) Report. The report provides a wide range of indicators covering the following areas of intellectual property: patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, microorganisms and plant variety protection. Trademarks
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2014 was an exciting year for our law firm: We are especially delighted that Mrs. Hannah Eckermann and Mrs. Marlene Treffler joined our team. Besides, we are lucky that we could expand and transmit our knowledge to others at numerous seminars and conferences in 2014. Also, we earned the Corporate INTL Legal Award 2014 in the Category: Boutique Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year 2014 in Germany
Christmas is a time for tranquility, contemplation and the family. But, it is also a time of consumption: Many people receive a 13th salary or holiday bonus which they spend on presents, decoration and at Christmas markets. Approx 20% of the trades revenue is generated on and around Christmas. Therefore, companies try to “trademark” Christmas. As a result of that, competition is fierce during the holiday season. The office responsible for the registrations of trademarks in the EU, OHIM, reports numerous registered trademarks that incorporate “Christmas”.
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Brand Finance Football 50 is an annual study conducted by one of the leading brand valuation and strategy consultancies. The study determines which of the word largest football clubs have the most powerful and valuable brands. As you can see below, this year FC Bayern München maintained its No. 1 position with a brand value of 896 million US-Dollars. This year's Champions League Winner, Real Madrid, and the UK football club, Manchester United, follow on second and third position.
The European General Court (EGC) ruled that the three dimensional shape of the Rubik‘s Cube as a Community trademark is valid (Judgment dated 25 November 2014; Case No.: T450/09). Background of the Case and Subject Matter In 1974, a young Professor of Architecture in Budapest (Hungary) named Erno Rubik created the multi-colored “three-dimensional puzzles” you can see below. The so called “Rubik's Cube” can be twisted and turned around without falling apart. The aim is to make each side of the cube a single color.
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The VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau e.V.) is a German engineering association which is based in Frankfurt and has political offices in Brussels and Berlin. With over 3.100 member companies the VDMA is one of the largest industrial associations in Europe. The VDMA covers the entire engineering sector from component manufacturers, machine builders, plant erectors, system suppliers and system integrators through to service providers. It published its Product Piracy Study 2014 in its 7th edition this year. The data was collected between February 3rd and March 10th 2014 among VDMA company members. This year 337 companies from all over Europe took part at the study.
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The EGC (European General Court) decided that a wavy line is not distinctive for Vans and not registrable as a Community Trademark (Judgment dated 6 November 2014; Case No.: T-53/13). Background of the Case and Subject Matter In September 2011 the American shoe manufacturer – VANS Inc. – filed an application for Community Trademark No. 008543183 at the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) for the following word/device mark for - among others - clothing: