Use of a trademark in a form differing from the one registered… always an issue and a trap for trademark owners to be aware of. But a new Common Practice just adopted in May 2020 by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) promises more guidance.

(Source: shutterstock.com, no. 1642037911)

Example: If only the logo on the top left was a registered trademark, were the other logos use of the same mark?

1. Necessity to prove genuine trademark use

If you are the owner of a trademark in the European Union, either at the EUIPO or in one of the member states, you must have started genuinely using your trademark for the registered goods and services by the end of the fifth year after registration. Otherwise, your trademark becomes vulnerable to non-use cancellation actions. The same applies to every other continuous period of five years during which you have not used your trademark genuinely.

Should it become necessary to prove genuine use of your trademark, you have to show how, when, where and to which extent you have used your registered trademark over the past five years. When putting together relevant proof, it is important to first examine the available evidence as to whether or not the sign used as a trademark on the evidence is the registered trademark. Often, word marks are not used by themselves, but with additional word or figurative elements. Figurative marks are not used as registered but in slightly different colors or with the word and device parts arranged differently than registered or by omitting part of the registered mark. The variations are numerous, but the question always remains the same: Is the specific kind of use of a mark in a form differing from the one registered still considered use of the registered trademark or is the distinctive character of the mark altered significantly?

If the answer is yes, you may go on to compile further proof of genuine use of your mark. If the answer is no, you will not be able to enforce your trademark rights and you might even lose them. Considering that a registered trademark can have a great economical value and can contribute up to about 80 % (depending on your industry; the average over different industries is about 46 %) to the overall value of your company, losing your registration can be a disaster. Thus, it is VERY important to regularly check the specific uses of your trademark as to whether or not it is still use of the registered trademark.

Over the past years, case law on the question if use of a trademark in a form differing from the one registered is still considered use of the registered form has become endless and decisions are often unpredictable. Now, more reliable guidance is on the horizon!

2. New CP8 Common Practice

On 28 May 2020, the EUIPO announced that its Management Board and Budget Committee had adopted a new Common Practice (CP8) on this issue. It should bring more harmonization to how the trademark offices across the EU will handle the assessment of use of a trademark in a form differing from the one registered.

The Common Practice was adopted after about two years of discussions and consultation involving trademark offices, user associations, experts and other stakeholders. It is not binding, but the trademark offices of the EU Member States can – and most likely will – implement a corresponding procedure on a voluntary basis to increase transparency, legal certainty, consistency and predictability on use of a trademark.

The final version of the CP8 Common Practice has not yet been published, but according to the EUIPO’s press release of 28 May 2020, “it will establish general principles to assess when the use of a trademark in a form differing from the one registered alters its distinctive character. More specifically, the document assesses the impact of additions, omissions, modifications of characteristics, and combinations of these changes, on the distinctive character of registered word marks, purely figurative marks and composite marks.”

Hopefully, the Common Practice will deliver what its draft promised. Once the final version is available at the EUIPO’s homepage, check back here for the specific link.

In the meantime, if you have you any doubts whether or not use of your mark will be considered use of your registered trademark, do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email email to info@lexdellmeier.com for more information and a preliminary assessment.

As announced, LexDellmeier IP Law Firm has On Wednesday, 27 May 2020, LexDellmeier held it two webinars no. 3 and 4 "Trademark Law Basics" (in German: Markenrecht 1 x 1).  We are delighted to have had 90 participants attend the webinars. Below you will find the agenda of the webinar(s) as well as the presentations (PPTs in German and English) to download as well as a link to the webinar (in German only) which was recorded and released on YouTube on 26 May 2020.

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PowerPoint in German to download: [[{"type":"media","fid":"5139","view_mode":"default","instance_fields":"override","link_text":"20200527_final_praesentation_termin_3_webinar_3_markenrecht_1x1_de.pdf"}]]

PowerPoint in English to download: [[{"type":"media","fid":"5140","view_mode":"default","instance_fields":"override","link_text":"20200527_final_presentation_webinar_4_trademark_law_basics_en.pdf"}]]

YouTube Link to watch webinar (in German: "Markenrecht 1 x 1"): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIvCkgNUsxU

Content of the Webinar "Trademark Law Basics":

I. Introduction – What is the economic value of a trademark?

II. What is a trademark from a legal point of view?

III. How can a trademark right be acquired?

IV. What benefits can be derived from a trademark?

V. LexDellmeier online trademark application

VI. Q & A

VII. Conclusion and outlook on the next webinars

Am 29. April 2020 hat die Kanzlei LexDellmeier ihr Webinar 2 zu den beiden Themenkomplexen:

1. Änderungen des deutschen Markengesetzes zum 1. Mai 2020 gemäß dem Markenmodernisierungsgesetz (MaMoG) und

2. Update BREXIT (Stand: 29. April 2020) - welche Änderungen ergeben sich für (EU-)Marken- und Designinhaber zum 1. Januar 2021

Hier können Sie sich die Folien runterladen: [[{"type":"media","fid":"5135","view_mode":"default","instance_fields":"override","link_text":"final_20200429_lexdellmeier_praesentation_termin_2_webinar_mamog_und_brexit.pdf"}]]

Wir haben das Webinar zusätzlich aufgezeichnet. Sie können es unter folgendem Link auf YouTube finden, anschauen und anhören: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MwPjKlioIU&t=177s

Dear Participants of the LexDellmeier Webinar Series 2020! Here you can find all the relevant information regarding "Communication Medium & Data Protection".

Liebe Teilnehmer der LexDellmeier Webinar Reihe 2020! Hier finden Sie alle Informationen rund um Medium und Datenschutz.

Need to get your head off Corona? Need a time-out from working on files, writing letters or answering emails? Get it where you do not expect it!

(Source:  https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/milestones/index.html)

The German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), a source of information -- not just for plain (“boring”) facts relating to patents, trademarks and designs, but also for fun facts around IP rights. We strongly recommend taking a look that the DPMA’s homepage at www.dpma.de (English version available). Go to “Our Office”, then to “Publication” and “Milestones” and start reading… about the Beatles and what Apple Corp. has to do with Apple Inc., about Asterix and his creator Uderzo, about Mickey and Donald and other trademarks of Disney, about the Easter bunny laying eggs or about Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen who discovered X-rays.

Did you know, for instance, that

• The predecessors of roller coasters were called “Russian Mountains” – artificial sliding hills with a layer of ice that had become popular in St. Petersburg in the 17^th century, already, with first patents going back to the mid 1800s. (https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/milestones/rollercoaster/index.html; http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/v/a/vac3/table.html)

• The Patent Office of the Netherlands refused to grant a patent, applied for in 1964, for a method of lifting sunken ships, in which foam balls were pumped into the wrecks to give them buoyancy. Reason for the denial was the lack the novelty due to a Donald Duck story published about 15 years earlier in which Donald Duck had used table tennis balls to lift a sunken yacht. (https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/milestones/donaldduckwird85/index.html)

• One of the world’s oldest perfume manufacturers is “Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz GmbH” in Cologne which has been existing for over 310 years. The company, original inventor of “Eau de Cologne”, counts numerous famous and influential people among its customers, including Queen Victoria, Kaiser Wilhelm I., Napoleon, Mozart, Beethoven, Goethe, Oscar Wilde and even Bill Clinton. At one time, the company was so famous that even its address in Cologne “gegenüber” (opposite) Jülichs-Platz became a trademark. “Farina gegenüber” has been trademark protected in Germany since its first registration on 7 December 1929. https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/milestones/aeltesterparfuemherstellerderwelt/index.html)

• Strandkorbs are a special kind of beach chairs for which the German northern coast is known. The number of all strandkorbs on the German shore is estimated at about 100,000, but its original inventor has never asked for patent protection. (https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/milestones/derstrandkorb/index.html)

• The idea of “Post-it”^® stickers was born because one of the developers thought it nice to have a bookmark that stayed in place without damaging the pages of the book he used during his church choir rehearsals. (https://www.dpma.de/english/our_office/publications/milestones/post-itanniversary/index.html)

Does the trademark office in your country have a website with fun facts like these? If so, please share the link with us here or by email to info@lexdellmeier.com

And if after reading all these fun stories you still have time and not yet enough of trademarks, how about playing a game of MONOPOLY^® or LOGO?

For now, enjoy reading!

Turbulent times require innovative ideas and solutions. The difficult situation surrounding the Corona crisis is forcing countless companies to send their employees to their home office. We believe it is important to see this as an opportunity to use the time wisely and use some of the time for further education and training in the field of intellectual property (IP) rights. The 10 webinars spread over the year 2020 are partly aimed at beginners and partly at advanced learners and are held in German or English. All dates and registration options are listed below.

PARTICIPANTS - to whom the webinars are addressed:

• Start-ups & Founders
• Managing directors / CEOs of small, medium-sized or family owned or industrial companies
• IP lawyers, patent law clerks, paralegals, trademark administrators etc.
• Heads of research and development departments
• Legal Departments
• Inventors and other interested person

REGISTRATION - free of charge:

You can register for the webinars on XING or Eventbrite free of charge. You will find the respective registration links below the webinar announcement.

ALL DATES AND TOPICS OF THE WEBINAR SERIES 2020:

WEBINAR 1:

29 April 2020, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Trademarks, Designs, Patents - Overview (in German)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 2:

29 April 2020, 14:00 p.m. to 15:00 p.m.: Update MaMoG - Changes from 1 May 2020 and update Brexit (in German)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 3:

27 May 2020, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Trademark Law - 1 x 1 (in German)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 4:

27 May 2020, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: Trademark Law - Basics (in English)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 5:

17 June 2020, 17:00 p.m. to 18:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. German time - 11:00 am - 12:00 noon EST (US-Standard Eastern Time) Brand Value & Financial Instruments (in English)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 6:

1 July 2020, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Design Law- 1 x 1 (in German)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 7:

1 July 2020, 17:00 p.m. to 18:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. German time - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon EST (Standard Eastern Time): Design Law - Basics (in English)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 8:

7 October 2020, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Trademark Law advanced - for advanced users: Preservation of the trademark (in German)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 9:

25 November 2020, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.: Design law advanced - for advanced users: Strategic considerations for registration (in German)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

WEBINAR 10:

9 December 2020, 17:00 p.m. to 18:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. German time - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon EST (Standard Eastern Time): BREXIT update - Legal changes in trademark and design law as of 1 January 2021 (in English)

Registration at: XING or Eventbrite

Documents / confirmation of participation:

The documents/slides will be sent to the participants by email or for download (via link) after the respective webinar. Upon request, we will also gladly issue a confirmation of participation.

Speakers:

Alexandra Dellmeier, Attorney at Law  and Certified IP Attorney 

F. Andrea Breier, LL.M., Attorney at Law 

Karolin Ernst, Attorney at Law 

Organizer:

LexDellmeier - Intellectual Property Law Firm

Nymphenburger Str. 23

80335 Munich

Germany

www.lexdellmeier.com

Turbulente Zeiten erfordern besondere Maßnahmen. Die schwierige Situation rund um die Corona-Krise zwingt unzählige Unternehmen dazu, ihre Mitarbeiter ins Homeoffice zu schicken. Darüber hinaus stagniert in vielen Firmen die Auftragslage. Wir denken, es ist wichtig, die Zeit sinnvoll zu nutzen, die sonst im hektischen Alltag häufig zu kurz kommen. Besonders am Herzen liegt uns hier Fortbildung, Weiterbildung und Schulung im Bereich der gewerblichen Schutzrechte (= Intellectual Property – oder kurz „IP“). Die 10 verschiedenen Webinare über das Jahr 2020 verteilt richten sich teils an Anfänger, teils an Fortgeschrittene und finden auf Deutsch oder Englisch statt. Alle Termine und Anmeldemöglichkeiten sind unten aufgelistet.

TEILNEHMER – an die die Webinare gerichtet sind:

• Start-ups & Gründer
• Geschäftsführer / CEOs von kleinen, mittelständischen oder Familien- oder Industrie-Unternehmen
• IP-Anwälten, Patentanwaltsfachangestellten, Rechtsanwaltsfachangestellten, Paralegals, Trademark Administrators etc.
• Leitern von Forschungs- und Entwicklungsabteilungen
• Rechtsabteilungen
• Erfindern und sonstigen interessierten Personen

ANMELDUNG – kostenlos:

Sie können sich auf XING oder Eventbrite zu den Webinaren kostenlos anmelden. Die jeweiligen Links zur Anmeldung finden Sie unterhalb der Webinarankündigung.

ALLE TERMINE UND THEMEN DER WEBINAR REIHE 2020:

WEBINAR 1:

29. April 2020, 10:00 Uhr bis 11:00 Uhr: Marken, Designs, Patente – Überblick

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 2:

29. April 2020, 14:00 Uhr bis 15:00: Update MaMoG - Änderungen ab 1. Mai 2020 und Update Brexit

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 3:

27. Mai 2020, 10:00 Uhr bis 11:00 Uhr: Markenrecht - 1 x 1 (Deutsch)

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 4:

27. Mai 2020, 17:00 Uhr bis 18:00 Uhr: Trademark Law - Basics (English)

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 5:

17. Juni 2020, 17:00 Uhr bis 18:00 Uhr: Brand Value & Financial Instruments (English)

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 6:

1. Juli 2020, 10:00 Uhr bis 11:00 Uhr: Designrecht - 1 x 1 (Deutsch)

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 7:

1. Juli 2020, 17:00 Uhr bis 18:00 Uhr: Design Law - Basics (English)

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 8:

7. Oktober 2020, 10:00 Uhr bis 11:00 Uhr: Markenrecht advanced - für Fortgeschrittene: Erhaltung der Marke

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 9:

25. November 2020, 10:00 Uhr bis 11:00 Uhr: Designrecht advanced - für Fortgeschrittene: Strategische Überlegungen zur Anmeldung

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

WEBINAR 10:

9. Dezember 2020, 17:00 bis 18:00 Uhr: BREXIT update - Legal changes in trademark and design law as of 1 January 2021 (English)

Anmeldung unter: XING oder Eventbrite

Unterlagen / Teilnahmebestätigung:

Die Unterlagen/Slides werden den Teilnehmern im Nachgang zum jeweiligen Webinar per Email oder zum Download (per Link) gerne übermittelt. Auf Wunsch stellen wir auch gerne eine Teilnahmebestätigung aus.

Sprecher:

Alexandra Dellmeier, Rechtsanwältin und Fachanwältin für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz, Inhaberin der Kanzlei LexDellmeier

F. Andrea Breier, LL.M., Rechtsanwältin 

Karolin Ernst, Rechtsanwältin 

Veranstalter:

LexDellmeier – Intellectual Property Law Firm

Kanzlei für Gewerblichen Rechtsschutz

Nymphenburger Str. 23

80335 München

www.lexdellmeier.com

Corona. Not just a beer, a cigar or a white halo during a solar eclipse, but also one of a group of viruses that infect humans and can be responsible for serious respiratory diseases. Corona viruses are not new which makes it unbelievable, how fast the latest mutation has become a threat to our economy on a global basis. But any crisis should not just be seen as an obstacle, but also as a chance to review, think, improve, find solutions and move forward.

With people panicking and bowing to the Corona virus, companies slowing down or completely shutting down business and governments seeming somewhat lost to cool down the situation, recession seems to be ahead.

In times like these it is important to remember the words of Francis Gurry, said in an interview during the financial crisis in 2009 (see https://news.un.org/en/story/2009/09/313102-economic-crisis-drives-down-applications-patents-and-trademarks-un-report). Back then, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) stated that “History has shown… that companies and countries which continue to invest in new products and innovation during times of economic recession will be those that will be best positioned to take advantage of the recovery, when it arrives.” Let us keep this in mind and be prepared to face the months to come!

While it will be important for technology driven companies and branches to keep investing in innovations and patent applications, studies have shown that trademarks are just as and increasingly important to the economic success of a company. Trademarks are powerful means of marketing a company’s product. Especially in economically difficult times, consumers pay more attention to quality and performance. Thus, companies should be confident and not bow to a crisis by selling their products at lower and lower prices but face the challenge in order to strengthen customer loyalty by investing in trademarks and marketing. Trademarks that convey a convincing emotional promise of success and reliability will make it easy for the consumer to choose the respective product over those of competitors with less credibility. Those individuals, start-ups, SME’s and large corporations who continue to invest in innovation and marketing will have a head-start after the crisis.

However, for a company to invest in trademarks and the corresponding marketing efforts, it is important to register the trademark in all relevant markets and, thus, bar third parties from taking advantage of those marketing efforts.

Overall, let us keep in mind what American economist Milton Friedman once said: “When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought through, and are made effective.“

Stay well, everyone!

IMPORTANT FOREWORD (Date 10 March 2020): In view of the ongoing Corona/Covid-19-crisis: Our thoughts and best wishes are with all persons, institutions etc. (incl. doctors/medical staff, persons infected incl. family, fiends & colleagues as well and individuals and companies) who are encountering health issues, anxieties and economical losses due Corona/Covid-19. Please all stay safe and we call for support and solidarity in an unconventional manner between all parties (e.g. individuals, business partners, institutions, governments etc.) involved during these uncertain times.

Blog-entry and Update LexDellmeier:

In view of the crisis and technological innovations at LexDellmeier we wanted to update you. We have expanded our availibitly to an online booking tool (available 24/7) to be found on its website in 

English: https://www.lexdellmeier.com/en/book-online

German: https://www.lexdellmeier.com/de/terminbuchung

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Similar to already known services like Opentable (online bookings for restaurants) we have set up an online booking website where you can "book a lawyer" for a personal meeting, telcon, Skype, FaceTime, Teams etc. meeting and consultation. The tool is available 24/7. You will receive an immediate confirmation of receipt of the "booking invitation". Currently, a separate confirmation regarding confirmation of the day and time will be sent via email shortly afterwards. However, full-automization (as with OpenTable) is underway. Currently, we are still in a "test phase". However, especially start-ups and clients from oversees and from different time zones have enjoyed trying out the tool and using it as ist is simpler than sending an email. 

Besides this new online booking tool - and especially due to the current Corona/Covid-19-crisis - please note:

- that our office is staffed at all times during regular office hours (in case of shut downs we have an emergency plan and team(s) in place)

- we can work 100% digital/paperless

- we meanwhile have 100% home-office covereage incl. taking telcons over VoIP, using Teams (formerly Skype for Business) etc. from our fully equipped home-offices

- are connected electronically to all IP offices we service, namely the German Patent and Trademark Office (GPTO), the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the World Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

You may of course use any an all regular means of contacting us (phone, fax, email - central email: info(a)lexdellmeier.com).