The EU Trademark Regulation (2015/2424/EU) amending the Community Trademark Regulation entered into force on 23 March 2016 (the “new Regulation”). The new Regulation is part of the EU trademark reform legislative package that also includes the replacement of the existing EU Trademarks Directive (2015/2436/EU). Some of the main changes brought about by the new rules are briefly outlined below.
Continue Reading The New European Union Trademark Regulation
On 16 June 2015, the General Court of the European Union (GC) has dismissed an application for a declaration of invalidity in respect of a three-dimensional Community Trademark for the shape of a LEGO figure. Rival company Best-Lock, which offers LEGO-compatible building blocks, had argued, among other things, that the shape of a LEGO figure
In its decision of 15 January 2015, the General Court of the European Union (GC) held that the Principality of Monaco cannot claim protection of the word mark MONACO in the European Union in respect of some of the goods and services applied for. The protection was refused for, inter alia, magnetic data carriers, printed matters, photos, travel arrangement services, entertainment, sports activities, and temporary accommodation.
Continue Reading Trademark MONACO is “Devoid of Distinctive Character”