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Deep dive into 2025 Annual Report case highlights difficulti...July 16 2025Deep dive into 2025 Annual Report case highlights difficulties for brand owners in proving trademark use under Class 35Live commerce has emerged as a major consumer purchasing channel in recent years. However, the China National IP Administration (CNIPA) has not yet articulated under which subgroup of services such ac...July 16 2025 -
Chinese court invalidates MECHELEN mark registered on playin...June 10 2025Chinese court invalidates MECHELEN mark registered on playing cards, citing risk of dilution to MICHELIN brandIn a decision that underscores China’s evolving jurisprudence on well-known trademarks, the Beijing High Court ordered the invalidation of a copycat mark piggybacking on the globally renowned “MICHE...June 10 2025 -
INAO successfully blocked registration of trademark ‘L'OIE ...June 03 2025INAO successfully blocked registration of trademark ‘L'OIE DES LANDES’The INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L'ORIGINE ET DE LA QUALITE (INAO) is a public administrative institution in France, with civil personality, under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sover...June 03 2025 -
Pétrus wine scores victory in copycat disputeJan 22 2025Pétrus wine scores victory in copycat disputePétrus is a world-renowned French wine estate located in Bordeaux’s ‘Pomerol’ appellation. Known for producing one of the most prestigious and sought-after wines in the world, it is particularly f...Jan 22 2025 -
What is fuelling the decline in Chinese trademark filings?Jan 16 2025What is fuelling the decline in Chinese trademark filings?China has witnessed a significant decline in trademark filings and registrations over the past few years. Declining trademark numbers between 2021 and 2023 have raised questions about the underlying c...Jan 16 2025 -
Chinese courts divided over whether code scratching constitu...Jan 08 2025Chinese courts divided over whether code scratching constitutes trademark infringementUnder the exhaustion-of-rights principle, once an IP-protected product is sold, the IP owner's exclusive rights over that specific product are exhausted. In other words, once a product legally enters ...Jan 08 2025 -
INAO triumphs in invalidating copycat trademarks before Beij...Dec 30 2024INAO triumphs in invalidating copycat trademarks before Beijing IP CourtThe Beijing IP Court has held up the China National IP Administration (CNIPA)’s decision to invalidate the marks of a Chinese agricultural company due to it piggybacking on the reputation of a French...Dec 30 2024 -
Chinese courts continue to butt heads over trademark use for...Dec 27 2024Chinese courts continue to butt heads over trademark use for establishing infringementIn September 2024, the China Trademark Association published a list of landmark trademark cases – administrative and judicial – from 1994 to present. The latest case on this list is an administrativ...Dec 27 2024 -
The Protection of Geographical Indications in ChinaNov 27 2024The Protection of Geographical Indications in ChinaThe Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of 15 April 1994 defines Geographical Indications as “ … indications which identify a good as originating in the territ...Nov 27 2024 -
PARIS - DAKAR invalidates copycat mark “MARKMA DAKARA/T”Nov 26 2024PARIS - DAKAR invalidates copycat mark “MARKMA DAKARA/T”The Dakar Rally, often referred to simply as “The Dakar,” stands as one of the most gruelling and legendary events in motorsport history. Held annually, the Dakar Rally is known for its extreme chal...Nov 26 2024 -
Design of Hermès’ iconic Birkin and Kelly bags held to con...Nov 25 2024Design of Hermès’ iconic Birkin and Kelly bags held to constitute “trade dress with a certain influence”Hermès is a prestigious French luxury fashion house founded in 1937, with ladies’ handbags being one of the best-selling products of the company. The trade dress of the Kelly and Birkin handbags, as...Nov 25 2024 -
DEL MONTE FOODS successfully blocks the registration of a se...Nov 15 2024DEL MONTE FOODS successfully blocks the registration of a seemingly dissimilar copycat mark (2024)Del Monte Foods is a leading American food production and distribution company based in California. It is known for its popular brands like Del Monte, S&W, and Contadina. The company was founded in 18...Nov 15 2024