On 19 June 2020 Hong Kong gazetted the Trade Marks (Amendment) Ordinance, paving the way for the application of the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) in Hong Kong. This
June 2020
A smooth [not crunchy] win in Bega’s favour
The facts of the 2019 Federal Court decision in Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC v Bega Cheese Limited were far from simple. The case centred around a battle between Kraft and Bega, involving considerations of ownership and divestment of rights …
USPTO Expedited Initial Examination for COVID-19-Related Trademark Applications
On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) announced a new program, effective June 16, 2020, to help expedite the initial examination of U.S. trademark applications for marks relating to qualifying COVID-19 medical goods or services.…
Canada’s Trademark Overhaul – 1 year out
On June 17, 2019, Canada’s trademark regime went through the most significant changes in over 50 years. Where have we landed, a year after the new provisions came into force?
One thing seems certain: Canada’s Trademark Examiners are loving the…
Insights from the Australian Intellectual Property Report 2020
Intellectual Property (IP) Australia published their 2020 edition of the Australian IP Report (the IP Report) on 24 April 2020. The IP Report, which can be accessed here, provides a current overview of the IP sector…
Singapore leads the way on promoting its IP Hub
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) made headlines recently when its Chief Executive, Daren Tang, was appointed as the next Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation with effect from 1 October 2020 (see this link for more…
Canadian Intellectual Property Office Further Extends Deadlines to July 6, 2020
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) has announced a further extension of deadlines to July 6, 2020.
All statutory deadlines under the Patent Act, the Trademarks Act, and the Industrial Design Act falling between March…
The effect of Brexit on .eu domain names
Since the United Kingdom (UK) will be a third country after the end of the transition period (ending December 31, 2020) EU law will no longer apply[1]. This change of the legal situation also has effects on the…
New Balance lands a win in China
New Balance, the US sports shoemaker, has had a tough time of it in the PRC IP courts over the last twenty years, in particular against Niu Ba Lun (China) Co., Ltd. and its predecessors (New Barlun), a…