By: Melinda Upton, Nicholas Boyle, Jessie Buchan, Lucy Meadley and Valiant Warzecha Businesses are constantly looking for an extra dimension that will allow their brand to cut through the saturation of the modern world. Increasingly, corporate re-brands or brand refreshes are including bespoke musical themes known as ‘sound identities’ or ‘audio brands’ to create a … Continue Reading
By: John Wilks, Claire Sng and Sophie Anim Background The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has announced, following its investigation (see our earlier article available here), that it has secured commitments from 16 social media influencers about how they post online (see link to CMA press release here). The influencers, including singer Rita Ora and … Continue Reading
By: John M. Nading, Ashley H. Joyce, and Devika Persaud In a sign of a potentially liberalizing trend for standing at the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the Board recently ruled that a consumer had standing to oppose a company’s application for the trademark RAPUNZEL for dolls and toy figures. Curtin v. United Trademark … Continue Reading
By Tamar Duvdevani (NY), Airina Rodrigues (NY) and Michael Geller (Chicago) Interview with Melissa Schoffer Farber, SoulCycle’s Senior Director of Legal Affairs To describe New York-based SoulCycle as a company offering indoor cycling classes is a serious understatement. While SoulCycle does tout 90 locations in the US and Canada, with a growing international presence, the … Continue Reading
By: Ryan Compton and Thomas Holguin After many years of litigation and lobbying expenses, the battle over pre-1972 music rights has finally been ended. On October 11, 2018, President Trump signed the Music Modernization Act (“MMA”), legislation that purports to provide additional protection for song writers and publishers, as well as to provide a clearer … Continue Reading
By John Wilks, Claire Sng and Ella Castle In the wake of GDPR, the UK’s Committee of Advertising Practice has amended the CAP Code to introduce new rules on the use of data for marketing. It has also launched a consultation on potential further rule changes relating to child marketing data and prizewinners. BACKGROUND As … Continue Reading
By Désirée Fields (Legal Director, London) and Yannick Aaron Zirnstein (Referendar/Trainee Lawyer, Cologne) Important changes to UK trademark law will come into effect on 14 January 2019 in order to implement the European Trademark Directive 2015. While some of the changes are minor in the nature, others are quite significant or even brand new. The … Continue Reading
By John Wilks and Claire Sng Background The ASA has this week published new guidance for influencers about how to make their ads clear (see link here “Guidance”). This Guidance follows the ASA’s call for evidence in March 2018. This is a hot topic at the moment with: The European Commission having just published a report about … Continue Reading
By Claire Sng Yesterday at a conference hosted by the UK advertising regulator, the ASA, billed as “The future of ad regulation”, the ASA announced its new 5 year plan entitled “More impact online”, with an ambition of making every UK ad responsible (see link here). Reflecting on the change in landscape that has occurred, Guy … Continue Reading
By Désirée Fields and Sam Mitchell Geographical Indications (GIs) are signs used on products in order to inform consumers about a product’s geographical origin and a quality, characteristic or reputation of the product linked to its place of origin. GIs such as Scotch Whiskey and Parmesan cheese, have generated significant value for EU farmers and … Continue Reading
By: Sam Mitchell THE UNITARY PATENT (UP) AND UNIFIED PATENT COURT (UPC) BACKGROUND This week, the UK Government released multiple technical notes detailing the intellectual property implications of a no-deal Brexit for exhaustion of rights, patents, trademarks and designs, and copyright. A few months ago, the idea of a no-deal Brexit was only entertained as … Continue Reading
By: Sam Mitchell BACKGROUND This week, the UK Government released multiple technical notes detailing the intellectual property implications of a no-deal Brexit for exhaustion of rights, patents, trademarks and designs, and copyright. A few months ago, the idea of a no-deal Brexit was only entertained as a highly unlikely, ‘worst-case scenario’. The following four notes … Continue Reading
By: Sam Mitchell PATENTS BACKGROUND This week, the UK Government released multiple technical notes detailing the intellectual property implications of a no-deal Brexit for exhaustion of rights, patents, trademarks and designs, and copyright. A few months ago, the idea of a no-deal Brexit was only entertained as a highly unlikely, ‘worst-case scenario’. The following four … Continue Reading
By: Sam Mitchell TRADEMARKS AND DESIGNS BACKGROUND This week, the UK Government released multiple technical notes detailing the intellectual property implications of a no-deal Brexit for exhaustion of rights, patents, trademarks and designs, and copyright. A few months ago, the idea of a no-deal Brexit was only entertained as a highly unlikely, ‘worst-case scenario’. The … Continue Reading
By: Sam Mitchell BACKGROUND This week, the UK Government released multiple technical notes detailing the intellectual property implications of a no-deal Brexit for exhaustion of rights, patents, trademarks and designs, and copyright. A few months ago, the idea of a no-deal Brexit was only entertained as a highly unlikely, ‘worst-case scenario’. The following four notes … Continue Reading
By: John Nading, Ashley Joyce, and Devika Persaud In a 7-4 en banc decision last Friday, July 27, the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that language in the Patent Act does not allow the USPTO to recover its attorneys’ fees regardless of which party prevails in a district court litigation. NantKwest, Inc. v. … Continue Reading
By Claire Sng and John Wilks With the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) having taken effect across the EU on 25 May 2018, this has meant a big change to the availability of WHOIS data (ie data recording – among other things – the persons who own domain names). See an earlier DLA Piper article … Continue Reading
By: Ann K. Ford and James K.S. Stewart The immense rise in popularity of social networks has led to the proliferation of social media celebrities—individuals who have amassed a great number of “followers” based on their unique ability to artfully curate content designed to create an idyllic impression of everyday life and along the way … Continue Reading
By: James Clark The United Kingdom has announced plans to introduce a new “Data Protection Fee” to replace the current system of registration for data controllers. Draft Regulations[1] were laid before Parliament on 20 February 2018 and the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”), the independent supervisory authority set up to promote and oversee compliance with data protection … Continue Reading
By Nick Fitzpatrick, Peter C. White, Prof Dr Stefan Engels, Qiang Li, Giangiacomo Olivi, David R. Pahl, and Jamie Ryder (Repost from DLA Piper Insights re: Global Media Sector Trends 2018 report –March 2018) DLA Piper’s new Global Media Sector Trends 2018 report explores how new commercial opportunities are being created by disruption, specifically in … Continue Reading
By Tamar Duvdevani and Matthew Ganas (with contributions from Michael Varrige) The Copyright Act (the “Act”) permits copyright holders to bring civil infringement actions in federal district courts to enforce the exclusive rights provided under the Act, namely, the rights to reproduce, distribute, display, publicly perform, and create derivatives of an original work of authorship. … Continue Reading
By: Frank Ryan and Matt Ganas (with contribution from Michael Varrige) The California federal district court, in Davis v. Electronic Arts Inc., recently issued the latest in a series of decisions involving athletes’ right of publicity (“ROP”) claims aimed at Electronic Arts’ (“EA”) popular sports videogame franchise. The plaintiffs in Davis are retired NFL players … Continue Reading
By Ryan C. Compton, Ashley H. Joyce, and Naomi E. Abraham (Washington, D.C.) Today’s means of communication is ever more dependent on social media. Whether you’re an individual, a one-woman shop, a fortune-500 company, or even the President of the United States, social media is the fastest and easiest way to be heard. But where … Continue Reading
By: Ruth Hoy and James Tighe On 6 September 2017, the EU Commission published its position paper setting out the main principles that will govern its attitude to Brexit negotiations with the UK on intellectual property (the “Paper”). The Paper sets out 5 General Principles: Principle 1: European IP rights should continue to retain comparable … Continue Reading
