The Power of the Logo
Your brand’s logo is more than just a picture – it’s a powerful legal asset! 🛡 Most people know what a logo is, but do you know how it legally protects your business and prevents rip-offs?
Author: kzborowski
Can a Car’s Shape Be a Brand?
Can a car’s unique shape or grille be a brand, just like a logo? 🚗🛡
Yes, but it’s one of the toughest legal hurdles in IP! This is the world of Three-Dimensional Trademarks, where a design must be non-functional and instantly recognized by customers as coming from a single company. 🤯
STOP Brand Expiring
If you stop using your trademark in a foreign country, you could legally lose it! 🤯
This is the scary reality of the “Use It or Lose It” rule that governs trademarks worldwide. When a global brand leaves a market, like Starbucks exiting Russia, they face a ticking clock ⏳ before competitors can snatch their name.
Athletes’ Personal Brands
Every signature pose, nickname, and iconic celebration — from Cold Palmer’s shiver to Ronaldo’s Siuuu! — is a valuable, revenue-generating asset waiting to be protected. The secret weapon that turns temporary fame into a lifelong financial empire? Intellectual Property (IP).
Can Big Brands Claim EVERY Word in the Dictionary?
This is the central conflict in trademark law: balancing a brand’s need to protect its identity against the public’s need to use common language. The infamous Premier Inn ‘Rest easy’ case is a perfect example of this. ⚖️
From the Pitch to the Register: How Athletes Build Brands Through Trademarks
As you already know, athletes often register trademarks to strengthen their brand!
Registering their name, nickname, distinctive gestures, or logo as a trademark is a way to protect yourself against unauthorized use in the context of clothing, gadgets, cosmetics, or other products.
Premier Inn Wins ‘Rest Easy’ Trademark Battle Against easyGroup
British hotel giant Premier Inn has won a major trademark case against easyGroup, which owns among other things the easyJet airline. 🏆
“Cold Palmer” Trademarked: Smart Legal Move or Brand Power Play?
English midfielder Cole Palmer has successfully registered his iconic nickname, “Cold Palmer” ❄️ as a trademark with the UK Intellectual Property Office. This move grants Palmer an exclusive commercial control over the term, solidifying his status as commercially-aware. 🧠
Mercedes vs. Sany: Why Trademark Protection Requires More Than Registration
In order to protect its brand, Mercedes often engages in intellectual property disputes.
One example is the dispute between Mercedes-Benz and Sany- a Chinese manufacturer of construction machinery. This case concerned the infringement of the Mercedes trademark, but the Court ruled that the three-pointed star trademark is not infringed by a similar three-pointed star trademark owned by Sany, further stating that there is no ‘link’ made by the average consumer between the two logos which would lead to a ‘clear exploitation on the coat-tails of the mark with a reputation’.
Starbucks Refiles Trademarks in Russia: Comeback or Legal Safeguard?
Starbucks has taken a significant legal step in Russia, formally re-registering its core trademarks with the intellectual property office, Rospatent. The filing secures Starbuck’s brand – including the names “Starbucks Coffee” ☕ and “Frappuccino” – for services covering cafes, instant coffee, and loyalty programs until 2034. 🛡️