If you see the “meant-to-be” trophy of the Austin F1 GP for the first time, a doubt assails you, and you almost expect the little one to take off his helmet and reveal himself as the famous Mickey Mouse. Then you wonder… what about copyright? (Expired or still in effect?) Reports indicate that shortly before…

Models, influencers, actors, and media personalities are increasingly inclined to legally protect their image using intellectual property tools. EUIPO recognizes that faces of people or photographic representations of people can be perceived as an indication of commercial origin for goods and services. However, registering a trademark of this type is neither simple nor guaranteed: the…

On June 24, 2024, the European Union adopted its 14th package of sanctions against Russia (Regulation (EU) 2024/1745). The package introduced new obligations for EU companies, including a mandatory clause for intellectual property rights and trade secrets related to common high priority goods and technologies listed in Annex XL. This clause applies to licensing agreements…

In recent years, the adoption of “disemvoweled” trademarks (i.e., trademarks with the vowels removed) has become increasingly common among companies, especially in the technology and fashion sectors. This trend emerged as a way to navigate the growing difficulty of registering new distinctive trademarks due to the increasing number of registered marks. Additionally, the use of…

Qatar will become the 115th member of the Madrid System when the Madrid Protocol comes into effect in the country on August 3, 2024. This accession of Qatar joins that of Bahrain, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates, bringing the total number of Gulf countries that are members of the Protocol to four. Insights: The…

Despite geopolitical tensions, Russia still guarantees the protection of Industrial Property (IP) rights for foreign individuals and entities, albeit with some limitations. Restrictions: Trademark Filings: Rospatent continues to examine trademark applications without discrimination. Ownership by entities from “hostile countries” is not considered an obstacle to registration. Issues: Recommendations:…

Dupe mania is an increasingly widespread trend on social media, where influencers play a key role in promoting copies and imitations of major fashion and cosmetic brands. A quick look at the hashtag #dupe and its variants, such as #fashiondupe, on platforms like Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, reveals the scale of this phenomenon, which mainly…

The Republic of San Marino, with the first decree issued in 2024, has officially introduced trademarks for the origin indications “Made in San Marino” and “100% Made in San Marino,” also establishing the related usage rules for products that can bear such designations. The requirements for using these indications are similar to those for the…