Blog
Writing on IP, domains and brand protection
Longer pieces on trademarks, domain disputes, designs and copyright. For the practical guides, start with the service pages.
10 October 2024
Eight IP mistakes entrepreneurs make, and what they cost
Filing late, assuming a company name is a trademark, no written IP assignment from contractors, and five more errors that turn into rebrands and disputes.
20 June 2023
Hermes v Rothschild: trademarks in the metaverse
A New York jury found that MetaBirkins NFTs infringed the Hermes trademark, and awarded $133,000. What the decision means for brands not yet selling virtual goods.
30 May 2023
Six trademark myths that cost businesses money
A unique company name is not a trademark. A domain is not protection. Social handles are not rights. Six beliefs that lead businesses into avoidable rebrands.
18 April 2023
How to buy a domain name without creating a legal problem
Choosing a registrar, checking availability, and the step most people skip: making sure the name is not already somebody else trademark before you build a brand on it.
15 March 2023
How EUIPO classifies NFTs and virtual goods
EUIPO will not accept "virtual goods" or "NFTs" on their own in a trademark application. What the Guidelines require instead, with accepted wording and the right classes.
14 August 2022
How to prove use of an EU trademark
What EUIPO accepts as proof of genuine use: the goods registered for, the territory, the five-year period, and the evidence that actually carries weight.
14 August 2022
Why an unused EU trademark can be cancelled
You do not have to use an EU trademark to register or renew it. But after five years, a third party can demand proof of use, and without it the registration can be cancelled.
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