Good News! In 2021, applications filed in Canada went up 13.7%, partly due to Canada’s accession to the Madrid Protocol. When Canada is designated via the Madrid Protocol, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will communicate directly with the applicant if a Canadian trademark agent is not appointed. Correspondence from the CIPO, such as office …
Brand Protection and Fighting Fakes Online
The shift to online marketplaces has created an incredible boom for some, and significant loss to others. Branding has become more important than ever, particularly in developing an online presence through search engines, various online platforms, and social media. Further, the rise of the “influencer” has opened additional opportunities to deliver brands and products to …
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United States V. Arthrex: Inter Partes Review Decisions Now Reviewable by the PTO Director
On June 21, 2021, the Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Arthrex, which created a review process that gives the PTO Director the ability to independently review decisions rendered by Administrative Patent Judges (“APJs”) and issue, modify, or otherwise change those decisions on behalf of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”). …
What You Need To Know: Intellectual Property and Non-Fungible Tokens
Over the last several years, you may have heard the term “blockchain.” Blockchain technology has emerged as an innovative, record-keeping technology, most notably recognized as the underlying technology behind Bitcoin cryptocurrency. The most innovative part of blockchain is that it is decentralized: not controlled by any one person or company. It is transparent in the …
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New Stimulus Bill Creates Small Claims Copyright Court
On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the highly anticipated COVID-19 stimulus relief and government-funding bill. The second stimulus package is omnibus legislation spanning over 5,500 pages, and includes several provisions that will influence the intellectual property legal landscape. In this article, we will take a brief look at the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement …
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BREXIT – EUTM Registrations and Cloned United Kingdom Registrations
The Brexit transition period ended on December 31, 2020. As of January 1, 2021, the United Kingdom will have left the European Union trademark and design system. Although European-wide rights such as European Trademarks (EUTMs) will now cease to have effect in the United Kingdom, identical U.K. trademark rights will be automatically created or “cloned” …
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What to Know About the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020
Over the weekend, President Trump signed the second COVID-19 relief bill. While Coronavirus relief takes center stage in the news, the omnibus legislation is actually a hefty, 5,500+ pages with noteworthy changes to intellectual property law. In this first of three posts, we’ll take a brief look at the coming changes to federal trademark law. …
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Amazon’s New Utility Patent Neutral Evaluation Process
With businesses becoming increasingly dependent on the sale of goods at online marketplaces such as Amazon.com, especially during the pandemic, it has become increasingly important to quickly combat product listings that violate intellectual property rights. Amazon’s new Utility Patent Neutral Evaluation Process (UPNEP) provides a streamlined process for contesting product listings that infringe patent rights. …
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THE SURPRISING SCOPE OF EUROPEAN DESIGN PATENT RIGHTS
The scope of European design patents are quite surprising. Unlike in the U.S., design patent applications in Europe are not reviewed by an Examiner to determine patentability – the patent application just has to meet the formality requirements to grant. Thus, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) does not determine the scope of a …
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Welcome to IP Brief!
Today, Dickinson Wright PLLC launches its latest blog, IP Brief. Our blog will provide you with up-to-date information on new issues impacting all aspects of the intellectual property law landscape. IP Brief will cover a variety of topics in the fields of patent, trademark and copyright law, as well as legislative updates, case studies, and …