Advocate General Mengozzi delivered his opinion to the European Union’s Court of Justice (ECJ), on February 16 2012, denying the Appeal sought by Helena Rubenstein SNC and L’Oreal SA concerning the Community trademarks BOTOLIST and BOTOCYL. Botox was registered as a word mark from 1991 to 2003 for goods in Class 5 of the Nice [...]

Posted in Famous Marks, Trademarks
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In view of the recent Federal Court Order, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) will now accept applications for sound marks. This groundbreaking decision arises in recognition of the nearly nineteen year legal conflict with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) whom, after an appeal of a CIPO decision in 2010, have now acquired the right to trade-mark [...]

Posted in Canada, Feature Post, Jurisdiction, Trademarks
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The trademark registration of “arepa”, the name used to describe a traditional Venezuelan food, has generated significant debate and concern among Toronto’s Venezuelan community. Eduardo Lee, the owner to Toronto’s Arepa Café, registered “arepa” in April of 2011. After learning of the registration, members of Toronto’s Venezuelan community have expressed their concern over the ownership [...]

Posted in Trademarks
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If the past month is any indication at all, 2012 is going to be an eventful year for intellectual property legislation, at least in the US and Canada. The controversy over the twin anti-digital piracy bills— the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA)— has gained much attention, particularly because [...]

Posted in Copyright, copyright reform, Freedom of Speech, Infringement, IP, IP Reform, Jurisdiction, Patents, Trademarks, US
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