Zicaffe v. Zacaffe: : Trademark conflict between ZARA and a Sicilian café

The trademark landscape is often marked by disputes as established brands expand into new industries. One such case, which attracts attention, involves Inditex, Zara’s parent company, and the Sicilian coffee roaster Zicaffe. The conflict arose after Zara filed an application for registration of the ZACAFFE trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), prompting […]
European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights.

In the globalised and digitalised era of the 21st century, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship are the central pillars of European economic, cultural and social wealth. In this context, the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights becomes essential. The European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights, part of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), […]
Practical aspects regarding the assignment of the trademark registered at EUIPO. Total vs. partial assignment.

Assignment of a trademark is the process by which the owner of a trademark transfers ownership rights over it to another party. The transfer of rights may be made for consideration (against a price), free of charge, or by donation or will. This process may involve the assignment of the trade mark in its entirety […]
Trademark renewal as a key element of success

According to Law no. 84/1998 on trademarks and geographical indications, republished, the registration of a trademark takes effect from the date of the regulatory filing of the trademark and has a validity of 10 years. After the expiry of this period, renewal of the trademark becomes an essential step in the management and protection of […]
Can a person’s face become a trademark?

Over time, people have registered as a trademark all sorts of signs: from the simplest to the most unimaginable words, shapes, drawings, even sounds. To date, more than two million trade marks have been registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), so anyone who wants to register a new trade mark that is […]
How to choose a strong brand/trademark?

The success of your business can be an indication that your brand is commercially strong, as the nature of a brand, especially its relative strength or weakness, will have a direct influence on its market performance and scope of legal protection. A ‘strong’ trade mark is a trade mark which has a highly distinctive character, […]
Elvis Presley versus BrewDog: How far would you go to protect your brand?

As consumers, we meet a multitude of well-known brands in the food and beverage sector on a daily basis. Whether it’s choosing cereal or morning coffee, or choosing specific ingredients and garnishes for the evening meal. It therefore goes without saying that intellectual property protection for your food and drink business is vital, as it […]
The Forbidden Fruit of Intellectual Property: When a Universal Symbol Comes into Dispute

Apple v. Fruit Union Suisse Case When you think of tech company Apple, do you think of that iconic logo — the silhouette of an apple with a bite out? Well, Apple owns the trademark for this logo, which means it has the exclusive right to use it. In Switzerland, the company is now trying […]
Moka coffee maker: How a registered design revolutionized coffee ritual.

Today, in September 5th, the world of design and innovation gathers in a remarkable event in the vibrant city of Berlin. The fourth edition of the DesignEuropa Awards (DEA), organised by EUIPO, takes place here. This prestigious event celebrates excellence in design for holders of registered Community Designs (RCDs) across the European Union. DesignEuropa’s jury […]
Advantages of EU Trademarks over National Trademarks

Trademark rights have a territorial character, meaning that protection will be in force only in the country where the trademark is registered. If you want your mark to be protected in several EU countries, a good option is to apply for a European Union trade mark (EUTM), which is registered by the European Union Intellectual […]