Manolo Blahnik and the legal dispute in China: The “trademark squatting” phenomenon.

Manolo Blahnik, the British luxury footwear brand, became famous thanks to its fans among celebrities and frequent appearances in the series “Sex and the City”. Founded by Spanish designer Manolo Blahnik, the brand is recognized for the elegance of its shoes, becoming a symbol of refinement in women’s fashion. However, for more than two decades, […]
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 […]
The importance of trademark renewal.

Renewing and maintaining a trademark is an essential step in ensuring continued brand protection. According to the Trademark Law (Law 84/1998) the registration of a trademark takes effect starting from the date of the regulatory filing of the trademark and has a validity of 10 years. After this deadline has expired, trademark renewal becomes an […]
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), […]