IP Review
IP Review is a monthly round-up of what's going on in the world of IP, reporting on news regarding trademarks, patents, copyright, design rights and other forms of intellectual property from publications the world over.
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News Archive30 December: Google looses to Groovle
An ICANN-approved arbitration body has ruled that a Canadian search engine called Groovle.com is not confusingly similar to Google and may continue to trade.
PCWorld
21 December: Microsoft sued over Bing trademark
Bing! Information Design, a small design firm from Missouri, is suing Microsoft over allegations Microsoft’s trademark Bing causes damage and confusion with its own mark Bing!
IT Pro
17 December: Star Wars’ creator loses copyright battle
The Appeal Court has ruled that Shepperton Design Studios, designer of the original Storm Trooper helmet for the Star Wars film, can continue selling replica helmets as they are not covered by UK copyright law because they were not "works of art".
Telegraph
15 December: Asda takes Sainsbury’s slogan
Asda has adopted a new slogan by adapting one of Sainsbury’s – ‘Good food costs less at Asda' - as it aims to attract Sainsbury’s middle England customers to its recently relaunched Extra Special premium lines.
The Times
15 December: North Face sues South Butt
The North Face Apparel Corp. is suing The South Butt LLC demanding the company, run by 18 year old Jimmy Winkelmann, cease trading its parody clothing products.
Mounteverest
10 December: Decision reversed so Bratz dolls to stay on shelves
A US appeals court has overturned a previous decision ordering MGA Entertainment to cease from selling its Bratz dolls, with Mattel successfully arguing that the Bratz range was conceived whilst the designer was working for it entitling Mattel to own the copyright.
BBC
10 December: Cornish Sardines awarded PGI status
Cornish Sardines – originally branded pilchards - have become the UK's 40th food name awarded protected geographical indication (PGI) status by the EU.
Guardian
10 December: Crocs sued by Columbia over trade secrets
Columbia Sportswear is suing Crocs over allegations a former employee started working for Crocs while still under contract to Columbia. Columbia is claiming $310,000 in damages as well as a halt in sales of specific footwear models and the forfeit of profits.
Examiner
10 December: Darling reduces tax on royalties
In the latest budget, Alistair Darling announced a reduction on the amount of tax liable on royalty income from 2013, from 28% to 10%.
Accountancy Age
09 December: £10 for a Skegness ‘Fisherman’ tattoo
Skegness Town Council, which owns the copyright to its famous Jolly Fisherman poster, is to charge tattoo parlours £10 every time they put its figure on people.
BBC
08 December: Hostess brand loses bid to claim domain name
Hostess, a US snack cake and confectionary brand, has lost its bid to claim a domain name ‘hostess.com’, with the judge ruling that lack of use does not constitute bad faith and that hostess is a common word.
Domain Name Wire
07 December: Destiny’s Child settles copyright dispute
Former members of Destiny’s Child, Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, have settled the copyright dispute with singer/songwriter Rickey Allen who claims the band’s song Cater 2 U was inspired by a track he wrote in the late 1990s.
Contactmusic
04 December: Dior successfully defeats D1OR
Christian Dior Couture Societe has succeeded in its petition to the Spanish Court of Appeals to cancel the mark D1OR for its obvious resemblance to its ‘Christian Dior’ trademark.
Marques
03 December: Mr Monster Munch
25 year old plumber Chris Hunt has changed his name by deed pole after his favourite brand – Monster Munch – which he eats three bags of a day. Mr Munch has not contacted the brand owner, Walkers.
Telegraph
03 December: Starbucks sues Charbucks over confusions
Starbucks is suing New Hampshire based coffee company Black Bear Micro Roastery for selling a blend called Charbucks which Starbucks claims confuses consumers and dilutes its brand equity.
Bloomberg
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