BURNS IP NEWS
The latest updates from the world of trade marks, patents, and intellectual property law.
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Choosing a Trademark
How do you choose a great trademark for your business? What is best practice for using it? We’ve put together our top tips in this free Trademark Guide
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Protect Your Work
Do you know what your competitors are up to? Find out now with a Trademark Watch.
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Significant increase in government fees for United States trademarks
Effective 2 January 2021, the United States is increasing its fees for filing trademark applications, maintaining trade mark registrations and filing oppositions and cancellation actions before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Foreign trademark applicants must use US-qualified lawyers in the United States
To combat fraudulent submissions, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has passed a new rule: in all trademark matters before the USPTO, foreign-domiciled trademark applicants are required to use an attorney who is licensed to practise law in the United States (U.S.). This rule comes into effect on 3 August 2019.
Legal update: Canada joins the international trademark system
The addition of Canada to the International Trademark Registration system (commonly referred to as the Madrid System, named after the city where the initial treaties were adopted) is a significant expansion of the scope of the Madrid System for both existing and new International Trademark owners.
US giant Kraft loses to Australian food brand Bega
On 1 May 2019, Federal Court of Australia Judge, O’Callaghan J, handed down his decision in the Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC v Bega Cheese Limited (No. 8)[2019] FCA 593 case.
The case centred around who owned the “peanut butter trade dress” between two rival food companies, Kraft and Bega…
Supermac’s lovin’ the revocation of the “Big Mac” EU mark
In a surprising blip in the usually successful litigious history of McDonald’s, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has revoked the multinational fast food giant’s “BIG MAC” trade mark in the European Union (EU).
*Breaking News* - Major Brexit Update
MAJOR BREXIT UPDATE FOR TRADEMARK OWNERS
Over two years ago, a majority of British voters supported the United Kingdom (UK) leaving the European Union (EU). That day of Brexit, Friday 29 March 2019, is now almost upon us.
How will BREXIT impact your European Community trade marks?
3 important IP tools that are available to everyone, not just IP lawyers
These IP tools are available to you - not just IP lawyers…
IP Australia has some world-leading search and monitoring tools that let you quickly access your Australian trade mark and patent portfolio, monitor the status of your IP and conduct clearance searches.
Do you know what your competitors are up to?
Do you want to know what your competitors are up to? You can keep track of their activity with a Trademark Watch.
Official fees for IP Australia to change
IP Australia has advised that it will implement fee changes that will affect trademark, patent, and design registrations in Australia. These fee changes will take effect at 12 a.m. (AEDT), on 10 October 2016.
Know your options for international trademark protection
For Australian businesses, China is identified as the number one export target market, followed closely by the United States, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Japan.
Have you taken steps to protect your trademarks in your future export markets?
Social media & your legal responsibility
The Internet is inherently trans-border in nature and is unconstrained by the boundaries usually associated with other broadcast media such as radio and TV. While some companies lament the loss of control of their message and branding through social media, for many it is recognised as a powerful tool in forming a company’s reputation.
This shift has created many new legal challenges in defamation, privacy, intellectual property and consumer laws. What do you need to know to protect your business and social media sites?
Why it’s important to protect your IP in China
Before you enter into a contract or business relationship with a Chinese entity, make sure you have first filed a trademark application with the China Trademark Office (Industrial Property Office SAIC) to protect your brand.