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We are recruiting! If you are a qualified Trade Mark Attorney looking for a new opportunity then read on.
View vacancy detailsA leading international wholesaler is counting the cost of an ill-judged product launch. Costco is well known for its huge warehouses stocking anything from sandwiches to speedboats. In its US outlets, members were able to purchase diamond rings marked Tiffany via the jewellery counter. However, budding George Peppards and Audrey Hepburns may have been left disappointed as the rings themselves were not manufactured by world renowned jeweller Tiffany & Co. Costco argued that solitaire diamond rings of this type have…
Your most valuable asset Every business is affected by IP to a greater or lesser extent. Although intangible, IP is often the most valuable asset of a company or business, sometimes making up over 80% of the balance sheet. IP creates a trading advantage and sets your business apart from competitors. Protect your hard work and abolish future hassle By protecting IP rights, you can prevent competitors from piggy backing on your hard work and innovation. Securing adequate protection to…
The General Court of the European Union has recently affirmed a decision by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), formerly known as the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), to refuse soft-drinks giant Coca-Cola’s application for a European Union trade mark registration for the three-dimensional shape of a bottle. The company applied for the trade mark in 2011, and it was first rejected in 2013. Bottle Lacks Distinctive Character The bottle shape submitted for trade mark protection…
A Supreme Court ruling against a company based in Bristol has prompted the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to update its guidance for designers. The case in question started in 2013 when Magmatic Limited (Magmatic), the company which produces the Trunki animal-styled ride-on suitcases for children, sued PMS International Group plc (PMS) for infringement of its European Community design registration. The English High Court initially found for Magmatic, but an appeal by PMS was upheld by the Court of Appeal. …
A recent report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) shows that Japan and the US are at the head of the group of nations leading the way in 3D printing and other breakthrough technologies. The report, ‘World Intellectual Property Report 2015: Breakthrough Innovation and Economic Growth’, examines three current innovative technologies against a background of 200 years of technological innovation. IP Growth in New Technologies The three technologies considered by the report are: 3D printing, nanotechnology and robotics. In…
In a young, growing and potentially very lucrative market, patents, design rights and reputation matter. Two of the best-known names in the wearable activity tracking device market, Jawbone and Fitbit, are currently battling each other over allegations of poaching staff, industrial espionage and patent infringement. Both companies have a loyal user following and have been concentrating on establishing and protecting their businesses by filing for patent and design rights, whilst jealously guarding their technological and strategy planning secrets. Jawbone accuses…
As car manufacturers continue to develop and test new technologies that are designed to make driving easier and safer, Google has filed a patent application that gives new insight into its plans for a self-driving car. Google’s car will use a range of sensors to ensure it operates safely, taking into account other road users as well as road conditions. In particular, its latest patent demonstrates how it will use sensors, radar and a camera to collect data about objects…
Once again SH&P will be exhibiting at the Business Showcase South West event at the Colston Hall, Bristol from 14th-15th May. New for this year is the Seminar Room brought to you by SH&P. Over two days exhibitors will be presenting a series of content driven seminars which will include Discover Your Strategic Assets, a workshop presented by Jon Welfoot (SH&P) and Paul Nickson and Paul Johnston (Shirlaws Group). “Businesses aren’t just about products or services; businesses frequently develop innovative…
The 2015 James Dyson Award – a competition that is open to university students or recent graduates studying product design, industrial design or engineering – is now open for entries until 2 July. The competition runs across 20 countries and the brief for entrants is to “design something that solves a problem”. The competition is a lucrative one for successful entrants. In addition to the prestige of the Dyson name, national winners receive £2,000, whilst the overall international winner receives…
An index compiled by the US Chamber of Commerce Global Intellectual Property (IP) Center has place the UK at number one for IP enforcement. This result is a reflection of the UK’s strong IP legislation which, in the report, is ranked as second only to the USA’s own laws. The report, which considers a variety of factors in both legislation and enforcement, considered the UK system to be robust, although with areas for improvement, which include software piracy – the…