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It’s often said that 80% of New Year’s resolutions have gone out the window by February. There are probably a multitude of reasons why this should be so but high on the list is the fact that most resolutions are outcome goals rather than process goals.

1919 was an interesting year in terms of the world stage. In France, the Treaty of Versailles brought about the end of WW1, ushering in a new stability. The oldest existing airline, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, was established. The British House of Commons elected their first female member, Lady Astor, who was born in the US.

Having joined TrademarkNow a few months ago to do marketing, this is a good time to reflect on some of the things I have learned about trademarks along the way. And definitely some of the things every marketer involved with brands (i.e. everyone!) should keep in mind and realize.

Although the tradition of bearing Christmas gifts is as old as the Christianity itself, Christmas celebration traditions with a Christmas tree are traced back to the 16th century Germany, with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularizing it in the UK and the US closer to the end of the 19th century.

The holiday season is almost upon us and we take a quick look back through 10 of the most popular blogs of 2018:

Predicting the rise or fall of trends in any industry is a tricky business. No one wants to be caught wearing last season’s hemlines, guiltily adding sugar (bad) to your coffee (apparently also bad) instead of sinking wheatgrass shots whilst perfecting your downward facing dog or any of a host of potential missteps. The trademark industry has its own trends and I think it’s safe to bet that we will be hearing more about these issues in 2019!

One of the most frequently asked questions by those newer to the trademark world is “How long will it take to get my trademark registered?” Frustratingly, as with so very many things in the legal world, the real answer is “It depends”. There are genuine reasons why this should be so. Innumerable factors can impact your application to register a trademark and no promises can be made as to the time that your specific application will take. However, there are some indications that you can use to create a general guideline of what you might expect in Canada.

Confusion around various elements of trademarks abound. Queries such as  whether you can use a particular mark and whether you need to file an application to register a trademark are common. One area of confusion lies around the TM and R symbols, what they represent and why and when you should use them.

“Humiliation on a grand scale”. “The country in turmoil”. “An economic depression akin to the 1930s”. What a week it has been in British politics. On 11 December 2018, Parliamentarians will have a “meaningful vote” on both the Withdrawal Agreement and the outline for the future relationship between Brexit Britain and the European Union (EU). At the time of writing, it has been predicted Prime Minister, Theresa May’s proposed deal will be rejected, and given that the EU has stated it will not renegotiate, the country will be left with two stark choices – no deal or no Brexit.

Across Intellectual Property Offices (IPOs) globally, different regulations, systems and practices mean that at least a passing familiarity with that region is helpful in terms of successful trademark registration. In the EU, for example, it is a requirement that the representative who files the application to register a trademark has an EU address. That representative does not have to be a trademark attorney although if your application encounters difficulty, one will be required to manage certain issues.