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As we leave the last month of this turbulent decade, it is fascinating to look back at the most significant developments. Imagine going back in time to 2010 and telling someone that over the next ten years, their phone would run almost every aspect of their life (and consume most…

These days it seems like the holiday season is always upon us. Starting on the very first day of the year and ending on New Year’s Eve, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to celebrations! However, along with the lighter side of marking the moment with family and friends, the…

The idea of accessing a consumer society of 1.3 billion souls appeals highly to entrepreneurs the world over. However, finding success in the Chinese market is not for the faint-hearted. Not only are there language barriers, significant cultural differences, and business etiquett…

Brexit. Where do I start? This is the question I imagine is in the minds of most UK Cabinet Ministers as they flick their eyes open every morning, with the knowledge they are one day closer to D-Day – March 29, 2019. Whatever talk there is in the media of extensions and the like,…

The debate between which countries are ‘first to file’ and ‘first to use’ is partially a misnomer from the outset in the sense that the rights to all trademarks are dependent on use - ‘use it or lose it’ is a pertinent expression in this context.

In the trademark world, as indeed in life in general, everything is interconnected and small changes in one area can lead to knock on effects in another. The business world is global and for many companies, expanding their customer base across regions is a necessary goal for comm…

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…

Around the world, each country has developed differently. Even between countries that share common ancestors and language, the differences can be astounding. The business globe is split into ‘key regions’ where closer countries are grouped together - such as North America, EMEA, …

I have never conducted an orchestra but I can see that it must be a very skilled and complex matter indeed. It is an excellent analogy for managing a trademark portfolio with a dependence on excellent timing, perfectly synchronised actions and a very quick ear for any discordant …

As every student of law quickly learns, there is a vast gulf of difference between the theory of law and its application in practice. The Madrid System of filing for international trademark registrations is a prime example. In theory, the Madrid System administered by the World I…