Copyright does not only apply to art with the capital A. Also daily used articles are covered by its protection. However, the product (a work) must be an original creation. In short, creative choices have to be made. If another company launches a very similar product, this can be a copyright infringement.
This summer Ilja Gort, a well-known Dutch writer, musician and wine maker, made his way into court again. This time, the question was whether the brand “Dutch Tulip Vodka” is an infringement of the trademark rights of Mr Gort’s “La Tulipe” wines. Parties had not been able to reach a settlement, neither outside the court nor in chambers, so in the end the court has to decide this case.
To prevent third parties from using the name and heritage of John Lennon, Yoko Ono has registered the name as a trademark. The word mark JOHN LENNON is registered for a wide range of goods and services, including soft drinks. When soft drinks are offered using the name JOHN LEMON, advertised depicting, inter alia, the iconic glasses of John Lennon, she objects successfully. The parties reach a settlement. The soft drink is renamed, holding sufficient distance from the name John Lennon.
Positive ratings one ones website can be very important. For that reason, it seems attractive to bend the truth a little bit as a company / website manager. For example, can you make selections in the reviews being showed?
In the new billboard campaign of Suitsupply we see a male in suit putting his hand on the chest of another male, while another one depicts two kissing males. The reactions provoked by this campaign bring to mind the world-famous advertising campaigns of Benetton with Oliviero Toscani. Suitsupply puts a statement on its website underlining this. 'The Suitsupply spring ad campaign celebrates individuality and love. At Suitsupply, everyone can find their perfect fit, in clothing and in life, and we mean everyone. This is true to our brand and our culture. We are proud of who and what we stand for." It would not surprise me if this campaign wins some prizes worldwide.
The outer appearance of a product can be claimed with a registered design. There are two requirements for this. The design must be novel and have an individual character. The requirement of novelty often forms a problem. At the product launch, it is not immediately clear whether the product will become a success. That is why in the EU one can still apply for a registered design for up to 12 months after the first publication, but this is a very tough deadline.
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Een korte introductie tekst over de nieuwsbrief waarin je uitlegt wat het is. Hoe je direct de nieuwste editie kunt lezen en hoe je je kunt abonneren. And click here for all the numbers.
Among others in this issue:
• EUIPO vs Mora TV: weigering geluidsmerk
• Jägermeister vs Alte Heiler: stop Russische copycat
• Stichting Nederlandse Top 40: gericht op Benelux?
• Tijdschrift HART vs Hermitage: soortgelijkheid
• Monique Granneman: nieuwe partner Abcor
