Never Too Late: if you missed the IPKat last week

Have you been too busy to check on the IPKat? Here’s what happened last week!

Mondays in the sun

Trade Marks

Mexit has been vividly discussed not only in tabloids, but also among IP professionals. GuestKat Nedim Malovic discusses the rise and fall of the “Sussex Royal” mark. Although the application has allegedly been withdrawn by applicants. will the couple still be able to use “royal” for commercial purposes after they drop their royal duties?

GuestKat Riana Harvey analyses two recent cases (T-331/19 and T-332/19), where the EU General Court considered signs filed for registration by Balmain with low inherent distinctiveness.. The Court affirmed the EUIPO’s decision to deny registration of a figurative mark representing a lion’s head encircled by rings forming a chain.

Conference Report
KatFriends Rob Vile and Ellie Wilson have shared their takes from the CREATe/BIICL conference that took place in London (here and here). Topics covered at the conference were as diverse as non-use of trade marks and copyright jurisprudence at the Court of Justice.

Other

Unfortunately, several major upcoming IP events have been cancelled due to coronavirus and our Kats Rose and Neil shared the news: EQE and pre-EQE are postponed until further notice and Marques Spring Meeting is cancelled.

GuestKat Léon Dijkman offers his views on IP implications of the coronavirus outbreak. Exclusivity, ethical issues in patenting a cure and a very probable grant of compulsory licenses on a to-be-invented vaccine are discussed in the post.