Intellectual Property Update

January 2021 saw the beginnings of the post-Brexit transition period in the UK, and whilst this has impacted some elements of the intellectual property landscape across the EU, Forbes' Intellectual Property team have continued to assist a range of clients across various areas of both contentious and non-contentious intellectual property work.

Below are some examples of the recent work carried out:

• We have submitted two international trademark applications, based on existing UK trademarks, to obtain registration and protection in the USA for two of our clients. This is in accordance with both clients' strategy and global expansion.

• We received several examination reports on behalf of clients throughout January in which the examiner from the UK Intellectual Property Office confirmed that all was in order and no existing trademarks are to be of concern for our clients - such reports are great results for our clients' applications.

• Following the resolution of an alleged trademark infringement dispute, we assisted our client in carrying out a due diligence exercise in reviewing existing competitors and intellectual property rights to ascertain the best avenue to take to enable our client continue trading, but under a new trading name and brand. We are delighted to have assisted in identifying the new direction our client is going in and look forward to assisting in protecting their intellectual property in February 2021 and beyond.

• After the successful registration of one of our client's domestic trademarks, we have assisted in updating their existing contractual agreements to ensure that the trademark would be appropriately used, within the limits of the contract, when our client engages with third parties.

• We have recently been instructed on behalf of one of our clients to manage its domestic and international trademark portfolio, which is comprised of several ongoing international trademark applications under the Madrid System.

• We submitted an invalidation application to the UK Intellectual Property Office, seeking for a registered trademark to be declared invalid because it was applied for in bad faith.

Forbes' specialist Intellectual Property team assist clients with a wide spectrum of intellectual property issues, ranging from defending and bringing intellectual property infringement claims, to obtaining trademark registrations of logos, words, and slogans in the UK, across the EU, and further afield.

The importance of having in place appropriate registrations and licences, and dealing with any infringement matters promptly and thoroughly, cannot be overstated.