Ozzy wants a part
Rockstar Ozzy Osbourne is accusing his bandmate Tony Iommi of illegaly trademarking the Black Sabbath name. Osbourne wants a piece of Iommi's profits from use of the name. Iommi's lawyer argued that Osbourne signed away his rights to the Black Sabbath trademark when he left the band in 1979, but a federal judge recently decided that this agreement repudiated when Osbourne rejoined in 1997.Source: New York Post
IOC protects Winter Olympics with loads of trademarks
The International Olympic Committee has registered trademarks on a long list of words associated with the current Winter Olympics in Vancouver. None of these words, such as 'Vancouver' or 'Olympic', may be used for any commercial purpose. Even the terms 2012, 2014 and 2016 are trademarked by the IOC. Google, whose homepage shows an Olympics themed doodle during the Winter Games, luckily came to its senses in time and removed the Olympic rings from the doodle. Leaving them there could have cost Google quite some money since the Olympic logos are heavily trademarked as well.Source: adformatie.nl
Apple requests import ban on Nokia phones
Apple and Nokia are involved in a long patent battle. Apple now requests an import ban on Nokia phones.Source: engadget.com
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What makes a brand a brand?A name? A slogan? A logo? A symbol? The colour? The shape of the product? The label? The wrapping? The marketing budget? The fame? All these are elements of a trademark. Only the last two are a matter of money. The others are a matter of registration. Registering a trademark makes it your trademark - and protects your investment.That is where Bouma Trademark Office come in: to consult, to registrate, to guard your trademark. In the Netherlands, Benelux, Europe, or any other part of the world. 
SloganWhether a slogan can be registered depends on its originality and distinctive character.SoundSometimes it is possible to obtain a registration for sounds, tones or jingles as a soundmark.SymbolsIt is possible to obtain a trademark or design registration to get protection for logos and other identifiable graphical elements.SmellSometimes it is possible to obtain a registration for a smell. Once a company obtained a registration for 'smell of freshly cut grass' for tennis balls! In some cases the composition of an aroma can be copyrighted.FiguresFigures may constitute or be part of a trademark, and therefore can obtain protection by a registration either seperately or in combination with the trademark.FlavourUsually flavours are not included in trademark and copyright laws.Lay-outFor a design and lay-out of a label and other packaging a registration can be obtained to get protection as a graphical mark.ShapeProtection for a shape mark or three dimensional object is, under certain conditions, possible by means of a trademark registrationCopyrightsCopyright protects 'original' works of literature, science and art, in the broadest possible senseColourColours are important aspects of identification and can under certain conditions get protection by means of a registration as colour marks.TypefaceIt is possible to obtain a registration for proprietary typeface and lettering and get protection for those.VisualsFigurative elements in designs can often be registered as visual mark. |