The EU has adopted a new regulation for spirits that defines labelling standards and strengthens the protection of geographical indications (GI) compared to trademark rights. It will enter into force after official publication in the Official Journal of the European Union and will be largely applicable until 2021. The new Regulation clarifies the standards for… Continue reading Protection of Geographical Indications
Month: April 2019
Lego Fakes: USD 30 Million Losses
The case is making international headlines: In April 2019, the police in Shanghai smashed a ring of counterfeiters that manufactured and distributed counterfeit toys made by the Danish company Lego. The goal of the action was the Chinese toy manufacturer Lepin. The police raided three locations with ten assembly lines, which were subsequently closed. This… Continue reading Lego Fakes: USD 30 Million Losses
Stricter Control of Experimental Data in China
In the field of pharmaceutical and chemical substances, inconsistencies in the experimental data of a patent application in China can lead to the doubts on patent’s validity. The Higher People’s Court in Peking has decided in multiple cases that submission of incomplete or false data violates the “quid pro quo” principle in disclosing the patent… Continue reading Stricter Control of Experimental Data in China
E-Car Start Up XPeng: New Trade Secrets Theft Accusations
Last year FBI started criminal prosecutions against a former Apple employee who stole the secret technology for self-driving cars. Now, Tesla is suing out of same reasons a former employee of their Autopilot team. What is the connection between the two defendants? Mr. Zhang and Mr. Cao are not only countrymen but were also switching… Continue reading E-Car Start Up XPeng: New Trade Secrets Theft Accusations
Small Packages and Complex Routes
Every year, the OECD’s Illicit Trade series study records the current situation of global illegal trade. According to the study, the EU is particularly affected by international trade in counterfeit and pirated products, with around a quarter of all fakes flowing into the European Community in 2016. The counterfeit goods had a value of EUR… Continue reading Small Packages and Complex Routes
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