As online virtual worlds move away from a subscription-based revenue model, developers will increasingly seek advertising spend. While these virtual worlds offer a potentially huge platform to market products and services, trademark protection issues in the virtual world will mirror those in real life.
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The Colombian government has issued Decree 19 of January 10 2012, which removes unnecessary administrative formalities and proceedings. Among other things, the decree provides that no party may require the attestation, authentication, legalisation or other certification of any signatures in documents filed with the Trademark Office. Moreover, applicants will be able to file multi-class applications.
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Leading global brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev, the owner of the US trademark BUDWEISER, has acquired the rights to the BUDWEISER trademarks held by Czech brewery Budejovicky Mestansky Pivovar. The number of trademarks acquired and the European countries affected by this deal have not been disclosed.
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The Intermediate People’s Court in Shenzhen has rejected Apple’s claim of ownership of the IPAD trademark, holding that Proview Technology Shenzhen Company Limited had a prior registration for the IPAD mark. Apple had argued that an earlier agreement with Proview Electronics Taiwan should be binding on Proview Technology Shenzhen and, therefore, the IPAD mark should have been transferred to Apple.
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In Perlmutter v Russell Hobbs Inc, a breach of contract dispute over the sale of GEORGE FOREMAN trademarks, the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has ruled against the plaintiff, concluding that no breach of contract took place and that all remaining claims were waived.
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The Trademarks Amendment Bill (previously the Trademarks (International Treaties and Enforcement) Amendment Bill) was passed on September 8 2011. It received royal assent a week later as well as a new name, becoming the Trademarks Amendment Act 2011. The act is a significant piece of new IP legislation for the country.
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In Stephen Slesinger Inc v Disney Enterprises Inc, in a precedential opinion, the TTAB has found that Disney was entitled to summary judgment based on collateral estoppel. The dispute stemmed from poorly drafted transfer and contractual documents concerning the ownership of the trademarks derived from Winnie-the-Pooh and other characters.
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The Department of Business Development of the Ministry of Commerce has organised a public hearing on a new act entitled the “Franchise Business Operations Act BE”. Under the new law, the registration of a trademark licence agreement will be compulsory if the trademark owner uses the mark at issue in association with a franchise business.
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