Trade Marks ™ ®

Diluting a Trademark

March 26, 2012
Trade Marks ™ ®

Italian fashion company Dolce & Gabbana is accusing a South African jewellery and purse-making business called Dolce & Banana of diluting their trademark.

Dilution is a basis of trademark infringement that applies to famous marks. When another person uses the mark, it has the potential for confusion because consumers could assume affiliation with the trademark regardless of the product or service being sold under the infringing use.

A 300-page affidavit has been submitted to the Western Cape High Court by Christiana Ruella, a board member of Dolce & Gabbana‘s holding company. They demanded that Dolce and Banana change their name because they mock the Dolce & Gabbana trademark.

Dolce & Banana shop owner Mijou Beller has since renamed the business “…& Banana” because of the lack of funds for a court battle.

Dolce & Gabbana also requested R100 000 for legal fees because two warnings were ignored before court action was taken.

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Patent Lawyers AFRICA

February 23, 2012
Attorneys, Intellectual Property Information, Intellectual Property News, Inventions, Patents, Trade Marks ™ ®

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. is an intellectual property law firm that specialize in obtaining and protecting your patent, trademark and design rights. Our focus is to provide legal services for intellectual property such as patents, trademarks and designs throughout Africa.

Our specialist patent and trademark lawyers serve international and local clients with patent filings and maintenance, and trademark registrations and renewals. We also provide legal advice on commercial rights attached to patents, trademarks and designs.

Our intellectual property services include:

PATENTS
Inventions : Biotechnology | Business Methods | Electrical | Electronic | Mechanical | Mining | Nanotechnology | Software
Patent applications, filings and registrations
Patent novelty search
Patent maintenance and renewals
Patent licensing

REGISTERED DESIGNS
Designs : Aesthetic | Functional | Industrial | Interaction | Patterns | Products
Design applications, filings and registrations
Design novelty search
Design maintenance and renewals
Design licensing

TRADEMARK
Marks : Combinations | Colors | Letters | Logos | Names | Numbers | Packaging | Shapes | Slogans
Trademark registrations
Trademark novelty search
Trademark maintenance and renewals
Trademark licensing

COPYRIGHT
Works : Books | Blogs | Broadcasts | Films | Novels | Photographs | Poems | Software Codes | Songs | Sounds
Copyright film registrations, U.S registrations
Copyright licensing

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. also created an additional  website with all the necessary information regarding intellectual property for all African countries. Here you can get information regarding the international treaties and member states, intellectual property offices, patent applications, design applications, trademark registrations, requirements and dates, as well as an in depth look at each country’s problems and infrastructure.

You can visit the international website here:

Patent Lawyers AFRICA

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Platform on 18th

December 19, 2011
Trade Marks ™ ®

Platform on 18th is a contemporary online art gallery in Rietondale, Pretoria.

Platform on 18th promotes and encourages local talent through an online art purchasing network, art workshops, photo tours, scetchbook tours, art events and exhibitions.

Photo Tours
A tour for photography and lomography fanatics to freely express themselves by capturing people, architecture and cityscapes through the chosen creative medium. Presented by professional photographer Mari Engelbrecht.

Sketchbook Tours
A tour for aspiring and established artists to freely express themselves by capturing people, architecture and cityscapes through the drawing medium. Presented by award winning illustrator Nicolene Louw.

Contact Details for Platform on 18th:

Email
christoharvey@gmail.com

Tel
084 7644 258

Website
www.platformon18th.co.za

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Christmas Chocolate Reindeer Trademark

December 14, 2011
Trade Marks ™ ®

The world’s largest chocolate makers Lindt & Spruengli from Switzerland and August Storck from Germany, once sought to trademark the Christmas chocolate reindeer.

They tried to prevent holiday knockoffs across the European markets.

The General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg ruled that the reindeer shape they wanted exclusive rights to is a symbol of Christmas. The reindeer is the typical shape in which chocolate and chocolate goods are presented during Christmas.

Image source: lindt-shop.co.uk

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Angola Intellectual Property

December 6, 2011
Attorneys, Copyright ©, Inventions, Patents, Registered Designs, Trade Marks ™ ®

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. intellectual property services include applications, filings and dispute resolution for patents, designs, trademarks and copyright in all African countries, including Angola.

For more information about the Angola economy, climate, georgaphics, laws and major problems that might effect your patent, design, trademark or copyright.
Click here for more information about Angola

For more information about the Angola patent system, patent laws, international patent treaties and the patent filing requirements and procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Patents

For more information about the Angola design system, design laws, international design treaties and the design filing requirements and procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Registered Designs

For more information about the Angola trademark system, trademark laws, international trademark treaties and the trademark filing requirements and procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Trademarks

For more information about the Angola copyright system, copyright laws, international copyright treaties and the copyright filing requirements and procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Copyright

For more information about the Angola litigation system, litigation laws and the litigation procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Litigation

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