Zwilling – 277 Years of Trademark Protection
August 14, 2009
Brand Names, Trade Marks ™ ®
What’s in a brand – an interesting read by Birgit Medeke, head of Zwilling’s legal department, reveals at least part of their success.
The brand was founded in 1731 and is controlled under strict IPR policies that form part of their contracts with suppliers, distributors and business partners. They protect their Trademarks using international systems such as the Madrid Protocol and Community Trademark.
http://www.managingip.com/Article/1934171/Interview-Birgit-Medeke-Zwilling.html
Copyright Violations cost the Recording Industry
June 10, 2009
Brand Names, Copyright ©, Intellectual Property News
Copyright violations in the form of piracy cost the recording industry of SA more than R500 million a year.
This is according to the chief executive of a copyright agency – James Lennox. When looking at the staggering losses because of piracy it is no wonder that the recording industry is up in arms about copyright violations.
The penalty for copyright violations in terms of piracy is R5000 per item.
Still it doesn’t seem to make a dent in the amount of piracy that takes place. Street vendors sell pirated movies for next to nothing while the cost for the law abiding citizen can be around R150-R300 to purchase the movie, whilst DVD shops have to pay from R300 to R600 for the movie.
If you suspect copyright violations in terms of movie piracy take a stand and contact the police and help protect the work of artists.
World Copyright Summit
June 10, 2009
Brand Names, Computer Programs & Software, Copyright ©, Domain Names, Intellectual Property News
The Second World Copyright Summit started its first session in Washington USA.
Calls for greater cooperation amongst all countries have been made to help crack down on copyright violations.
The advent of the Internet has sparked numerous copyright violations; mostly because many internet users think that something that is on the Internet must be free (this is according to Orrin Hatch a member of the US Senate).
Calls have been made for stricter action against piracy of music and videos with suggestions that the perpetrator should receive an email warning if downloading music or videos illegally, and then receive a final warning in letter format, after which the user’s internet account must be suspended for up to a year.
Internet users can expect stricter regulation in future to help prevent copyright violations which cause severe financial losses for musicians, writers, artists, and producers.
Contact Details for Smit & Van Wyk
Tel
+27 (0) 12 349 7800
Fax
+27 (0) 86 619 0493
E-mail
enquiries@svw.co.za
Physical Address / Courier
Block A Apex Corporate Park
Quintin Brand Street
Persequor Technopark
Meiring Naudé Avenue
Pretoria
0184
South Africa
Trademark registrations dwindle as the economic recession continues
June 10, 2009
Brand Names, Domain Names, Intellectual Property News, Trade Marks ™ ®
Fewer trademark registrations are filed worldwide as companies try to cut costs during the economic recession. It is an extremely dangerous method of doing business, especially if exporting manufactured goods. Although it may be a short term solution, doing business without going the route of trademark registrations, can mean huge losses in future. With no grounds for protection you will have nothing to go on when infringements of your brand takes place. Especially now with typo squatting being a reality on the Internet and more and more counterfeit products floating the market, it is indeed dangerous. Economists and lawyers recommend going the slightly more expensive route of trademark registrations even during hard times, to prevent future losses.
Changes in Google’s stand on trademarked keywords and how it will affect you
May 26, 2009
Brand Names, Intellectual Property News, Trade Marks ™ ®
Google has changed its policy on trademarked keywords and the most important aspects are as follows:
• A trademarked term or word can be used in advertising copy regarding Adwords.
• Any trademarked term or word can be used as a keyword.
• Companies now have more control over their trademarked terms regarding Adwords as they can now limit use of their trademarks in ads to only be displayed by specific companies.
• A company can ask Goole to not allow other companies or users to use their trademarked word or term in their ad copy. Although it will no longer be displayed in the ad copy it can however, still be used as a keyword.
It is important both for an Adwords advertising and an Adsense website owner to take note of the above conditions for trademarked terms used as keywords in ad copy.
