Huawei Files Trademark Application for Mate Watch Brand

Huawei Files Trademark Application for Mate Watch Brand

Despite all the ongoing issues at hand, the Chinese Multinational Technology Company, Huawei, doesn’t seem to stop at all. The company refuses to give up at no cost and has efficiently begun its preparations to expand the Huawei Mate lineup with a brand new category of devices.

The Chinese tech giant has quite recently filed a Trademark Application for a new smartwatch known as “Mate Watch.” The trademark is filed under the international trademark classification 9, which includes PCs and various other electronic gadgets. The trademark application is found in the database of authority for registration of trademarks. At present, the Huawei Mate line consists of flagship smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

This year in January, Huawei also successfully registered the MatePod brand, under which the company can effectively begin its production of wireless headphones. As per various reports and speculations, the Chinese tech giant is very much likely to release its new smartwatches under the Huawei Mate Watch brand name. However, it is still not evident as to how the Huawei Mate Watch shall be different from the Watch GT series’ devices. Many experts believe that it may either be a completely new flagship watch series or a simplified continuation of the Watch GT series.

Last year in April, the company came up with the brand new version of the Watch GT2e in the market; however, its top model, Watch GT 2, was released at a later stage in October 2019 in two different sizes – 42mm and 46mm. Therefore, the upcoming smartwatch has only two aspects associated with it – it will be an entirely new, premium device, which will, in turn, either complement the current versions or replace the already existing Watch GT series.

As of now, Huawei has not officially put forward any comments on this matter. Hence, any specific details of the upcoming smartwatch are way too scarce at the moment. It may be possible that the Chinese tech giant has registered its proposed name “Mate Watch” as a trademark only to prevent the other brands in the market from using the same. Besides, it is very much likely for the new Mate smartwatch to make its debut alongside Huawei’s upcoming Mate 40 series later this year. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

Google Files Trademark Application for Pigweed – A new Operating System

Google Files Trademark Application for Pigweed – A new Operating System

Over the years, Google has been developing its fair share of operating systems, including Android, Chrome OS, and Fuchsia. And now, according to a new Trademark Application filed by Google, it appears that the search giant may be working on increasing the share by adding another operating system (OS) codenamed Pigweed.

Although the search giant has filed the trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the Pigweed OS recently, this isn’t the first time when the world heard of Pigweed with Google.

Pigweed was first found in a code from Google while developing Fuchsia OS. It happened due to a code change for Fuchsia, where the developers mentioned ‘pigweed,’ but that was changed to ‘Fuchsia.’ From this, it can be estimated that Google’s Pigweed and Fuchsia are possibly related. However, as nothing much has been revealed about Pigweed, the two operating systems could be different as well.

Pigweed’s appearance was also spotted in the Google Chromium code repository, where ‘pigweed’ was mentioned in a code associated with ‘Monorail,’ an issue tracker used by the search giant for Chrome and other projects.

These are the two known incidents showing the appearance of Google’s Pigweed in the past. Nevertheless, as per the latest trademark application, Pigweed is a ‘computer operating system.’ For now, this’s what the world knows about Google’s Pigweed. In other words, there isn’t anything else other than this information regarding Pigweed for now. Moreover, there’s no word on ‘will Google make Pigweed official.’ It is also not clear if Pigweed would be a new OS for smartphones in addition to computers. Hence, until Google decides to reveal more regarding Pigweed, no one can figure out what purpose the OS will actually serve.

Another big question is, ‘when can the public expect Google to take the wraps off of Pigweed?’ Well, there’s no easy way to guess the answer to this question also. For instance, the term ‘Android’ was trademarked just five days prior to the OS was first exposed in 2007. Conversely, the name ‘Chromebook’ wasn’t trademarked for months even after the first Chromebook began shipping in 2011. Furthermore, the word ‘Fuchsia’ has been trademarked for around two years now without being officially unveiled. Fuchsia OS, on which the search giant has been working for over twenty-four months now, is expected to replace Android, the most famous and widely used OS for smartphones. Although Google hasn’t confirmed if Fuchsia would be the next Android or Chrome OS, it already started testing Fuchsia OS on smartphones. Nonetheless, the search giant is expected to provide more concrete information with respect to Fuchsia OS and the new Pigweed OS altogether later this year. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

Cypriot Cheese Producers Re-secure Trademark Protection for ‘Halloumi’

Cypriot Cheese Producers Re-secure Trademark Protection for ‘Halloumi’

Cypriot farmers have recently won back the exclusive right to sell their cheese products as ‘Halloumi’ in the UK after re-securing the trademark it lost in 2018.

Participating on the part of these farmers, the Cypriot ministry first obtained Trademark Protection for ‘Halloumi’ from the UK Intellectual Property Office in 1990. However, in association with a legal challenge brought by the UK-based cheese producers, the trademark had been revoked in the year 2018. The verdict was a result of an administrative error as the Cypriot ministry failed to respond to the legal requests within the asked time frame. Nevertheless, now the ministry has secured the protection again.

According to a Patent and Trademark Attorney, this significant win for the Cypriot farmers means that they have regained an exclusive right to use the mark ‘Halloumi’ while selling their cheese product in the UK. Because of the growing market for this product in the UK, this is expected to prove profitable for them. However, the farmers are unlikely to limit themselves there. They have already filed a Trademark Application for achieving ‘protected food name’ status to the European Commission, and if successful, their application would bring permanent protection. But as it’s likely to take some time, trademark protection in the UK will be beneficial to them in the meantime.

The attorney said that the food and drink producers in the UK might not be aware that they are allowed to apply for ‘protected food name’ status to secure protection for products with unique characteristics that can be linked to a specific geographical location or specified product. The attorney continued that this Trademark Registration certification would affect those who are producing cheese products. It is so because they could not label the product as ‘Halloumi’ unless it meets the certification mark requirements. Hence, restaurants should take care of not to define something as ‘Halloumi’ wrongly.

The attorney further added that if there’s no food name protection in place, and the misuse isn’t spotted as soon as possible, the use of the name or product could become generic. As a consequence, it would lose its eligibility for protected status. For example – ‘Cheddar’ is a name that has now become generic, and thus, no longer capable of obtaining such protection.

The Protected Food Name scheme, which was established by the UK government in 1993, is helpful for producers who want to use a geographical place name as part of their product’s brand identity for preventing others from marketing their items under the same name.

Since a large number of products have achieved the ‘protected food name’ status, there is no reason why Halloumi producers should not look for the same. Still, the application by these producers has been affected by many delays. Nonetheless, now it has gained the approval, meaning that the producers have re-secured ‘Halloumi’ trademark protection in the UK. ✅ For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

8 Significant Trademark Terms You Must Know

8 Significant Trademark Terms You Must Know

In the present era of rapid advancements and cut-throat competition, the importance of Intellectual Property (IP) is exponentially increasing. Besides significance, thefts and unauthorized uses of IPs are also multiplying, thus making the owners think about the protection of their valuable IP. Amongst the several ways in which one can safeguard his/ her IP assets, trademark registration appears to be the easiest one when it comes to the protection of the businesses’ unique brand names, logos, or slogans. Apart from preventing the use of one’s hard work without his/ her permission, the trademark serves him/ her business with remarkable goodwill and reputation. And this is what makes it the foremost choice of many entrepreneurs and companies worldwide.

Trademark is assuredly emerging as one of the excellent kind of IP and interests more and more businesses, you still need to comprehend some frequently used terms while planning obtaining protection for your mark. In this article, we will explain a few important trademark terms in simple and understandable language.

  1. Trademark

 It can be anything like a sign, symbol, name, sound, or word that distinguishes its proprietor’s products or services from that of others.

  1. Class

A trademark class represents a distinct group of goods and services. As per the NICE Classification, which is an international classification system followed by most registries, the class of goods and services to which the trademark pertains must be specified in the application. There are many trademark classes, and each class holds various goods or services, which are not always obvious from the class name. Under NICE Classification, goods and services are divided into 45 classes, out of which 1-34 define goods while 34-45 include services.

  1. Priority Claim

Priority claim refers to a right given by the majority of countries worldwide to the applicant of a trademark that has been filed for the very first time. Under this, the applicant applying for registration of a mark for the first time is granted the right to claim priority while filing applications to register the same mark in other countries within six months from the date of the first filing. If priority is claimed, the second application would be considered as having been filed on the same date of the first filing. As a consequence, the applicant will enjoy prior rights against applications filed by other parties from the date of filing in the first nation.

  1. Infringement

Trademark Infringement is an issue, which occurs when a mark that’s identical or confusingly similar to another company’s trademark is used without the owner’s permission.

  1. Trademark Journal

 It is where the mark is published if the application hasn’t been refused by the duty officer during the trademark registration process. In this way, the Trademark Law provides the public with a legal opportunity to file an opposition against the registration of the associated mark. Note that the opposition should be filed within a limited period before Trademark Protection is granted.

  1. License

It is an agreement amid a trademark owner (licensor) and another party (licensee), where the licensor allows the licensee to make specific and limited use of his/ her trademark. These licenses are often subject to royalty payments.  

  1. Symbols ® and ™

The symbols ® and ™ represent that the term on which these are put is someone’s trademark. ® means that the trademark is registered with the associated registry, and this symbol cannot be used before the Trademark Registration Process is completed. However, ™ can be used if the company is using its mark as a trademark even though it hasn’t yet applied for their mark.

  1. Distinctiveness and descriptiveness

As the prime purpose of a trademark is to identify its origin, it must be distinctive to the consumers to be accepted by the registry. In general, arbitrary trademarks like Blackberry and fanciful trademarks like Nike are considered as the most distinctive ones. Along with being distinctive, your trademark should be descriptive, i.e., it describes some characteristics like the quality, quantity, value, origin, or intended purpose of the goods or services. Descriptive trademarks cannot be secured as a trademark unless their extensive usage enables them to have acquired distinctiveness.

The above information will hopefully prove beneficial for you, no matter whether you want to register your trademark or provide your Registered Trademark as a license to any third party. In other words, the data will help you in protecting as well as monetizing your trademark. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

Justin Bieber Attempts to Trademark the Term – R&Bieber

Justin Bieber Attempts to Trademark the Term – R&Bieber

Justin Bieber, a Canadian pop singer-songwriter, is currently attempting to trademark the term “R&Bieber.”

TMZ, a tabloid news website, reports that Justin has been going back-and-forth in regards to dropping a new album – R&B soon – and it looks like he is stepping ahead to do so.  As per the reports, Justin and his team have filed official papers to trademark the phrase for “entertainment services in nature of live musical performances and production of sound recordings.” They also noted that the singer wants to trademark the same term for movies and merchandise, he is seeking to sell.

Bieber’s team filed for the Trademark Registration on October 31, which was just a few days after October 27, when he shared a photo of the phrase to Instagram. Hence said, as Bieber began teasing that he would be open to coming up with new music related to the specific term last month via Instagram, this news shouldn’t appear like a shaking surprise.

However, it is not clear to say whether “R&Bieber” will represent an album or not, but the fans must consider the Instagram post by the pop singer in which he wrote that if this post succeeds in getting 20 million likes, he will launch an album before Christmas.

On Instagram, Bieber posted, “Share it, like it, post it in your story, I gotta view the demand, love you guys – pumped for it! I am almost done, but your support would make me move faster.” Apart from this post, the pop singer made a statement that fueled fans’ excitement following his previous statement regarding – a kiss ass album ASAP. Justin robustly hints that he is planning to launch a new album and the Trademark Application signs that the album will be named “R&Bieber.”

Justin Bieber had released his last studio album – Purpose – around four years ago, so it is about phase for a new album from the famous and lovable Canadian artist. Though it’s after a long time, yet it doesn’t mean that the pop singer has been silent. He shed a combined record with Dan + Shay called – 10,000 hours – in October.

According to reports, Justin is expected to release his new album before the end of this year. Ultimately, whatever may be the implications of R&Bieber, Beliebers better get ready! For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

Apple Possibly Have Taken Control of ‘AirTag’ Trademark

Apple Possibly Have Taken Control of ‘AirTag’ Trademark

Rumors of an Apple-branded tile-like tracking device have been circulating for months, and now it appears that the device could be named as AirTag. References to AirTag found within the iOS 13.2 update hints that this tile-like device may appear very soon. Apart from a lot of rumors about this device, a trademark for ‘AirTag’ has also been found. According to several reports, a Russian firm filed a Trademark Application for ‘AirTag’ in October 2018.

Filed with USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office), the application appears very similar to what people have been expecting Apple to reveal for some time. It includes systems of radio frequency identification (RFID) comprised of RFID tags in the form of cards, key rings, tags. It also encompasses RFID markers in the form of RFID signal receivers, downloadable software for operating RFID readers, blank smart cards with ICs (integrated circuits), etc. All these systems and things are intended to be designed for enabling users to identify them automatically for obtaining keyless access control over interlocking doors and various services like public transportation, social events, banking, and more.

After a few back-and-forths, the application was approved in August 2019. Following that, the links to Apple begun to appear on 28th August. On 28th August 2019, when an official notice stating that the same application would be published on 17th September 2019 has been provided, the attorney representing the trademark application changed to the Moscow office of Baker & McKenzie, a firm with which Apple has worked on several occasions and in different countries.

Indeed, that wasn’t the application’s final resting place. Instead, around one month later, i.e., on 1st October 2019, it moved again and has been officially transferred to a company named as GPS Avion LLC. It is a firm that was just created in July 2019 and appeared to have no public presence. GPS Avion LLC was created in Delaware by the Corporation Trust Company, which is a process Apple has deployed quite a few times to build shell companies to hide its identity while dealing with Intellectual Property (IP) issues.

Nevertheless, none of the facts finally confirms that Apple holds the trademark for AirTag, but they altogether do show that someone does. Besides, the use of AirTag by Apple in iOS 13.2 generates high possibilities that the company is related to Apple in one or the other way.

Undoubtedly, the recent media event that had held in October hadn’t mentioned anything about AirTags or Tile-like features, but considering iOS 13.2 references the new tracking accessory, we expect that AirTags would be announced soon, possibly even this week. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

TM and R: What Role These Trademark Symbols Play In IP Industry?

TM and R: What Role These Trademark Symbols Play In IP Industry?

Trademark, also written as trade-mark, is any word, name, design, symbol, or combination thereof used to indicate the source of products to identify and distinguish them from goods of others. Undoubtedly, the definition of this exclusive Intellectual Property Right (IPR) is clear to most of us, but what about the vital elements related to it. Besides, queries like whether you can use a specific mark and when can you file a trademark application, there are several areas of trademarks around which confusion abound. One remarkably confusing area is TM and R symbols. People often appear confused with what these two trademark symbols represent, when should one use them, etc.

What do TM and R Symbols Represent?

The TM symbol, which can be used by any individual or company, indicates that a particular word, logo, sign, or phrase is a trademark intended to work as an identifier for the source of the relevant product or service. To use a TM symbol, the owners don’t need to have a Registered Trademark. In general, many companies opt to use this symbol for new goods or services in advance of and during the Trademark Application Process.

On the contrary, the R symbol indicates that the specific word, phrase, logo, or sign is a Registered Trademark, and only the owner or licensee has the legal rights of ownership to use it. It must be used only in the regions in which the owner possesses a valid Trademark Registration.

Can TM and R Symbols be Used at Any Time?

The precise answer to this question is both yes and no. In the case of the first one, i.e., TM, where you want to use a word, phrase, sign, or logo as a trademark intending to identify your company as the source of products or services, you are free to do so any time. As per some privileges under the common law of many companies, you can use TM symbol without applying to register a trademark. However, it enables you to obtain the protection, which is quite lesser as compared to that you could have enjoyed as the owner of a registered trademark.

In cases where you don’t want to or unable to go for trademark registrations, the use of the TM symbol can be a strategic decision. It allows you to tell the public that you are using this brand as a trademark, which over an extended period, will become recognizable in the marketplace as an identifier for your business. Moreover, it also signifies that you have legalities to protect your brand in mind, and thus, ultimately act as a deterrent to severe Trademark Infringement.

On the other hand, the R symbol can never be used without successfully registering your trademark with the associated trademark office. The use of symbol R on the mark that has not been registered is a criminal offense. Doing so can leave you with penalties or behind bars. Hence, whenever you decide to use a trademark symbol, it is better to proceed after being aware of the rules related to that symbol. Although it is possible to obtain the required information from several sources, knowledgeable IP Lawyers can be the best option. They can provide you with precise info, clear your doubts, and assist you in getting rid of any legal concern if you have already misused any mark.

What Should Be the Location of TM and R Symbols?

The upper right corner of the sign, logo, or word is the most common place to put these two significant trademark symbols. Nevertheless, placement of the symbols on the bottom right corner is also acceptable in cases when placing them on the top don’t appear pleasing.

Bottom Line

Here at the end, you have a wealth of information about symbols TM and R that will help you to secure your valuable assets under the Trademark Protection. Recognize your needs and select the symbol that suits you. Although using the symbols even on the registered mark is not necessary, electing to use them is a good idea as it can prevent issues like infringement, and thus, limit the losses that you otherwise can come across. If you want to know about any other trademark symbol or more regarding these two, then consult an adept Intellectual Property Law Firm. Having years of experience in the Intellectual Property industry, they can serve you with the best possible guidance! For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

Trademark Cease & Desist Letter: Important Things You Should Know

Trademark Cease & Desist Letter: Important Things You Should Know

Trademarks are one of the most efficient ways to build up and safeguard your brand’s reputation. As the Registered Trademarks enable consumers to determine the origin or source of products and services, they can also help you in expanding business by prohibiting the competitors from making profits on your name. Although trademarks provide clear directions that no one except the original owner of the mark can use it, Trademark Infringement is still a severe matter and needs to be addressed on the spot. Here, you will get information regarding the cease and desist letter, which may aid you to prevent others from using or cloning your trademark without paying unnecessary charges related to legitimate actions.

Cease and Desist Letter

A cease and desist letter in case of trademark infringement is a legal document issued by the original owner of the mark to a party infringing upon his/ her federally registered trademark. The letter asks the offending party to not just cease the act of violating the owner’s Intellectual Property (IP) but also compensate damages that took place due to the infringement. On determining that someone is infringing on your trademark, you can choose any of the two options; either try to resolve the matter outside the court by writing and sending a cease and desist letter or proceed directly by filing a trademark infringement lawsuit. Typically, sending a cease and desist letter to the infringer is the first step that many people put to end the infringement without including extra expense and time associated with going to court or taking other legitimate measures.

Another noticeable fact is that this letter isn’t limited to help you only if someone violates your trademark; instead, it is also helpful in cases like copyright or Patent Infringement.

Cease and Desist Letters Aren’t Legally Binding

As these letters only describe the ideas and requests of the sender, usually a trademark attorney or IP lawyer representing the trademark’s owner, they aren’t legally binding. Moreover, they don’t even provide indications regarding the court action, which could be the next step if the offending party neglects to respond to the sender as he/she expected.

Procedure to Write and Send Cease and Desist Letter In a Trademark Infringement Matter

To write a cease and desist letter, one needs to follow the following steps:

Determine the infringement: Firstly, check if someone is infringing your trademark or it is any other IP that he/she is using to make profits on your name. Trademark infringement takes place when the offender is advertising or selling his/ her products or services by using the same or similar name your products or services are having.

Do Searches: Collect more details about both – infringement and infringer. Make attempts and understand the offender’s intention, i.e., whether he/she is involved in the case accidentally or intentionally.

Consult to An IP Attorney: Though you can write and send the cease and desist letter yourself, yet proceeding under the supervision of an experienced attorney will be in your best interest. An adept lawyer can assist you in listing all the facts, demands, and claims in the letter clearly and understandably.      

Note that by creating and sending a precise cease and desist letter, you can:

Indeed this letter can be written and sent at any time but doing so as soon as you notice infringement would provide the best outcomes. It will not just prohibit the offender from continuing the unlawful act of infringement but also help you in enforcing your ownership rights. Nonetheless, to make the offender respond as you want by reinforcing your part, it is imperative to familiarize him/ her with all the details of your trademark. Your brand’s name or logo, the date on which you filed a Trademark Application, the day when you determined that someone is unlawfully cloning or using your registered trademark are some vital details you need to include in the letter. Including all the evidence reflecting infringement can strengthen your case. Ultimately, don’t forget to incorporate the section showcasing what the infringer can or should do to resolve the conflict.

Conclusion:

Hopefully, you have got a clear insight into the fact that cease and desist letter is one of the best ways to prohibit the offending party from continuing to make profits on your name without getting involved in legal actions. So if any individual or company is using your trademark without seeking your consent, the matter needs to be resolved by sending a polite letter. While a stern demand with a deadline to cease copying or using your mark can be useful, a formal letter can also result in a favorable resolution of the infringement concern. Now, after going through this article, you can undoubtedly write a cease and desist letter on your own, but doing so with the help of either any IP attorney or Trademark Law Firm is still advisable. Experienced IP lawyers and Intellectual Property Law Firms have a deep understanding and knowledge of these areas and can benefit you with a more compelling case on your side. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

Want to Transfer Trademark Rights in India? Here’re the guidelines!

Want to Transfer Trademark Rights in India? Here’re the guidelines!

A trademark is one of the most exclusive and fastest evolving Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) in India. Consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression, it identifies and differentiates the products or services of a source from those of others. Besides, it helps the brands in generating goodwill that attracts consumers towards them. Another remarkable fact why a trademark is the most preferred Intellectual Property is that the owner can transfer it.

Here, we will dive into the complete process of transferring the trademark rights in India.

As per the Indian Trademarks Act, 1999 that deals with all legal issues, terms, etc., around trademark, people who desire to transfer their trademark cando so by opting any of the two agreements: Trademark Assignment or Trademark Licensing.

(A) Trademark Assignment Agreement

It focuses on the legal way of transferring rights from the owner (assignor) to the willing third-party (assignee), which could be a company or an individual. Assignment of a trademark can be possible in the following two ways:

  • Complete Assignment:

Trademark rights refer to a bundle of several rights emphasizing ownership, use, process, share, etc., and a complete assignment of a trademark allows the transfer of all these rights from the assignor to the assignee. Once signed this assignment, the assignee can use, sell, and even distribute the mark without any fear of Trademark Infringement as the assignor no longer retains any right over the logo, brand, or anything else associated with it.

  • Partial Assignment:

Partial assignment of trademark permits the transfer of rights over particular products or services. It empowers the assignor to provide the willing party with his/ her rights while adding clauses that the assignee is entitled to use the rights related to only a few products. In other words, the assignee cannot use the trademark for any other products or services apart from those allowed by the assignor.

Step-wise Procedure for Trademark Assignment

  1. First of all, there is a need to make an application requesting the transfer of rights. The trademark assignment application can be made either by the assignor or assignee or jointly and should entail the terms and policies of transfer, details of both proprietor and assignee. Moreover, it must be in the format of FORM TM-P.
  2. After preparing the application, it’s the time to file it before the registrar. Emphasize doing so within six months of acquisition of proprietorship as delaying in filing can cost you payment of an additional fee.
  3. Obtain the permission of the Registrar. The case of transfer varies according to conditions, for example – is it the transfer with goodwill or of a Registered Trademark. In every case, it is mandatory to focus on the directions of the registrar before the expiry of the assignment. However, this period is of six months in India but extendable if the registrar allows.
  4. Advertise the assignment as per the registrar’s direction and submit copies of both advertisements and directions to the registrar.
  5. The registrar (if satisfied) with the application, all documents, and advertisement will transfer the said Trademark Protection from the original owner to the new proprietor. Once the name of the assignee gets registered with the registrar, the assignee can use the said trademark rightfully.

(B) Trademark Licensing Agreement

It emphasizes transferring a trademark in a restricted manner. In other words, trademark licensing doesn’t allow the transfer of full ownership over the trademark rights from the licensor (original owner) to the licensee (new owner).  Though a little bit restrictive yet licensing agreements benefit the licensor by broadening his market and increasing consumers, while the licensee with royalties accessible with the trademark.

Although the registration of a licensing agreement isn’t mandatory, it is advisable to do so. Why? Registering will enable the licensee to exercise the trademark without any fear of legal issues.

Procedure for Trademark Licensing

The process of registering the license agreement is quite similar to that of assignment agreement. Like the assignment agreement, the application for Trademark Registration and transfer under the license agreement should also be filed before the registrar within six months of the agreement made. Licensor, licensee or both can make the application in the format of TM-28 form. Once the registrar is satisfied with the application, documents, etc., he/ she will make an entry into his/her record register, including the date of filing the Trademark Application and other details. The entry states that both the licensor and licensee can use the desired trademark rights as per the terms of the license agreement.

With the consistent evolution and growth in the technologies and several industries, the concepts of IPRs like trademark are continuously changing. Trademark transferring is the correct approach that attracts profits for both the original right holder and the party willing to get the rights. Hopefully, this article will help you in having the benefits of such trademark transferring. So, understand your needs as well as the procedures and thus, go for the method of transferring the trademark rights that suits you. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

Intellectual Property Rights in 3D Printing Industry

Intellectual Property

With the availability of low-cost and high-performance 3D printers that are affordable to almost everyone, including large organizations and ordinary consumers, 3D printing is emerging as a remarkably beneficial technology for various industries. The potential use of this technology goes wider and generates both opportunities and concerns for manufacturers by facilitating them to easily manufacture objects whereas unauthorized users to effortlessly copy their products. Hence, to utilize the opportunities without coming across worries, it is vital to understand how the expanding use of this potentially transformative technology can have an impact the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Working of 3D Printing Process

The 3D printing process refers to a technological way of using a computer-aided design model to build up a three-dimensional object, usually by adding layer by layer. The process begins with a digital file that is exported to a three-dimensional printer by deploying software that converts the digital model into a physical object. As this process builds up a molten material by adding layers (one after the other), some people call it additive manufacturing.

Since the 3D technology is developing at a rapid pace, businesses predict that it will soon attain a considerable position in almost every area ranging from food and fashion to regenerative medicines and others.

Benefits of 3D printing

The innovation-intensive companies enjoy various advantages, by using the 3D printing technology, as it:

  • Enables the companies to design, develop, and test the new objects with remarkably reduced expenses
  • Helps the enterprises in saving their financial assets by preventing them from paying for costly prototypes
  • Allows the firms to improve their current products

By considering the changes that 3D printing brought in the ways of manufacturing objects, it is correct to say that this technology can significantly impact the manufacturers’ Intellectual Property Protection.

Intellectual Property Procurement

Firms that design, develop, or sell the 3D printers, parts, or accessories, possess the same opportunities to protect their Intellectual Property (IP) as those in other industries.They can trademark their brands, patent their technology, and copyright their creative works. Not only objects or works but 3D printing methods are also patentable.

Avoiding unauthorized 3D printing

People who are dealing with objects based on 3D printing technology are susceptible to get infringed by unauthorized users. However, the strategies to battle against infringements in regards to 3D printing vary according to the way of infringing. Consequently, the owner may need to consider different approaches for addressing infringement by a customer, a competitor, or other.

Competitors

Restraining competitors from using others’ trademark, copyright, or patent in the 3D printing arena is similar to doing that in other industries. However, the forms of IPR, like Design Patents and copyrights, which the owners can obtain quickly, may seem more valuable to avoid infringement issues in this field.

Copyright rights in the 3D printing industry enable the creator to protect the originality of his work. As per Copyright Law, if he finds anyone violating his work, it is likely for him to get the relief by filing a case against the defendant. Apart from it, the patent protects the objects’ technical functionality, the trademark enables owners to distinguish its source from others, and the design rights safeguard its ornamental and aesthetic appearance, including the shape and form.

Customers creating replacement parts

One main area where infringement related to 3D printing technology appears considerably high is ‘Printing replacement parts.’ Instead of purchasing the replacement parts from the original manufacturers, a large number of customers prefer making them on their own. Original manufacturers or suppliers can prevent such happenings by using utility patents or copyrights applicable to safeguard certain replaceable parts.

Consumers sharing infringing files

Sharing of CAD files, whether recreated or stolen, can lead to infringement.  However, the owners can prevent such occurrences by implementing relevant intellectual property protection strategies.

Copyright and trademark rights should extend to CAD files used to create objects, which deploy underlying IP rights so that the use of those files itself displays an act of infringement. To overcome the fact that the patent rights in the 3D printing industry are unlikely to extend to the CAD files of objects, manufacturers themselves can pursue the patent protection of their files. It would help them by showing that the copying of a stored CAD file is a direct infringement act.

Conclusion

With 3D printing technology, incredible manufacturing capabilities are accessible to almost everyone in the present era. However, this affordable solution can lead to concerns, like breaching IP rights, thus leaving rights holders with difficulties in finding infringers and taking action against them. So, people should pay attention to the influences of this technology on the intellectual property industry and vice-versa. It will help them in attaining the best out of 3D technology-based objects and services without suffering from any issue. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

Don’t forget to follow us on social media:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/trademarkmaldives/

Twitter – https://twitter.com/trademarkmaldiv

Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/trademarkmaldives/

Pinterest – https://in.pinterest.com/trademarkmaldives/

Tumblr – https://trademarkmaldives.tumblr.com/

Older Posts
Newer Posts