The patent opposition system provides a simple and inexpensive mechanism to increase patent quality by providing additional input to the process. These mechanisms also offer an alternative to potentially lengthy and costly judicial proceedings. The opposition before the European Patent Office (EPO) is a post-grant and administrative procedure intended to allow any European patent to be opposed. Anyone may argue a European patent within nine months from the publication of the grant. As specified [...]

In a decision that became final on August 11, 2017, the Court of Appeal of Jamaica overturned the May 30, 2014, Supreme Court ruling of Mr. Justice Sykes who previously held that the 3M mark owned by 3M Company and a stylized 3M and device (M3M) mark owned by Manufacturera 3M. S.A. de C.V (both illustrated below) were not similar and that there was no likelihood of confusion between them. The Court of Appeal [...]

On March 1, the State Council Information Office held a press conference to deepen the reform on commercial system. Zhang Mao, Head of SAIC said that it is clearly provided in the Trademark Law that well-known trademarks that well-known trademarks belong to legal concepts instead of honorary sign of products, so they cannot be used for company promotion or propaganda. According to the 500 Valuable Brands selected from World Brand Laboratory, China had 37 [...]