karo IP Blog
Learn more about [Patents and Utility models | Trademarks and Designs | Digital Technologies | IP-Strategy]. More IP News in our [News section].
Since June 2023 unitary patents can be applied for or registered at the European Patent Office (EPO). We have summarized information on the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court in the section Expertise: UPC.
Design protection: European design vs. US design patent
Justus Kreuels - 5. December 2023
The protection of the external shape and design of a product is an important issue for companies, not least due to the large number of product imitations worldwide. About the similarities and differences in the registration of designs in Europe (Community & Industrial Design) and in the USA (Design Patent).
Protecting slogans as an (EU) trademark
Matthias Rößler - 6. October 2023
Companies, public authorities, foundations and associations often use slogans to draw attention to themselves and to point out, for example, the quality, special features and positive characteristics of their goods or services. For this reason, a slogan is also considered worthy of protection or used to distinguish itself from market participants. However, this can only be achieved with a slogan protected as a trademark.
IP Compliance
Justus Kreuels - 6. September 2023
Innovative companies need a well-organized IP compliance management. Establishing an effective protection and control system not only helps to ensure compliance with laws and regulations, but also to guarantee the protection of a company's IP assets and to significantly reduce the risk with regard to the infringement of third-party property rights.
Unified Patent Court: Current developments
Matthias Rößler - 20. July 2023
The Unified Patent Court started its work on June, 1 2023. With the unitary patent, a patent with unitary effect can be granted in 17 EU states. The creation of a unified European patent jurisdiction was preceded by years of intensive discussions.
Artificial Intelligence and patent law
Justus Kreuels - 19. May 2023
Artificial Intelligence is one of the key technologies in the field of digitalization. We take the progressive further developments in this field and the discussions about the software tool ChatGPT as an opportunity to take up aspects of copyright and patent law (patenting of AI).
Metaverse: Trademark applications for virtual goods
Matthias Rößler - 1. March 2023
Some companies have started to extend their trademark protection explicitly for digital products. According to the EUIPO, trademark offices are seeing an increasing number of trademark applications for virtual products and NFTs. IP owners should also focus on the metaverse as part of their trademark strategy, e.g., to be able to stop potential trademark infringements in the metaverse.