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A Legal Guide to NFTs

Businesses looking to get into the non-fungible token (NFT) space have a chance to reap some serious profit if they do it right. Rare NFTs can sell for tens of millions of dollars. In 2021, The Merge sold for $91.8 million on Nifty Gateway, making it the most expensive NFT to date. However, due to

trademarking foreign words with USPTO

Trademarking Foreign Words: Be Careful

For some brands, trademarking foreign words or phrases might hit just the right note in terms of image. The word “bakery” might make consumers in Seattle think of their local Safeway, while boulangerie evokes flaky, buttery croissants in Paris. Yet the use of foreign words raises certain issues when it comes to registering trademarks in

Trademark Protection In The Global Marketplace

Trademark Protection In The Global Marketplace

Trademarks are among the most important assets of any company. Indeed, if it weren’t for trademarks, customers would be unlikely to even find a company’s products. Naturally, then, most U.S. companies want to protect these essential and valuable assets to the greatest extent possible and therefore make sure that they are registered with the United

expungement reexamination proceedings

USPTO Expungement and Reexamination Proceedings

Pursuant to the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has established expungement and reexamination proceedings for cancellation of a registration. These proceedings allow a third party to request the cancellation of a trademark registration, if the mark was never used in commerce, or if it was not used prior

Global Trademark Protection Under the Madrid Protocol

Global Trademark Protection Under the Madrid Protocol

As more U.S. companies and individuals seek to sell their goods and services in foreign markets, it is important they obtain trademark protection in these markets. One way to minimize the cost of obtaining trademark protection abroad is to make use of the Madrid System. With the UAE‘s accession to the Madrid Protocol (which together

Spain Trade Secret Law

Spain Trade Secret Law

Trade secrets became explicitly protected under Spanish national law when EU Directive (2016/943/EU) became part of Spain law in 2019. A trade secret in Spain is now defined as secret information, unknown to those who usually handle such kinds of information and not readily accessible. This information also must have commercial value precisely because it

EU China and US trademark law

How US, EU and China Trademark Systems Differ

Our team handles trademark work around the world for our clients, but the jurisdictions with which we work the most are the United States, European Union, and China. While there are considerable similarities among these three jurisdictions when it comes to trademark law, in this post we look at how the U.S., E.U., and China

A Legal Primer on Doing Business in the United States

Doing Business in the United States: The Laws You Should Know

As the country with the world’s largest economy, the United States offers some of the best business opportunities in the world. However, the US legal system can also pose complex regulatory hurdles for foreign enterprises. Navigating these legal intricacies is crucial for foreign companies seeking to minimize risk and operate successfully in the expansive US commercial

Propiedad Intelectual estados unidos

An Intellectual Property Lesson from Mexico for Manufacturers

A conversation with a client this week reminded me that there many different flavors of intellectual property (IP), and that many companies should look carefully at integrating intellectual property rights (IPR) protection processes into all of their interactions with clients and especially prospective clients. Imagine a company that is well-regarded in its field, contacted by