IPT Germany

Marken-/Wettbewerbs- und Urheberrecht

Federal Supreme Court of Germany confirms title protection for smartphone-apps

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The German Federal Supreme Court (BGH) held for the first time that not only names of websites but also designations of smartphone-apps may be protected under the German Trademark Act (MarkenG). Section 5 of the German Trademark Act provides for a protection of “commercial designations” including titles. Each designation that falls within the scope of […]

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Trade Secrets Directive – Agreement between Commission, Parliament and Council

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On 15 December 2015, the EU Commission, the Council and the Parliament agreed on a final compromise text of a “Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure” (“Directive”). Background The Commission’s original proposal of November

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Big Changes Ahead: European Trademark Reform Package adopted

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Significant changes to European trademark law will be coming into effect in 2016. Just before the turn of the year the European Parliament adopted a very substantial reform package for EU trademarks. The revised laws aim to make EU trademark law fit for the challenges of business in the 21st Century, for example by making

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Online Streitbeilegung – Hinweispflicht für Online-Händler trotz fehlender Plattform

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Seit dem 9. Januar 2016 sind Online-Händler verpflichtet, auf die Online-Streitbeilegungsplattform der EU-Kommission hinzuweisen – auch wenn die Plattform bislang noch nicht einsatzbereit ist: Mit Verordnung (EU) Nr. 524/2013 vom 21. Mai 2013 (sog. “ODR-Verordnung”) hatte die EU-Kommission die Schaffung einer Internetplattform zur Online-Beilegung von Streitigkeiten (sog. “OS-Plattform”) beschlossen. Damit sollte der Verbraucherschutz gestärkt und

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German Federal High Court qualifies refusal of consent for legal Adword-advertisement of a competitor as unfair commercial practice

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The German Federal High Court (“BGH”) ruled on 12 March 2015 that the refusal of a trademark owner to give his consent to the legal use of its trademark in an Adword-advertisement of a competitor constitutes an illegal deliberate obstruction of a competitor according to section 4 no. 10 of the German Unfair Competition Act (BGH

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When the cat kills the dog… Parody and German trademark law

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In a recent decision, the German Federal Court decided that the owner of trade mark consisting of a parody to the “PUMA” trade mark must consent to his trademark being deleted (decision I ZR 59/13 of 2 April 2015). The trade mark in question consisted of the picture of a poodle jumping in the same

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‘GEMA – No-access signs’ on YouTube constitute unfair competition

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With verdict of 7 May 2015, the Higher Regional Court in Munich (OLG Munich) has confirmed the prior decision of the Regional Court in Munich, that YouTube may not publish notices in regard to inaccessible music videos, that create the wrong impression with users that GEMA is responsible for the inaccessible music videos.

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