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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