Brexit and your trade mark rights

Brexit and your trade mark rights The UK officially left the EU on 31 January 2020, with the transitional period ending on 31 December 2020. The end of the transition period has come with changes to both EU and UK trade mark practice and legislation which could impact your trade mark protection in these jurisdictions. We answer some common questions below. I own an EU trade mark registration. Will I still have protection in the […]


Offensive Trade Marks and Cultural Sensitivities

Offensive Trade Marks and Cultural Sensitivities The New Zealand Trade Marks Act 2002 prohibits the registration of offensive trade marks, including the registration of trade marks that contain Maori words and imagery which may be offensive to Maori. While Maori words and imagery are registrable as trade marks, words and images which are tapu (have a sacred meaning to Maori) should not be associated with something noa (common), which would lift the “tapu” from the […]