In the retail industry, intellectual property is more than just legal protection. It is a powerful way to compete. From brand names and logos to product designs and marketing materials, retailers use IP to make their business unique and get noticed in a busy marketplace.
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End of financial year sales are everywhere and so are the massive discount claims, ‘60% off everything!’, ‘storewide deals!’ ‘sitewide discounts!’. You’ve probably seen them in your inbox or while filling your online cart at your favourite activewear store, but despite how sweeping these discounts sound, not everything is always on sale.
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Nagi Maehashi, the founder of RecipeTin Eats, accused bakery owner and social media personality Brooke Bellamy of copying recipes in her cookbook ‘Bake with Brooki’. The controversy focused on 2 recipes - caramel slice and baklava - which Maehashi claims were copied word-for-word from her own published works.
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Whether you’re launching a startup, entering into a joint venture or simply discussing a new idea with a potential partner, protecting sensitive information is crucial. That’s where a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) comes in - a legal tool designed to safeguard confidential information from being disclosed or misused.
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We all love a handshake agreement. But dependable relationships can become a source of constant headaches and nuisance when things turn sour. With the benefit of hindsight, you may wish you were better prepared with a well written contract. Here are 5 basic reasons why you should put your handshake agreements in writing.
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In the world of fashion, cosmetics, and consumer goods, ‘dupes’ have become increasingly popular. While cheaper alternatives to high end products is nothing new, the term ‘dupe’ has entered common parlance in recent years. The popularity and perception of dupes has evolved with increasing cost of living pressures and a generational shift in consumption of goods and media normalised by Gen Z.
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In recent years, social media influencers have transformed the way brands engage with consumers. Influencers carry significant power in shaping trends, opinions and purchasing decisions of consumers. However, this newfound influence has also brought about a set of legal responsibilities that brands engaging influencers must understand and navigate.
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In the vast expanse of the internet, domain names are like digital storefronts, essential for businesses and individuals to stake their claim online. However, amidst the plethora of legitimate domain registrations, a darker practice known as cybersquatting lurks. This phenomenon occurs when individuals register domain names in bad faith, aiming to profit from the reputation of established trade marks or businesses.
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The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) recently decided that simple emojis cannot be trademarked under European law. Here’s what happened: Background emoji In December 2021 a German company Käselow, sought to have a commonly used emoji registered as their trademark. The mark in question was an image of a hand sign commonly understood to mean ‘ILY’ or ‘I Love…
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Australia currently provides protections, via the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission Act 2001 (Cth) (ASIC Act), against unfair contract terms (Unfair Contract Terms Regime). The Unfair Contract Terms Regime applies to consumer contracts and small business contracts that are considered standard form contracts.
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