Month: September 2020

Can a trademark substitute copyright? The curious case of Banksy

Can a trademark substitute copyright? The curious case of Banksy

Trademarks and copyrights are different types of intellectual property, though they are often used to complement each other. A while ago, I wrote about the problems Ferrari faced with protecting its iconic Ferrari 250 GTO. Another curious case dealing with the overlap...

Messi turns EU’s top judges into giggling fanboys

Messi turns EU’s top judges into giggling fanboys

Messi turns EU's top judges into giggling fanboys Lionel Messi has just won an important case in the Court of Justice of the European Union. By accepting Messi’s appeal, the judges ignored well established legal principles, rolled out a red carpet and confirmed that...

The battle between brands (trademarks) and technology (patents)

The battle between brands (trademarks) and technology (patents)

Trademarks and patents are both intellectual property assets, but they protect very different things. Patents protect technological inventions - for example, how a product or its feature works, whereas trademarks protect brands, such as product names and logos. They...