In a constantly changing business world, protecting intellectual property is not just a whim, but a necessity. And, as inflation continues to rise, every penny counts.

Thus, the European funds through EUIPO for SMEs in 2024 represent an extraordinary opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises to secure their trademarks and industrial designs, and we are here to turn this opportunity into reality.

This year, the EUIPO Fund renews its commitment to support SMEs by covering up to 75% of the official fees for registering trademarks and designs, reimbursing up to a maximum of 1,000 EUR.

For example, if you want to register an EU trademark (protected in each EU member state) for a Nisa class, let’s say “online sale of shoes”, then the official fees are 850 EUR. Through the Fund, you will be reimbursed 637.5 EUR, namely 75% of 850 EUR. The difference of 362.5 EUR can be used to reimburse the fees for registering other trademarks.

We are proud to say that in 2023 we successfully obtained funding for all applications submitted on behalf of our clients, and in some cases, we accessed the funds in just one week – a rarity in the bureaucratic world.
It is important to mention that, although we strive to optimize each process, the time required to access the funds can vary depending on the complexity of each application and the workflow of EUIPO.

Do not miss the opportunity to protect your innovations and creations. With our experience and knowledge, we can guide you step by step through the application process and maximize your chances of success.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help you benefit from the EUIPO SME 2024 Fund.

Nobody can escape their own end, not even Mickey Mouse. Thus, after 95 years of protection, the copyright associated with the cartoon character has finally entered the public domain. Yes, you read that correctly! The cheeriest of mice is no longer under the exclusive control of its creators or a giant corporation.

For decades, Mickey Mouse has been a symbol of childhood joy, but also of corporate profit, stringently protected by copyright laws. The protection afforded by copyright, much like Cinderella’s magical evening, does not last forever, but for 95 years in this case. Therefore, considering that Mickey Mouse made his debut in 1928, it is no longer protected.

However, it should be noted that not all iterations of Mickey Mouse have entered the public domain, but only the version illustrated in the “Steamboat Willie” cartoons. Hence, not everything is as simple as it seems in the world of intellectual property. While the classic version of Mickey is now free, later versions and other Disney characters might still be off-limits for use without prior consent. It’s a complex labyrinth, similar to those in which our beloved mouse often found himself.

“Steamboat Willie”, Credit…LMPC, via Getty Images

What does this mean for artists, entrepreneurs, and mouse enthusiasts around the world? A whole world of possibilities! And now you can use Mickey in your art, you can use his image in your products, or even create new stories for him, without needing a magic wand, the permission of rights holders or an impressive budget.

In conclusion, as Mickey Mouse joins the public domain, we are reminded of the ever-evolving nature of copyright law. So, grab your pencils, brushes, laptops, and entrepreneurial spirit, and let’s see what magic unfolds in this new era of Mickey Mouse.

If you also want to protect your copyrights or have other questions about the world of law, contact us!

We can help you protect your IP rights!

Recently an indie developer announced a survival horror game called “The Store is Closed”, where the player has to survive creepy undertakings within a furniture store during the night, or as some of us call it – a regular Saturday.

As many corporate giants do, IKEA sent a cease-and-desist letter to the developers of the game “Store is Closed,” citing trademark infringement and unfair competition.  In it the Swedish giant argues that the game included a logo named “STYR” with yellow letters on a blue background similar to IKEA’s trademark, and game characters wearing yellow shirts that resembled IKEA employees’ uniforms.

In the cease-and-desist letter, they argued that “Your game uses a blue and yellow sign with a Scandinavian name on the store, a blue box-like building, yellow vertical stiped shirts identical to those worn by IKEA personnel, a gray path on the floor, furniture that looks like IKEA furniture, and product signage that looks like IKEA signage. All the foregoing immediately suggest that the game takes place in an IKEA store.”

Guess they really are trying to close the store. Yes, pun intended.

It is important to note that trademark infringement occurs when a company or individual uses a trademark or a similar mark in a way that is likely to cause confusion among consumers or dilute the value of the original mark. However, in this case the two trademarks are clearly different, namely IKEA vs. STYR. Moreover, one could argue that the employees’ uniforms and signage don’t constitute themselves trademarks.

As would most people do when being met with the brute strength of a plywood behemoth, the developer removed all references to IKEA’s intellectual property, including the yellow and blue logo and the yellow shirts.

The gaming publication Kotaku managed to reach the IKEA team to which they responded:

“While we think it’s flattering that others are inspired by the IKEA brand, we must be diligent to ensure that the IKEA trademarks and trade dress are not misapplied. Various elements of the video game currently correspond in appearance with the IKEA brand features. We’ve reached out to the creator of the video and asked them to make changes to those elements to ensure that this is no longer the case. They expressed that they understand our request and agreed to make those changes. This should all be well in time for the expected 2024 launch of the game.”

This case highlights the importance of respecting IP rights and trademark law, as well as knowing how to deal when hit with a cease-and-desist. Businesses and individuals must be vigilant in protecting their IP, and seek professional legal counsel to ensure that their use of third-party IP is lawful. When creating content that may reference or use elements of existing brands or trademarks, it is essential to take steps to avoid any potential infringement, including seeking legal advice and modifying content as necessary.

Find out more if you want to know how to register an EU trademark.

Contact us! Let us help you protect your IP rights!

To say that this past year has not been easy budget-wise on entrepreneurs and startups is a bit of an understatement.

Luckily, the EUIPO alongside partner Intellectual Property Offices must have really enjoyed that famous Jerry Maguire scene – “Help us help you!”

So, they have created a Fund to help out small and medium-sized companies by covering up to 1.000 EUR of official fees regarding the registration of trademark and industrial design.

This SME Fund will cover up to 75% of registration fees, whether they regard national (OSIM) or EU rights (EUIPO).

For example, if you want to register an EU trademark (protected for every EU member state) for one Nice class, let’s say “selling shoes online”, then official fees will be in amount of 850 EUR.

Thanks to the SME Fund you can get back 637,5 EUR, which amounts to 75% of 850 EUR. The amount left consisting of 362,5 EUR can be used to save off official fees for additional trademarks.

You can apply for this Fund right now.
Don’t miss out! Contact us! Let us help you protect your IP rights!

To say that this past year has not been easy budget-wise on entrepreneurs and startups is a bit of an understatement.

Luckily, the EU alongside partner Intellectual Property Offices must have really enjoyed that famous Jerry Maguire scene – “Help us help you!”

So, they have created a Fund to help out small and medium-sized companies by covering up to 1.500 EUR of trademark fees regarding the protection of their IP rights.

This SME Fund will cover up to 75% of the pre-diagnostic service fees and registration fees, whether they regard national or EU rights. For example, if you want to register an EU trademark (protected for every EU member state) for one Nice class, let’s say “selling shoes online”, then you can receive up to 75% of the fee back, namely 637,5 EUR.

You can apply for this Fund right now.
Don’t miss out! Let us help you protect your IP rights!

To say that this past year has not been easy budget-wise on entrepreneurs and startups is a bit of an understatement.

Luckily, the EU alongside partner Intellectual Property Offices must have really enjoyed that famous Jerry Maguire scene – “Help us help you!”

So, they have created a Fund to help out small and medium-sized companies by covering up to 1.500 EUR of trademark fees regarding the protection of their IP rights.

This SME Fund will cover up to 75% of the pre-diagnostic service fees or up to 50% of the registration fees, whether they regard national or EU rights. For example, if you want to register an EU trademark (protected for every EU member state) for one Nice class, let’s say “selling shoes online”, then you can receive up to 50% of the fee back, namely 425 EUR.

You can apply for this Fund between October 1st and October 31st.
Don’t miss out! Let us help you protect your IP rights!

App icons as trademarks

Nowadays everyone relies on apps to either do their work better or utterly procrastinate. Each app is either for productivity or for hilarity.

Since they are the cornerstone of the modern tech-savvy person, the companies must compete with each other to capture the short attention span of everyone of us. One of the main tricks to catch the eye is by implementing a neat-looking app icon.

However, how can you ensure, as an app-developer, that no other competitor uses the same or a similar icon? Well, easy – you register it as a trademark.

Dos and don’ts – Register trademark

Before you start applying for a trademark, make sure you follow these tips.

First of all, make sure that your icon is distinctive enough, so that users immediately recognize it as belonging to your app. As such, please do not use graphics that are incredibly simple or over-the-top abstract, as they might be rejected by the Office.

Secondly, refrain from using an icon that describes in full the services or the product which you are providing. For example, you cannot use the name “Fruits” to sell bananas online.

If you do manage to register such a trademark, we wish you good luck in trying to enforce it.

Thirdly, make sure there are no prior identical or similar registered trademarks. If such is the case, we highly recommend you undergo a design change. Otherwise, all the budget you invest in marketing and client awareness will be in vain.

Lastly, make sure you own the rights to the name and/or logo, if they are created by a designer or a marketing team. You can ensure this via a very clear and well-written agreement.

In order to make sure that you’ll touch upon all these points and you’ll have the highest chances of success with registration, feel free to contact us.

We are always happy to work with young entrepreneurs, startups, and market veterans.