News

Technologies

  • WIPO PROOF: a new intellectual property service

    The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on May 27, 2020 launched WIPO PROOF, a new online service for businesses that provides tamper-proof confirmation of the existence at a given time of any digital file, regardless of format, including data sets.

    WIPO PROOF complements WIPO's existing intellectual property (IP) systems by helping inventors and creators to provide verified protection for numerous products at any stage of their development, from idea to conception to commercialization.

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Sensations

  • Apple patented a pressure-sensitive secure keyboard

    A pressure-sensitive secure keyboard has been developed by Apple MacBook Company, TechXplore reported it on April 3.

     

    The new type of keyboard has a multi-layer design. The outer layer is metal. Underneath there are pressure-sensitive layers. The keyboard can be adjusted for different levels of mechanical impact.

     

     

     
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  • Banksy loses EU trademark fight

    Street artist Banksy has lost a legal battle with a a greeting card company along with a European Union trademark for one of his most iconic artworks.

    The cancellation division of the EU's intellectual property office said in a ruling this week that Banksy's trademark for “Flower Thrower” was filed in bad faith and declared it “invalid in its entirety.”

    Also known as “Love is in The Air," the graffiti artist created the work in Jerusalem in 2005. It depicts a young protester wearing a cap and with his face half-covered throwing a bouquet of flowers.

    The decision, which can be appealed, followed a dispute between U.K. greeting card company Full Colour Black Ltd. and the company that authenticates and handles requests dealing with Banksy's work, Pest Control Office Ltd. The British street artist's real name and identity are unknown.

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  • Angry Birds VS Angry Chicken

    Even for people who don’t play mobile games, Angry Birds is immediately recognizable. While the franchise started out as an iOS app, it has since spawned games on major platforms, multiple films, a children’s show, cookbooks and even food products. The latter of these is playing a significant part in the brand’s recent Trademark Opposition against Angry Chicken.

     
     
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  • MARVEL’S VENOM VS SPYDER’S VENOM

    Whether it’s in comic books, television or on the big screen, Marvel’s Venom has long been one of the most popular supervillains among fans. The alien bad guy usually faces off against Spider-Man, but it’s Spyder Active Sports that’s giving him problems these days. Marvel has filed a trademark opposition TTAB case against Spyder Active Sports’ trademark application for VENOM, so their “spidey sense” should be in overdrive.

     
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  • DJ Marshmello faces off against L’oreal over trademark

    Although the identity of electronic DJ Marshmello was initially shrouded in secrecy, the popular artist seems to have no qualms with stepping into the limelight over intellectual property issues. This was seen when a Notice of Opposition was filed against L’Oreal – the largest cosmetics provider in the world – over their application for registration of “The Marsh Mellow.”

    The filing with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) is still in its early stages, but the nuances of the case indicate this will be a newsworthy trial to watch unfold.

     
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