Honda’s Attempt to Enforce Copyright for its Engine Designs Backfires
October 1, 2014 Is the appearance of an engine design copyrightable? This question was answered by the Court of Appeals in the case of TLA Corporation, et al. vs. Honda Motor Company Ltd. and the National Library (CA-G.R. CV No. 98777, Aug. 5, 2014). Intellectual property owners sometimes seek copyright protection when its product designs […]
Secondary Meaning: Proof is in the Chant
September 30, 2014 Basketball in the Philippines is a sport that generates intense passion. While local players do not yet stand on the same footing as world-class NBA players, they are still feted as heroes here. Any team that gets to the top of the heap acquires legendary status, and its name would seemingly echo […]
Starbucks Wins Its Fight Against “FRAP” Trademark in the Philippines
September 30, 2014 The Philippines’ Bureau of Legal Affairs sustained the opposition of Starbucks Coffee Co. against a trademark application for “THE FRAP BAR Everyone Deserves Frap and Design” filed by Café De Manila Corporation in connection with coffee. In its opposition, Starbucks asserted that Café de Manila should not be allowed to register the […]
Benson and Hedges Misses a Bulls Eye in a Trademark Contest with Philip Morris
September 13, 2014 Benson and Hedges (Overseas) Limited opposed an application filed by Philip Morris Brands Sarl for a three-dimensional shape of an ICE BALL LENS claiming confusing similarity with earlier trademark registrations for LUCKY STRIKE featuring a BULLS EYE device. Benson asserted expanded protection for its BULLS EYE device under the well-known mark provision […]
Philippines Implements a System of Pre-Grant Third Party Review in Patent Applications
September 11, 2014 The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHIL) has announced its much-delayed implementation of a pre-grant Community Review Process (CRP) for patent applications. In a gathering of industry representatives held at the IPOPHIL on September 10, 2014, the Director of the Bureau of Patents announced that the Bureau of Patents will adopt […]