Latest blog articles

  • Geographical Indications: linking products to their geographical origin

    Geographical Indications (also known as GIs) are signs used to safeguard the link between a product and its place of origin. In order for a product to be protected as a GI, the exact production methods and environmental factors need to be documented. It is easy to imagine that traditional products...

    Geographical Indications: Linking Products To Their Geographical Origin
  • Should a food standard be accorded geographical indication status?

    Protected geographical indications (PGI) cannot be granted for names deemed generic in the language of a territory. The recent example of Danbo cheese shows that if a name is deemed to be generic under a certain legal framework (Codex), it may not necessarily be so under another legal framework (PGI...

    Danbo Cheese patent - Food blog Anke
  • Does Brexit have the last word in the UPC?

    With or without the UK, the EU will try to find a way to implement the UPC as it has invested considerable time and efforts knowing the benefits it will bring; however, the fate of the Agreement could be decided on judicial grounds instead of political ones.

    Blog on patent regulation and Brexit
  • The music industry hits an all-time high

    The music industry is currently on a peak mainly because of the huge boost of on-demand streaming. How did such a service manage to increase global music revenue on such a fast path? What were the circumstances facilitating its implementation?

    music industry blog IGIR_MLR
  • SMECC: the future of effective child abuse prevention?

    SMECC stands for School, Minimum standard, Education, Child-friendly policy and care-Continuum. Imagine SMECC as a flat drawing of a house. The regulatory backstop is the minimum standard in family litigation for competent parenthood – far on the horizon, however, a necessary fundament of human...

    Smecc preventie kindermishandeling blog Law Blogs Maastricht
  • The social function of inventions: let “green patents” save the planet

    We are currently not only in the middle of the 4th Industrial Revolution but also on the midst of global climate change. With the on-going issues surrounding climate change, the world of IP is also evidently affected by it. Companies are fostering innovation by coming up with new technology which is...

    Green patent_The social function of inventions: let “green patents” save the planet
  • Ensuring compliance with sustainable development provisions in EU FTAs

    The trade and sustainable development chapters included in recent EU FTAs have been criticized for lacking an effective enforcement mechanism, and in particular for the absence of sanctions to ensure compliance. This has been blamed for the poor implementation of their commitments by partner...

    Entrepreneur blog IGIR trade and compliance
  • Plant variety rights and patent: which way to go?

    Innovation is stimulated by a well designed regulatory framework as well as a balanced and effective Intellectual Property (IP) protection. IP protection gives the innovator an exclusive right on his innovation and allows a fair sustained return for his investment. In agricultural industry, plant...

    Plants and seeds - blog conference
  • The proliferation of game clone in China versus copyright law

    “Game clone” means two kinds of act: one is the act of game piracy, where the second game is a reproduction or abridgement of earlier games. Another act is that of creating games where second game contains similar elements as compared to earlier games.

    Chinese game clone example nr 2
  • The risk in the personalisation trend of famous brands

    Nowadays, companies let consumers ‘play’ with their trademark: in the ‘Your Nutella – your way’ campaign the customer is invited to create his name label on a Nutella jar in the classic design of the Nutella logo. Nevertheless, there is an enhanced risk of trade mark dilution.

    Nutella branding marketing campaign