Side Effects In Intellectual Property

It is commonly known that some foreign companies left Russia following the onset of events in the Ukraine. That led to mass filing of trademark applications reproducing or imitating the brands of the companies that left Russia. That raised concerns among trademark owners who inferred that no IP laws are respected in Russia. The patent office quickly reacted to that and explained that filing an application and publishing it does not mean that a registration will occur. The pirate filers understood that too and discontinued the practice.

Now a new sprout has shot up. It is a single case though, at least so far. The case concerns the name Gucci Cafe read backward: Efac Iccug. At first glance, there is nothing in common with Gucci but an inquisitive mind may discern an association with the famous brand.