Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 25 MAY 2021

Sailing Close To The Wind: Budget Brands

J A Kemp
J A Kemp
Contributor
J A Kemp

J A Kemp

J A Kemp is one of the largest European patent and trade mark attorney firms, with offices in...

View firm profile
Explore more from J A Kemp

What do hair serums, salmon fillets and caterpillars all have in common? The answer is of course that they have all been the subject of high-profile trade mark disputes.

United KingdomIntellectual Property
Scott Gardiner
Scott Gardiner
Author LinkedIn connections

What do hair serums, salmon fillets and caterpillars all have in common? The answer is of course that they have all been the subject of high-profile trade mark disputes.

The arrival of budget supermarkets in the UK has increased competition and provided consumers with greater choice. However, in seeking to compete with more familiar and established household names, these lower-cost retailers have often 'sailed close to the wind' by bringing to market a wide range of so-termed 'copycat' or 'imitation' brands. Whilst some may argue that these 'copycat' brands simply provide busy shoppers with helpful 'visual cues' to familiar product types, it is easy to see why brand owners may take issue with the actions of their budget rivals.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

AI, Deepfakes And Image Rights: Does English Law Protect Your Face, Voice And Likeness?

Generative AI has created a legal vacuum where synthetic images and deepfakes can be created and shared without consent, yet English law offers no standalone "image right" to protect individuals. With celebrities like Lisa Riley and over 80 performers demanding reform, the question is whether the UK's patchwork of intellectual property, data protection, and common law protections can adequately address this rapidly evolving threat to personal autonomy and reputation.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Mills & Reeve LLP
Mills & Reeve LLP
Article

The Sound Of Ownership: Why AI Voice Cloning Is Raising New IP Questions

As AI voice cloning technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and accessible, the Save Our Voices Now campaign calls for statutory rights allowing individuals to own and control their voice as intellectual property. This article examines whether existing UK law sufficiently protects one of our most personal and recognisable attributes, exploring copyright, trade marks, passing off, and the practical steps individuals and businesses can take.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Ashfords LLP
Ashfords LLP
Article

High Court Clarifies The Limits Of Copyright Claims Against Online Marketplaces

The UK High Court has delivered a landmark ruling on online marketplace liability, dismissing Shein's copyright infringement claims against Temu and clarifying when platforms can be held responsible for third-party content. The judgment examines the boundaries of copyright ownership in complex supply chains and establishes important precedents for how marketplace operators should respond to infringement allegations.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
HGF Law
HGF Law
Article

The Manchester Creative Industries AI Summit – The Government's Opportunity To Set Out A Policy Direction On Copyright And AI?

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has convened the Creative Industries AI Summit in Manchester to bring together rightsholders, regulators, platforms and AI labs to align on a common approach to copyright-protected works in AI development. The Summit will unveil the 'Manchester Principles', a framework establishing minimum conditions for using human creative work to train generative AI models.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
Lewis Silkin
Lewis Silkin
Article

UPC CoA Confirms Jurisdiction Over Pending European Patent Application

The UPC Court of Appeal has confirmed that the Unified Patent Court can exercise jurisdiction over European patent applications, provided they are granted before the defendant files their statement of defence. This landmark decision means patent holders may now be locked into the UPC system even before their patents are officially granted, fundamentally changing the strategic timing considerations for opting out of UPC jurisdiction.
United KingdomIntellectual Property
HGF Law
HGF Law
Article

Patents And University Spin-outs: Protecting Academic Innovation

Universities drive innovation across medicine, AI, materials, and clean tech, but academic researchers face a critical challenge: the need to publish conflicts with patent protection requirements for confidentiality. Understanding how to navigate publication deadlines, filing strategies, and IP development can determine whether groundbreaking research becomes a valuable commercial asset or loses protection entirely.
United StatesIntellectual Property
J A Kemp
J A Kemp
Article

UK High Court Upholds Novartis’s Sacubitril Valsartan SPC: What Is The Relevant “product”?

The UK High Court has rejected a challenge to Novartis's supplementary protection certificate for sacubitril and valsartan, addressing a fundamental question about how the "product" protected by an SPC should be defined. The decision clarifies whether a specific co-crystal formulation or the broader combination of active ingredients constitutes the relevant product under the SPC Regulation.
United StatesIntellectual Property
J A Kemp
J A Kemp
Article

UK High Court Upholds Takeda’s Lisdexamfetamine SPC: Will The CJEU Agree?

The UK High Court has ruled on whether lisdexamfetamine (LDX), a pro-drug with no therapeutic activity before conversion to dextroamphetamine, can be considered an "active ingredient" for supplementary protection certificate purposes. This decision addresses a critical question in pharmaceutical patent law that has produced divergent outcomes across European jurisdictions and is currently before the CJEU in multiple pending referrals.
United StatesIntellectual Property
J A Kemp
J A Kemp
Video

Navigating Freedom To Operate (FTO): Strategy, Searches And Risk Mitigation (Video)

This webinar explores the critical Freedom to Operate (FTO) process for life sciences companies, examining when FTO assessments are necessary and how to navigate the complex landscape of patent risks. From initial search strategies and cost considerations to evaluating potential infringement risks and implementing ongoing monitoring systems, the session provides practical guidance for managing intellectual property challenges in product development and commercialization.
United StatesIntellectual Property
J A Kemp
J A Kemp