Intellectual Property Law

The holding company responsible for easyJet and other related businesses with ‘easy’ in their names has lost an appeal against a judgment of the High Court of England and Wales that a business called “EasyOffices” had not infringed on its trade marks and the revocation of its

Elaine Morrissey has joined US-headquartered patent licensing firm Marconi as senior legal counsel. Ms Morrissey is a solicitor with over 11 years' experience and was previously a partner in William Fry's corporate and M&A team.

An increase in the effective tax rate for Ireland's Knowledge Development Box (KDB) will take effect from 1 October 2023, the government has announced. Finance minister Michael McGrath has signed a commencement order for the relevant provision of the Finance Act 2022, which forms part of Ireland's i

The family of the late Bon Scott, frontman of AC/DC, has prevailed in a legal dispute with a sportswear brand over trademark rights to his name. The estate of the Scottish-born rock icon had sought to register his name as a trademark for merchandise commemorating his legacy. The proposed line includ

Business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran has brought home three awards from the Managing IP EMEA Awards 2023 in London. The firm was named Ireland's copyright and design firm of the year and trademark prosecution firm of the year, while partner and head of IP Gerard Kelly was named Ireland's pract

Queen's University Belfast School of Law has launched a new Global Intellectual Property and Technology Centre (G-IPTech) aimed at becoming a global hub of excellence for intellectual property and technology law. Professor Giancarlo Frosio has been appointed as director of the centre, an interdiscip

The new Unified Patent Court (UPC) has become operational with effect from today, with 17 EU member states initially participating in the new body — though Ireland is not yet one of them. The UPC has jurisdiction over the new unitary patents as well as existing European patents and will allow

UK law firm Bristows LLP is to open its second international office in Dublin in response to the establishment of the Unified Patent Court (UPC). The London-headquartered firm, which was founded more than 180 years ago, previously established its first international office in Brussels in 2017 as par

Dublin-based intellectual property law firm FRKelly has appointed Judy McCullagh as a partner. Ms McCullagh has worked for over 20 years in the IP arena, with the majority of these years spent in the trade mark field. She represents clients before the Irish, UK and EU trade mark offices.

IP law firm Powell Gilbert has launched an office in Dublin to support the firm's work in advising and representing clients before the new Unified Patent Court (UPC). The London-based firm said the new office would complement its existing practice with a reputation for UK patent litigation and for d

Dublin-based intellectual property law firm FRKelly has appointed Con O'Connor and John O'Flaherty as partners. Mr O'Connor is a European patent attorney specialising in the chemical, materials and pharmaceutical fields.

James Milliken, solicitor at Belfast-based Carson McDowell, considers the impact of generative artificial intelligence on UK copyright law. At the most basic level, copyright law attempts to balance the needs of authors with the interests of society as a whole. It is intended to provide a middle gro

The European Commission has called on member states to take action to combat commercial-scale online piracy of sports and other live events, such as concerts and theatre performances. The Commission has adopted a recommendation encouraging member states, authorities, holders of rights and providers

Mason Hayes & Curran partner Gerard Kelly and associate John Milligan examine an EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) ruling on a trade mark by street artist Banksy. We previously reported on a trade mark invalidity dispute involving the famous English street artist Banksy’s flower thro

Mason Hayes & Curran associate John Milligan and partner Hazel McDwyer consider a recent EU ruling on a trade mark that was perhaps too sustainable. The General Court of the EU recently held that the slogan “Sustainability through Quality” is not a trade mark as it is not sufficientl