The number of cybersquatting cases handled by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) increased 5% in the last year to reach a record 2,884 filed cases. According to WIPO’s director general Francis Curry, the majority of the cybersquatting cases were filed in the areas of retail, fashion, banking, and finance. The United States was responsible for the most cases filed (798) and the most respondents (784). Though China was second in respondents with approximately 500 cases filed, only nine Chinese individuals filed cases with WIPO. The data collected by WIPO indicates that the center of domain name disputes is shifting, as WIPO is seeing increasing activity in Southeast Asia and other emerging economies.
The answer to this question is complex and nuanced. In the last decade or so, it has become fashionable to insist there is some stark dichotomy between what a trademark is and what a brand is. But the difference is not as stark as some marketers would like you to believe. The traditional definition of […]
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The Circle R and the TM symbols both relate to trademarks and both can be physically placed on products, packaging, advertising materials, websites, etc. The Circle R symbol is an “R” enclosed in a circle (®). While both are trademark-related symbols, there are different eligibility requirements for use, meanings, and implications. Here is a quick […]
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E-commerce businesses must comply with federal and State-level advertising laws and regulations. This is true of any business. But e-commerce businesses face special challenges because there is a whole array of potential methods of innocently, accidentally, or intentionally violating advertising laws. These include the potential to engage in false and deceptive advertising practices, such as […]
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