Legal updates and opinions
News / News
Adidas and the stripes
By: Donvay Wegierski, Director
In 2015, Adidas successfully opposed the registration of two EU marks comprising two stripes belonging to Shoe Branding Europe marks on the basis of its three stripe registrations. On appeal, the EU General court has confirmed this position finding it likely that the use of the two-stripe mark will take unfair advantage of the three-stripe registration. This decision may deter the adoption of two stripe variations by others in the EU while Adidas continues to defend its three stripe registrations.
This may differ from the situation in South Africa, in that the Supreme Court of Appeal has found previously that two stripes on shoes had not constituted trade mark infringement or passing off, when the particular shoe was considered.
Latest News
Countdown to POPIA Webinar
Countdown to POPIA Webinar The 1st of July 2021 is the day for all public and private bodies to [...]
Extension of COVID-19 Temporary Employer / Employee Relief Scheme (“TERS”)
On 11 July 2021 President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the Covid-19 Temporary Employer / Employee Relief Scheme ("TERS") would be [...]
Incitement of public violence (on social media) and the repercussions for individuals and contracts
Incitement of public violence With the recent public unrest and public violence outbreaks in the country the President of the [...]
Mr. President, you don’t need an iPad, please use a pen!
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Director and Head of Data Privacy and Cybercrime Practice and member of Competition Law Practice; and Nyiko [...]
The G7 Finance Ministers’ Global Tax Agreement (or are tax havens dead?)
by Ernest Mazansky, Head of Tax Practice, Werksmans Attorneys As has been fairly widely reported with a great deal of [...]
Facebook, will you ever give up?
Facebook Data 1. It is often said that data is replacing oil as the world's most valuable resource and is [...]
