KPW
Magazine.
KPW
Magazine.
All about trademarks
Digital and AI
Advertising and competition
Creativity and design
Archive
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Saudi Arabia Joins the Madrid System
Saudi Arabia is joining the Madrid System. As of October 8, 2026, it will be a designated country in international trademark applications filed with WIPO.
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No Protection for the Team Beverage Trademark
The Federal Patent Court has almost universally denied that TEAM BEVERAGE has distinctiveness, even though an identical word mark has already been registered.
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New rules for trademarks in Jersey
Effective August 1, 2026, Jersey will be a separate designation under WIPO’s Madrid System, with its own fee. Here’s what companies need to know now.
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Recommendation Systems and Reporting Procedures non-transparent
The Bamberg Higher Regional Court rules against an online marketplace: Reporting procedures and recommendation systems must be more transparent under the Digital Services Act.
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Stripe patterns are not a trademark
The Federal Patent Court has ruled that two striped patterns in yellow and silver-gray lack distinctiveness as trademarks for protective gear and textiles.
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Companies Are Liable for Customer Reviews
The Hamburg Higher Regional Court has banned advertising for a veterinary drug that features unattributed quotes from veterinarians. What this means for customer reviews in advertising.
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GEMA also Wins Against Suno
The Munich I Regional Court has ruled against the AI music generator Suno for copyright infringement. This marks GEMA’s second victory against an AI provider in just a few months.
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Stricter Requirements for Doctor Seals
The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has overturned the ruling on the FOCUS medical seals and is imposing strict requirements on certification logos. What this means for seals in other industries.
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Miele puts retailers Through the Wringer
Miele is sending cease and desist letters to Amazon sellers over product images and trademark infringements. Why this approach is questionable and what sellers should know.
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Bargain price turns into a pitfall
The Düsseldorf Regional Court has ruled that promotional prices listed in advertising without a 30-day reference price are misleading and impermissible.
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No Damages Following Data Breach
The Traunstein Regional Court dismissed a GDPR lawsuit filed in response to a data breach because the plaintiff was unable to prove that he was affected or had suffered any damage.
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No protection for the compound VARIOPILOT
What’s it about? Eine Anmelderin wollte das Wortzeichen „VARIOPILOT” beim Deutschen Patent- und Markenamt für Steuerungen von Backöfen sowie für Backöfen selbst, jeweils mit Schwerpunkt auf der gewerblichen Bäckerei, eintragen lassen. Die zuständige Markenstelle des DPMA lehnte die Anmeldung am 31.01.2023 ab. Ihrer Ansicht nach fehlt dem Zeichen die notwendige markenrechtliche Unterscheidungskraft. Der angesprochene Fachverkehr…
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Four 20 Pharma as a trademark is too close to code for cannabis
The Federal Patent Court (BPatG) rejected the trademark application for “Four 20 Pharma” because those skilled in the art understand “420” as a cannabis code and the trademark lacks distinctiveness.
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Who is liable if Google’s AI lies?
AI-generated summaries on Google can damage a person’s reputation—and Google is liable for them. The Munich I Regional Court has now clarified this.
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No Break from Cancellation
A gym, a cancel button, and a break A consumer advocacy group filed a lawsuit against a gym operator that offered its members the option to enter into paid contracts for the use of the gyms online. In the footer of the website, the company provided a button labeled “Cancel Contract”—as required by law since…
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The kitchen stays cold for Wienerwald
The Wienerwald case shows that simply displaying your trademark in a restaurant does not automatically protect the food served there.
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YouTube’s liability exemption no longer applies
ECJ: Anyone who reviews creator content before sharing revenue loses their hosting privilege. Google is liable for advertisements for contests on YouTube.
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No trademark for OPENAI
The General Court of the European Union has upheld the rejection of the OPENAI trademark in the EU on the grounds that it is descriptive of software and AI services.