The role of government in the name game
A sub-group of ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee wants to severely restrict the use of geographical names in domain names or trademarks, but this proposal must be vigorously opposed, says Nick Wood of domain name registrar Com Laude.
The legality of parallel imports in India
Counterfeiting cases are rarely contested in court but the law on the legality of parallel imports is ambiguous and hotly contested in India, as Safir Anand reports.
Branding headaches for alcohol manufacturers
The internet presents many sophisticated ways for drinks companies to promote their brands but, as TBO finds, there is a fine balancing act between getting good exposure and protecting your IP.
Marques 2014: protecting brands in a digital market
At the Marques conference in Copenhagen last month, Google, Nestlé and Lego were some of the brands on hand to provide top tips on protecting rights online and on social media. TBO provides a round-up of the best advice.
Cherry picking your gTLDs
Many brands don’t have the time to choose in which new gTLDs to register their names, but Rolf Larsen and Jeanette Söderlund Sause of Dot Global, a domain name registry, can help them wade through the list.
Online advertising: driving sales
Promercials, ad exchanges and mini brand experiences are all part of the online advertising mix for Fiat. TBO reports on the car maker’s strategy.
Social media: first and funniest wins
Social media give companies an easy way of reaching legions of customers in a focused way. But what are the IP pitfalls for using this method of marketing, and can it ever rival traditional advertising? TBO investigates.
Semantics: to affinity and beyond
The specificity of new gTLDs affords website owners something not possible in .com: memorable and meaningful names to which they and their users have a connection. Bob Samuelson reports.
Creative Content UK: education, education, education
In July the UK government announced it was going to start sending warnings to internet users who persistently download content illegally. TBO assesses the government's plan and whether it will have the desired effect.
PIPCU: the IP police
In the UK, a police unit dedicated to tackling IP crime has been making its mark, so TBO visited its headquarters to speak to Andy Fyfe, the recently departed chief, about the unit’s work and what the future holds.
