Malta: Trademark

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled on whether luxury brands can use historical dates in their trademarks when those dates suggest centuries of craftsmanship and heritage that don't actually exist. This landmark decision examines how false claims about a business's age may deceive consumers about product quality, particularly when tradition and prestige are key factors in purchasing luxury goods.

Family offices are increasingly recognising intellectual property as a critical component of modern wealth, requiring sophisticated governance frameworks that integrate IP into succession planning, asset protection, and cross-border structuring.

Malta's dual trademark protection system offers businesses strategic flexibility through national registration or the European Union Trademark route. The EUTM framework, governed by Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, provides cost-effective protection across 27 EU countries through a single application, while Malta's position as an English-speaking jurisdiction enhances its role in IP portfolio management and cross-border structuring.

In a judgment delivered by the General Court of the European Union (the "Court") on the 12 June 2024 in the case of Societe du Tour de France...

La cérémonie du Prix de l'Inventeur Européen 2024 se déroulera à Malte le 9 juillet prochain. L'OEB vient de dévoiler la liste des douze finalistes, comprenant trois finalistes dans chacune des catégories suivantes.

In ‘Puma v European Union Intellectual Property Office' (Case T-647/22), decided on 6 March 2024, the General Court of the European Union (the "GCEU" or the "Court") delivered...

In Joined Cases C-148/21 and C-184/21, Christian Louboutin vs Amazon Europe Core Sàrl et, decided on the 22December 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union (the "CJEU") provided a preliminary ruling...

A trademark is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognisable sign, design, or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (the "EUIPO") has recently confirmed that services relating to virtual goods and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) will now be classified...