STL recently highlighted a German-language trademark law blog and a French-language trademark law blog that English readers can now access through the wonders of Google and Yahoo! translation sites. These blogs are a great find because they provide a wealth of information that previously were closed to English readers.
However, not all foreign law blogs need translation. Here are three notable trademark law blogs from the United Kingdom, South Korea, and China — all written in English.
UK-based IPKat is almost legendary in Europe. Its four-member team has published almost 3,000 posts on “IP News and Fun for Everyone” since June 2003. On the trademark front, it recently discussed the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, a franchisor’s attempts to register 800 FLOWERS and 800 FLORISTS in Ireland, and a recent holding that “the word ‘Lithuania’ may not be used in the names of legal entities in languages other than Lithuanian….” Good stuff.
The Korea IP Law Blog recently celebrated its first anniversary. In the last two months, it has reported on the registrability of LUXURY under the Trademark Act of Korea and the protection of single-color marks. But perhaps my favorite post analyzes the “Misconception About Starbucks v Starpreya Case,” a dispute with which STL readers are familiar. Ok, some of the posts are in Korean, but this blog provides valuable insight into the Korean perspective.
Last but not least, the IP Dragon provides a similar look into Chinese law. It has recently discussed counterfeit soap, counterfeit wine bottles, and a collection of photos depicting outlandish trademark ripoffs, from SQNY batteries to MONDONALDS hamburgers. It’s well worth checking out — particularly for staying on top of the counterfeiting scene.