Passing off meaning

This Checklist pinpoints the principal provisions commonly found in a trade mark coexistence agreement. It may serve as a prompt for matters to address when preparing, assessing, or negotiating these arrangements. It can be relied upon as a list of points to review at drafting stage, during review, and throughout negotiations and sign-off process. It may equally be tailored as heads of terms to capture core positions whilst a full trade mark coexistence agreement is finalised. For help on doing so, see Precedent: Heads of terms—commercial contracts. For a model coexistence agreement, see Precedent: Trade mark coexistence agreement. For further detail on factors to weigh when drafting a coexistence agreement, see Practice Notes: Trade mark coexistence agreements and Negotiation guide—trade mark coexistence agreement. Checklist Points to consider Further information Notes (if any) (A) Key commercial considerations ☐ Parties Verify which entities will sign the agreement—specify who owns the trade marks (and related rights) and who is exploiting them. Confirm each party’s legal form and...

This checklist sets out the main points to consider when shaping an online brand protection strategy. Use it alongside the Practice Note: Brand protection online—strategy. Protecting the brand Have you established the right safeguards? Have you secured suitable trade mark and other relevant registrations? Is there a global filing and enforcement plan to avoid issues in first-to-file countries? Are you tracking unauthorised activity? (see below for details) Have you set enforcement criteria to prioritise particular infringements? Are you ready to act swiftly through take-down procedures? Have you ensured official brand sites maintain a strong online presence? Are you leveraging technological advances to make authentic items harder to copy? Do you maintain good working relationships with customs and law enforcement agencies? Do third parties know the business will rigorously protect its brands? Do you have robust compliance measures in place? Do you publish a website IP notice that makes third parties aware...

This Checklist covers the key considerations when formulating a strategy to combat counterfeiting and piracy. Use this Checklist together with Practice Note: Anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy—strategy. Begin by evaluating how widespread the issue is. Consider who has been consulted: Internal teams close to the market, such as customer services dealing with consumer complaints External investigators gauging counterfeit prevalence across specific channels (online and in store) and carrying out test purchases Agencies including the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (‘Trading Standards’) and HMRC Internet service providers and website operators where targets largely trade online Be aware that staff or members of the public may spot fake goods in shops, market stalls, at events or while on holiday and may proactively alert the rights holder. Confirm whether the following key details have been established: Most affected territories Most affected products Health and safety concerns Degree of risk to consumers and brand value Principal perpetrators Any...

As of 12 January 2023, the EU’s Regulation on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market (FSR) took effect...

Flowchart This Flowchart depicts general regulatory and contractual issues that arise when building or operating a website...

Stage 1—preparing to bring a claim and pre-action matters Guidance on UK trade mark infringement, offences, passing off, interim injunctions, running IP disputes, privilege, dispute resolution (mediation and arbitration), and the Disclosure Scheme; plus checklists and forms (injunction, application, hearing) Stage 2—Letter before action alleging infringement Notes on infringement, passing off, unjustified threats and drafting; includes a trade mark letter of claim precedent Stage 3—commencing proceedings Procedure, defences and exceptions, IPEC flowchart, pleadings and initial disclosure precedents, and CPR/Part 36 forms Stage 4—case management Procedure and Disclosure Scheme notes, court guides (Chancery, Patents Court, IPEC and Small Claims), and case management questionnaires, Disclosure Review Document, Certificate of Compliance, budgets and directions Stage 5—disclosure and evidence Surveys and witness evidence (PD 57AC), privilege, disclosure (including electronic) and flexible trials; witness statement and Extended Disclosure precedents; affidavits, applications and certificates Stage 6—trial...

In this issue: Advertising, marketing and sponsorship Consumer protection Contracts Intellectual property International Sale and supply of goods Supplier management Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Advertising, marketing and sponsorship ASA rulings—17 January 2024 The Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) lodged a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about statements on www.escooters4less.co.uk—an online seller of electric scooters—concerning e-scooters and their illegality. The ASA upheld the complaint. See: LNB News 17/01/2024 63... ASA to regulate online advertising of less healthy food and drink products Ofcom has designated the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to regulate online advertising of less healthy food and drink products, using its designation powers under the Communications Act 2003. Ofcom is satisfied that, among other considerations, the ASA is a fit and proper body, has adequate financial resources to ensure the effective performance of the Designated Functions, and will...

Iconix Luxembourg Holdings Sarl v Dream Pairs Europe Inc and another company [2024] EWCA Civ 29 What are the practical implications of this case? This judgment matters to practitioners in two respects. First, it offers clear direction on how to evaluate the likelihood of confusion: look at how the trade marks are encountered in the real world. The Court of Appeal cautioned against the common trap of assessing marks only on paper without considering their presentation to the public post-sale confusion constitutes trade mark infringement. Arnold LJ set this out in Datacard v Eagle and, as he explained in Montres Breguet, it is now an established element of UK trade mark law for logos, where a logo functions as a single sign, assessment must address the sign in its entirety, without carving out parts or altering its overall impression These points collectively reinforce a practical, context-driven approach to confusion analysis, ensuring that consumer perception in real trading conditions, including after purchase,...

In this issue: New technologies Internet Media Advertising, marketing and sponsorship LexTalk®TMT: a Lexis®Nexis community Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Dates for your diary Trackers Latest Q&As Useful information New technologies Getty Images drops Stability AI copyright infringement claims from UK trial MLex reports that on 25 June 2025 Getty Images abandoned its direct copyright infringement claims against image generator Stability AI during the first day of closing submissions in a landmark three‑week High Court hearing in London. It is still pursuing allegations of trade mark infringement, passing off, secondary copyright infringement and issues around licensing, yet the move is a setback for the UK’s creative sector, which had sought clear precedent to provide broad copyright protection in the UK against AI models’ web scraping. See: Getty Images drops Stability AI copyright infringement claims from UK trial. IAB Tech Lab proposes framework for AI content usage compensation...

This new starter guide offers a primer on trade mark law, distilling the core principles and signposting numerous Lexis+® UK sources and materials for fuller detail. It is aimed at trainee solicitors and readers new to trade marks. Details of other intellectual property (IP) rights, including further starter guides, appear in Practice Note: Intellectual property (IP)—new starter guide. Where topics sit beyond this basic outline, explore the three Trade marks/passing off subtopics: Trade mark transactions and management; Trade mark and passing off disputes; Anti-counterfeiting. For concise summaries of each, see: Trade mark transactions and management—overview; Trade mark and passing off disputes—overview; and Anti-counterfeiting—overview. This guide also explains how to subscribe to the IP daily and weekly news alerts and how to contact LexisAsk... Introductory materials Absolute and relative grounds for refusal to register a UK trade mark Managing a trade mark portfolio Trade mark infringement—UK Introduction to passing off Anti-counterfeiting in the...

What is a television format? A television format is the blueprint or underlying premise for a television programme or a series of programmes, expressed in a distinct manner and usually built around signature elements (for example, music, branding, or a specific setting) that are replicated in each episode. Within the unscripted arena, game show formats are especially prevalent, while partially scripted reality series such as ‘Love Island’ and ‘Big Brother’ demonstrate how successful formats can be exploited in the UK and also tailored for use in international markets. ‘Downton Abbey’ exemplifies a successful scripted series, founded on an original format developed by Julian Fellowes. Fresh television formats can also arise where the characters, plots, and environments of an existing work are transformed so extensively that a new, original format is created. Notable instances include the US series ‘Elementary’ and the UK’s ‘Sherlock’, both of which diverge substantially from Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Format rights carry significant commercial and creative importance in the UK and abroad and can...

ARCHIVED – This archived practice note sets out information on the EU Damages Directive and captures the position as at its commencement on 27 December 2014. It is not maintained or updated. After nearly a decade of debate, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers endorsed a new EU directive on private damages actions for breaches of competition law (the Directive). The Directive received formal adoption on 26 November 2014, following sign-off by the Parliament and Council, and appeared in the Official Journal on 5 December 2014; it took effect on 27 December 2014, with Member States afforded two years from that date to transpose its measures into domestic law. The Directive is intended to guarantee that anyone suffering loss caused by an infringement of competition law can effectively pursue full compensation. Its overarching purpose is to tackle obstacles to the effective enforcement of competition rules in the majority of Member States and to set minimum standards and common approaches within the relevant procedural...

The purpose of the claim form A claim form initiates proceedings. It sets out information relevant to the case, including: the court reference number to be used on all subsequent court documents; the parties to the proceedings; what is being claimed; particulars of the claim (including any claim for interest); and contact details for the claimant, typically the claimant’s solicitor. Guidance on the contents of a claim form in general is available in the Practice Note: Claim form—the contents. This Precedent includes suggested text for use where the claim concerns trade mark infringement and/or passing off. The form provides direction on the particular points that should be considered when completing a claim form for use in such proceedings. The attached N1 claim form is provided as an example only. We recommend that practitioners download the latest N1 claim form in PDF from the official source for submission, and use the attached version solely as an aid to completing it....

[ Postal address for internet service provider/host online platform ] [ Date ] Sent via registered post and email: [ email address for internet service provider/host online platform ] Dear [ insert organisation name ] Notice and take-down letter—trade mark infringement on [ website URL ] We act for [ name of client ] of [ client’s address ] (our Client) in connection with the enforcement of intellectual property rights. [ This correspondence relates to the website accessible at [ website URL ] (the Website). OR This correspondence concerns content available on your platform at [ website URL ] (the Website). ] The Website is directed at consumers in the UK...

This Agreement is entered into on [ date ] Parties [ insert name ], a company incorporated in England and Wales, with registered number [ insert company number ] and registered office at [ insert address ] ( Licensor ); [ insert name ], a company incorporated in England and Wales, with registered number [ insert company number ], and registered office at [ insert address ] ( Licensee ) (Each of the Licensor and the Licensee is a party and, collectively, the Licensor and the Licensee are the parties.) Background The Licensor is the [ registered ] owner of certain trade marks [ , copyright ] [ and designs ] concerning [ insert character name ], the well-known fictional character[ s ] as appearing in [ insert details of relevant film, cartoon, comic book, computer game etc ]. The Licensee is [ insert background to licence/relevant transaction ]. The Licensor has agreed to grant a...

The law of passing off Passing off law may shield property names or addresses where goodwill is connected to the relevant name or address already...

In this Q&A we focus on the amendments introduced by Regulation (EU) 2015/2424 (subsequently consolidated in Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, the EU Trade Mark Regulation (EUTM Regulation)), along with the key points to consider when seeking protection for an unconventional mark. EU Trade Mark Regulation—What is new? See News Analysis: New EU trade mark reforms, which provides an analysis of the background to the new EU trade mark reforms. As outlined there, five new categories of trade mark can be applied for in the EU: Position Pattern Motion Multimedia Hologram These are in addition to a Certification Mark, which has been available in the UK for some time. The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has issued guidance relating to the new EU trade mark reforms...