Zheng Wei, a 36-year old author from Beijing paid 10,000 Swiss francs for a dram from a bottle of 1878 Macallan single-malt whisky at a hotel in Switzerland.

What he he got instead was a run of the mill blend of malt and grain whiskies. Mr Wei was reimbursed in full after analysis discovered that the spirit was probably created between 1970 and 1972. 

The hotel manager said that he had no idea the bottle was fake. His father bought the bottle 25 years ago. Suspicions arose when experts noted discrepancies on the bottle’s label.

The situation highlights the importance, as a consumer, of checking how genuine a product is. This can include gettingin touch with the owner of the official brand or asking Trading Standards for advice.

Trade Mark owners can also be savvy when it comes to stopping counterfeiters:

• Register your trade mark everywhere that you do business - both manufacture and sales
• Register your trade mark with Customs Agencies; and
• Police your products and pursue counterfeiters 

Get in touch for advice about protecting your trade mark and enforcing your rights

 

In the US, the owner of the Kardashian Bakery and Grill  (which specialises in Armenian delicacies) has filed a trade mark application for its logo, attracting opposition from the famous sisters, keen to protect their registered trade mark rights in the famous name.

​The bakery owner, Sandra Kardachian has told local media that she sees nothing wrong with her business using the name, seeing as they share the surname and even suggests that there is a historical link between her family and theirs. 

theblast.com/kim-khloe-kourtney-kardashian-bakery-battle/

We shall watch the outcome of this case! In the meantime, for advice on launching a new product or service, please get in touch so we can check that your trade mark is free to use and register.

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As usual, this evening's episode of THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF was brimful of its "trade mark" terms we have come to know and love.  This got us wondering how many the production company have registered as trade marks.  Well, we can wonder no longer:

THE GREAT BRITSH BAKE OFF
BAKE OFF
STAR BAKER
SOGGY BOTTOM and
ON YOUR MARKS GET SET BAKE!
are all registered UK trade marks, giving the production company exclusive rights to use these terms in the UK in relation to a variety of products and services including cookware and television programmes.  Having a registered trade mark makes it much easier to prevent others from using the same or a similar name.  Plus, a registered trade mark is a commodity which can be sold or licensed. Licensing THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF to TV companies in the 4 corners of the world has earned its production company millions of pounds.  Millionaire shortbread anyone?

For advice on how to protect your trade marks, please get in touch with us.