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The stronger a trademark becomes, the more it risks sliding into generic use. Diogo Antunes examines this paradox at the heart of brand success, analyzing how Spanish and Portuguese courts address the tension between linguistic reality and legal protection, and why widespread use of ‘donut’ has not diminished the distinctiveness of the renowned Donuts marks.

The Maldives has adopted its first comprehensive trademark law, definitively replacing the informal system based on the publication of cautionary notices. Previously, trademark protection relied exclusively on publishing cautionary notices in local newspapers as public claims of ownership. Although these notices offered evidence in legal disputes, they did not constitute official registration. They were not subject to governmental examination and lacked clear procedures for opposition, renewal or dispute resolution.

Trademarks are central to commercial identity, which enables consumers to distinguish goods and services from others, while protecting the owner’s economic benefit and goodwill. In the Nigerian economy, the level of competition has increased over the years as a result of a significant increase in demand for goods and services.

The INTA Leadership Meeting once again brought together committee members from across the globe for its annual gathering, held this year from November 18 - 21 in Hollywood, Florida (USA). Over the course of the program, attendees immersed themselves in a range of skill-building experiences, from intensive bootcamps and hands-on workshops to dynamic “Leadership Lab” discussions focused on topics such as Artificial Intelligence within Intellectual Property (IP) industry, brand protection, and sustainability.

Inventa is pleased to share that our team took part in the European Patent Office’s recent kick-off event for the newly established Candidate Support Programme (CSP), held in Munich on 31 October 2025.

International IP conventions set the foundations for consistent protection worldwide, yet their real effect depends on how each State incorporates them into its legal system. This interaction between international commitments and national sovereignty often determines whether rights-holders experience certainty or conflict.

In celebration of Nigeria’s 65th anniversary, The Guardian released a special edition highlighting remarkable contributions within the country.

Angela Adebayo-Agbe Davies, Regional Director at Inventa Nigeria, was recognized for her pivotal role in establishing Inventa the first international intellectual property firm in Nigeria positioning the company as a key player in the global IP space.

On 26 September 2025 the Court of Appeal of Tanzania handed down a pivotal judgment confirming that African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) trademark registrations designating mainland Tanzania are not enforceable.

In its decision, the Court held that the Banjul Protocol on Marks, which provides for the regional registration of trademarks under ARIPO, has not been ratified or incorporated into Tanzanian law through the Trade and Service Marks Act, Cap. 326. As a result, the Protocol has no legal force or effect in mainland Tanzania.

Innovation is the engine that keeps products in high demand, processes up to date with recent technological trends and, in the end, companies relevant in their markets.

However, maintaining the innovation flow within an organisation is challenging as it requires a good amount of resources, human and otherwise. It is often by resorting to the establishment of partnerships that companies and public institutions can overcome the obstacles preventing them from developing new products and technologies.

Portuguese courts have increasingly restricted the recognition of acquired distinctiveness for non-distinctive signs, diverging from the EU trademark framework. Vitor Palmela Fidalgo examines this, arguing that such limitations jeopardise legal coherence, consumer protection, and the fundamental function of trademarks as indicators of commercial origin within the internal market.