Online Brand Protection

Vítor Palmela Fidalgo shares his insights in "Platforms Pay the Price", published in WIPR – World IP Review, Issue 1 (2025), which explores the growing accountability of online platforms as evolving European regulations push them to take greater responsibility for counterfeit goods sold by third-party vendors.

Financial technology (fintech) encompasses many innovations, including mobile payment platforms, blockchain-based solutions, algorithmic trading systems, and peer-to-peer lending platforms, among others.

The protection of fintech innovations is critically dependent on a robust framework of intellectual property (IP) rights. These include patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets, all of which are instrumental in safeguarding unique technologies, business practices, and brand identities essential for progress.

(Article originally written in Portuguese)

Important compromise on interpretation in the EU

In March 2024, the European Union Intellectual Property Offices that are part of the European Union Intellectual Property Network (EUIPN) published a Common Communication on Trademark Applications Made in Bad Faith, establishing yet another understanding aimed at increasing legal certainty and predictability of decisions.

When CultureTree's tweet and hashtag #Yorubaisnotforsale went viral, it ignited an online debate about whether registering a trademark name for an ethnic group is cultural appropriation.

The Yoruba people – who live mainly in Benin, Nigeria and Togo – represent around 35 million people in Africa, making them one of the largest ethnic groups on the continent. Most are from Nigeria, where they represent up to 15.5% of the country’s population.

The 97th PTMG’s Autumn Conference took place in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The event focused on Trademark Protection in the Pharma Industry.

The international use of Nonproprietary Names (INN) was one of the issues that stood out at this event. The presentation of case studies was highlighted by the participants as a plus of this edition, that counted with our attendance.

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), formerly known as English Speaking African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ESARIPO), was created with the Lusaka Agreement (1976) and currently boosts 19 member-states, which are mostly English speaking countries. ARIPO intends to promote the cooperation between members regarding the protection of intellectual property rights and with time it developed to a regional system that allows the registration of patents, trademarks and plant varieties.

IP assets are becoming increasingly more important to companies worldwide and regarding several business activities. The geographic scope of the enforcement of these rights knows no frontiers as companies keep battling it out over IP assets in various countries worldwide.

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