The World Trademark Review 1000 rankings were released in January 2016 and we are delighted to announce that MacLachlan & Donaldson received an excellent ranking yet again. Our very own trade mark experts, Cliff Kennedy and Peter MacLachlan, were each singled out in the Review for their professionalism and sterling approach to ensuring that the [...]
According to a press release by the European Parliament issued on Tuesday, December 15 2015, the new trade mark rules will make it possible to impound counterfeit goods in transit through EU territory as well as affecting trade mark registration and infringement issues. There will a new and tailored fee structure for EU trade mark [...]
In June we reported the latest developments relating to the Unitary European Patents: Read these developments here. Italy has recently become the 26th Country to join but so far only 8 countries have ratified. The magic number is 13. The end of 2016 is now the expected start date. Ireland cannot ratify the Unitary Patent [...]
The patent landscape in Europe is set to change dramatically with the introduction of the Unitary European Patent and Unified Patent Court (UPC). The various working groups of the UPC Preparatory Committee, together with national patent offices, are continuing to work out details of the rules for Europe’s new patent system, which we expect will [...]
The Annual Dinner of the Association of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys APTMA took place on May 22 2015, at the Beaufield Mews in Stillorgan, Dublin, and was well attended not only by the local profession but also by dignitaries from the Patents Office and IP professionals in the United Kingdom. MacLachlan & Donaldson received [...]
MacLachlan & Donaldson were well represented at the Smart Business Show this year as Peter MacLachlan and Jonathan White attended the event, which was held at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) between 22nd-23rd April 2015. This highly attended business to business exhibition showcased some exceptional technologies which highlighted Ireland’s ever increasing talent for providing innovative [...]
Cliff Kennedy has been appointed Managing Director of MacLachlan & Donaldson following Bernadette Walsh stepping down from that position for family reasons. Norman MacLachlan, the firm's Executive Chairman, said "We look forward to using the breadth and depth of Cliff's experience to move MacLachlan & Donaldson forward. We would also like to thank Bernadette for [...]
Last week, Ireland became the first country in the European Union to pass a law requiring the removal of trade marks from product packaging. The Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 was passed by the Irish Parliament without a vote. Tobacco companies have until May 2017 to remove all existing packaging from sale. [...]
It has been reported in the Belfast Telegraph (link below): http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/global-drinks-giant-ab-inbev-forces-oneman-belfast-business-john-appleseed-to-change-name-claiming-trademark-infringement-31034753.html that Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A., the owners of the Trade Mark JOHNNY APPLESEED, has objected to local man's, Colin Mackey, trade mark application to register JOHN APPLESEED (below) and as a consequence Mr. Mackey has withdrawn the application and also changed the name of his [...]
We are delighted to announce the appointment of two new directors to MacLachlan & Donaldson. Carla MacLachlan has been with the firm since 1991 and works as a Trade Mark Attorney, specialising particularly in assisting local start-up businesses protecting their intellectual property. Carla has a background in marketing which makes her particularly suited to this role. [...]