Scott D. Locke and Laura-Michelle Horgan write: Marketers are often tempted to use descriptive or laudatory words and phrases in brand names, which are not a basis for strong trademark rights.

The European Court of Justice has tightened the Baby-Dry definition of descriptive trade marks in two decisions that bring further clarification for brand owners. In its February 12 rulings in ...

In Hrbek v OHIM, the General Court has held that there was a likelihood of confusion between two ALPINE logos even for ski sports products, despite the descriptive meaning of the common word 'alpine'.

and has refused to allow the registration of the mark GLATT LEMEHADRIN (both words making up the mark mean 'highly kosher' in English) on the grounds that it was descriptive and had not attained the ...