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How to Handle Intellectual Property Rights
May 3, 2012

Some entrepreneurs regard Intellectual Property Rights as irrelevant to what they are aiming to achieve, while others are overly mindful of IP rights, even to the point of treating them as an end in themselves.

Acquiring rights that...

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Hargreaves: Why Internet and Social Media are Key Reasons SMEs Lack Access To The Right Type of Advice
May 16, 2012

The Hargreaves report, covered previously on this Azrights blog, looked at whether the current copyright regime is detrimental to innovation in the UK. As noted on the SOLO IP blog, the report also questioned whether...

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How to deal with the new law on cookies
May 28, 2012

On the 26th of May the grace period granted by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to comply with laws on cookies ended. Websites have since been subject to a higher risk of sanctions if they fail to comply.

Before...

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New cookie law no longer an issue following an ICO backtrack?
May 28, 2012

Many people breathed a sigh of relief following the Guardian’s take on last week’s ‘watering down’ of  EU regulations by the ICO which impact on the use of cookies by UK websites....

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Motorola, Microsoft patent war rages on
June 11, 2012

The Xbox 360 risks being banned in America if the US International Trade Commission (ITC) agrees with the initial findings of its Judge David Shaw, handed down in April.

Shaw found that Microsoft, owner of the Xbox brand, had...

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Protecting the Olympic Brand – a most valuable asset, but for whom?
June 28, 2012

With the Olympics approaching, one slightly less predictable aspect of the games has been attracting attention: intellectual property. Just like other businesses, the London 2012 Olympic Games has a brand it is keen to protect....

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One Step Closer to a European Unitary Patent System
July 6, 2012

Currently, patents granted by the European Patents Office (EPO) must be validated in the individual countries where protection is sought. This is a costly and time consuming process typically involving full translation of the...

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First Sale Doctrine being called into Question
July 9, 2012

You buy a book, finish it, sell it second hand via Amazon marketplace- for many this approach to buying goods has become fairly common practice. Especially with sites such as Ebay, Preloved and Gumtree, it has become easier and...

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Minimising risks when Starting a Business
July 20, 2012

Lisa Rosen recently wrote an interesting guest blog post on Onstartups, which gave an insightful analysis into the benefits of starting your own business. She controversially states that not going into business and remaining...

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IP Solicitor Reveals How Small Businesses are Wasting Money on Branding by Failing to Take Account of Legal Principles – Legally Branded September 11 Book Launch
July 26, 2012

Legally Branded is a new title by Shireen Smith of Azrights Solicitors, which fills a gap in the market by providing accessible, and easy to understand explanations about intellectual property law and brand law for business...

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Olympic Brand Sponsorship Race- Why is McDonald’s Underperforming?
August 6, 2012

The Olympics is a time of sport, athleticism, and competition. However, it is not just athletes who are competing, but the brands sponsoring the event are also involved in their own brand race. Whilst many are tuning in to see...

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Will Olympic Brand Protection Cost Michael Phelps His Medals?
August 24, 2012

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, famous for being the most decorated Olympian of all time, may be getting attention for all the wrong reasons recently. He appears to have landed himself in trouble with the International Olympics...

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