Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property has started to accept applications for the registration of sound trade marks. The department, which joined the Madrid System for registering and managing trade marks worldwide in August, began accepting the applications on Friday September 1.
Applications must be submitted with a detailed written description, a digital recording of the mark and confirmation as to whether the sound is categorised as human, animal, a piece of music/melody or another type of sound, before it can be reviewed.
Reputation protection
Celebrities regularly file trade marks, and this time it is the turn of singer Taylor Swift. She has filed for titles and catchphrase trade marks from her upcoming album ‘reputation’.
The application has been filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which covers a wide range of entertainment services and products including stationery, cosmetics, toiletries, jewellery, clothing, accessories, toys, memorabilia, and even Christmas tree decorations.
The craft beer revolution
New figures show that 2015-16 saw the highest increase in beer trade mark registrations since 2007. In total, trade marks have risen by 19% in the last year, from 1,666 in 2015 to 1,983 in 2016.
It is believed that this surge is the result of a dramatic increase in craft beer interest, supermarkets now offering shelf space for specialist and smaller breweries, and the larger breweries beginning to release their own craft beer to compete.
Apple Pay Cash
When tech-giant Apple trade marks something, it is usually worth taking note of. Recently they have filed 2 new European trade marks – ‘Apple Clips’ and ‘Apple Pay Cash.’
It is expected that the Apple Pay Cash could be a way for Apple to compete with PayPal (and other money transfer services) and offer person to person payment capability in its products – including iMessage.
The patent for Apple Pay Cash was filed under International Class 9 and 36 provisions, and describes “computer software used to process mobile payments.” With the expected release of iOS 11 in the coming weeks, it should soon be clear what Apple Pay Cash is all about…
Sources