22.07.2016
BRAND & DESIGN
Mc & Mac ONLY for McDonald’s?
The EU court has ruled the prefix ‘Mc’ or ‘Mac’ cannot be used with the name of a foodstuff or beverage other than McDonald’s. This story began in 2008 when the company Future Enterprises, of Singapore, applied for registration of the EU trademark ‘MACCOFFEE’ for foodstuffs and beverages. This application was received two years [...]
08.07.2016
FILM, MEDIA & GAMING
PFI does not grant funding. What’s next?
Any application for co-financing by the PFI is subject to expert evaluation. After obtaining the evaluation, the Director of PFI issues a decision to award the grant for the project, or refuse the grant. There is also the possibility of moving the decision to the next session, or refer it for amendments. In accordance with [...]
05.07.2016
FILM, MEDIA & GAMING
Video games developers with EU funding
The National Research and Development Centre has launched a funding program for R&D carried out by the developers of video games. It aims at popularizing the commercialization of research results. The amount that can be obtained in the first competition is PLN 80 million. GAMEINN is a program providing funds for research and development (R&D) [...]
28.06.2016
BRAND & DESIGN
Brexit and intellectual property (IP)
The surprise following the result of the referendum, in which the United Kingdom decided to withdraw from the European Union was quickly replaced by the question of how this decision will affect daily life and the economy of the country. There are also doubts about how the legal system will function in the new reality [...]
23.06.2016
NEW TECH & INNOVATIONS
Commercialization of software in practice
Commercialization of the results of research by academic institutions is more and more common and it is useful to know how it is carried out. This is important both for institutions and for entrepreneurs investing in these types of innovation. Various Polish public research institutions (universities, research institutes, Polish Academy of Sciences centres) conduct research [...]
15.06.2016
FILM, MEDIA & GAMING
State aid for the audiovisual market is more broadly acceptable under the EU law
Providing aid using public funds for entrepreneurs is prohibited, except for strictly defined cases. For the audiovisual sector however, new opportunities have appeared. In accordance with EU law, as a rule, providing aid to entrepreneurs using public funds is prohibited, except for strictly defined cases, laid down in EU law and in the practice of [...]
10.06.2016
BRAND & DESIGN
Will Rubik’s Cube share the fate of LEGO blocks?
More than 40 years have passed since Ernő Rubik created his magical cube (hun. bűvös kocka) in 1974. Within that time, many techniques and ways of solving the cube have been developed, whereby competitors break speed records solving the cube, with speedcubing (speedsolving) enjoying unflagging popularity. Registering the shape From a legal point of view, [...]
31.05.2016
NEW TECH & INNOVATIONS
The world seen from a drone
In recent years, we have experienced a rapid development of technology in the area of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones. They are used in a myriad industries – from transporting blood to film production. In light of aviation law regulations, drones can essentially be divided into two categories – drones with a [...]
25.05.2016
NEW TECH & INNOVATIONS
Can hyperlinking violate copyright law?
The continuation of cases concerning hyperlinking. A question has been raised before the Court of Justice of the European Union as to whether providing a hyperlink to unlawful content constitutes a breach of law. At the beginning of 2016, Melchior Wathelet, Advocate General at the Court of Justice, issued an opinion concerning , stating that [...]
12.05.2016
NEW TECH & INNOVATIONS
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT – tax relief
A new tax relief is in place, while the grant for new technologies has been abolished Will research and development expenses incurred by entrepreneurs reduce income tax obligations? – YES It has been four months since the new regulations regarding R&D were introduced to the CIT and PIT Acts. On 1 January 2016, the Act [...]
18.04.2016
BRAND & DESIGN
Brand monitoring, a new obligation for entrepreneurs (?)
On Friday (April 15th this year) revolutionary changes in the regulations on the registration of trade marks in the Polish Patent Office came into force. Since then, the registration of a mark in Poland will be based on virtually the same terms as the registration of European trade marks in the European Union Intellectual Property [...]
14.04.2016
PERSONAL RIGHTS AND MEDIA CRISES
Czesław Mozil wins dispute over the use of the Solidarity wordmark
Could the use of the famous Solidarity wordmark in the “Nienawidzę Cię Polsko” (I hate you, Poland) music video infringe the goodwill of the Union and its copyright? The chairman of Solidarity, Mr. Piotr Duda filed a complaint against Czesław Mozil, the author and the performer of the song. In the music video for the [...]
