Category: Legal Matters

OVER THE LAST MONTH, the EU Trademark Registration Directive has been a hot topic in the EU Intellectual Property (IP) community. On 4 December 2014, the Directive's transposition into national law is expected to be completed. This will allow the EU trademark community to focus on the Directive's substantive provisions, with the final stage of the Directive's transposition expected in the Spring of 2015. The EU is famous for banning all sorts of products from entering its member states. Even though these products are rarely ever banned for this reason alone, the mere existence of the sanctions can be incredibly damaging.  This is often the case with products that are banned for the sake of avoiding consumer confusion, rather than because they are dangerous, and it is in that context…

When parents pass away, it is sometimes necessary to make important decisions regarding the care and maintenance of their estate. Whether the parents have created a will or not, their estate may still need to be managed by a family member, such as a sibling. If a family member is unwilling or unable to take care of the estate, or if a dispute arises over the inheritance, the outcome of these family disputes can often be uncertain. A dispute could escalate depending on the circumstance and it could increase the volatility of the property, which could render it vulnerable. So, it should be a priority to call in a professional qualified in Probate Law to take the steps necessary to avoid such a situation. It could also assure equitable distribution…

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, many advocates have mounted a renewed push for the expungement of felony convictions from the records of thousands of people after they're released from prison or dismissed from community service for something such as misdemeanor crimes. The idea is that millions of people either charged or convicted of felonies have their records on file, making it difficult for those people to find and retain jobs, housing, and other necessities. Records are often sealed due to concerns about the victim's privacy, but records are also often sealed due to public safety concerns. In either case, a sealed record should not be an excuse for the general public to carry on as if the person who committed the offense never existed. It is incumbent upon…