In June last year we proudly announced that Waterfront partner Matthew Harris had been named one of WIPO’s “Legal Rights Objection Experts”.
These experts were tasked with deciding disputes between applicants for new “generic Top Level Domains”. Some predicted that few would use the LRO process, but approximately 70 cases were filed. Matthew sat on a number of panels appointed to decide such disputes. These included the controversial <.wiebo> and <.微博> Chinese micro-blogging cases.
In the last few days WIPO has released its list of “Trademark Post Delegation Dispute Resolution Experts”. The TPDDR is intended to be a higher-level rights protection mechanism aimed at situations where a registry’s operation or use of a domain leads to or supports trade mark infringement. Matthew has been named as one of only 7 UK based lawyers on this panel.
Further details of the TPDDR process can be found on the WIPO website.
In an increasingly competitive market where innovation, aesthetics, and brand identity are critical assets UK businesses must take a strategic approach to intellectual property (IP) protection. Whether you’re a fashion brand, tech firm, or start-up, building and maintaining a strong IP portfolio is essential for long-term value and commercial success.
Generative AI represents a new frontier in fashion innovation but it also challenges conventional notions of creativity, ownership, and protection. As the law catches up, designers, tech firms, and brands must proactively engage with and stay on top of the changes. Whether it’s securing copyright, registering designs, or navigating patents, a specialist AI London Solicitor or IP London Solicitor can help turn AI built fashion into a legally protected asset.
As the digital fashion industry booms alongside the rise of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), questions around intellectual property (IP) ownership, licensing, and legal enforcement are more pressing than ever. Digital garments at first only used in the gaming sphere are now traded on blockchain platforms, worn in virtual environments, and even showcased on social media and virtual runways. With this evolution comes the need for legal clarity, especially for designers, platforms, and consumers based in the UK.
In a report published last week, the Tony Blair Institute urged the UK to relax…