MIP Metro Group Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG v. Shenzhen Jiasheng Innovation Trading Co., Ltd.

This trademark infringement case between Microsoft and MikeRoweSoft represents one of the classic legal disputes in the field of intellectual property law. In case you are not already familiar with it, this article summarises the key issues and outlines lessons for brand protection for software companies in particular.

Numerous entrepreneurs could start their story with the words “inspired by life” and Tom Revill, the founder of Plank hardware, is certainly one of them. “Plank Hardware all started with a few planks of wood and a new flat. We found that finding the right hardware at a reasonable price wasn’t so easy. We were so happy with the final pieces that we started making and selling them to friends, family and online. As a start-up, we’ve invested everything into our products and building our brand, so protecting that is really important to us.”

Timing is everything, and this is especially true when it comes to trademark registration. Choosing to trademark your brand at the right time is much more important than you would think.