Domain disputes
Dominika Kwiatkiewicz from the Intellectual Property practice group at Wardyński & Partners explains how to achieve an amicable resolution of Internet domain name disputes.
Letters of consent no longer much help in trademark registration
Based on recent court rulings, the Polish Patent Office will no longer register a trademark that is identical or similar to an existing trademark—even within the same capital group and with the consent of the holder of the prior mark.
Wardyński & Partners represents Law Debenture Trust in settlement with Elektrim
On 14–15 December 2010 the English company The Law Debenture Trust Corporation p.l.c. concluded a settlement with Elektrim S.A. for payment of a significant amount of over EUR 185 million in claims.
Too-short deadline for appealing against justification issued at a hearing?
The current regulations practically prevent filing an interlocutory appeal against the justification for an order issued by a Polish court during a criminal trial. The Ombudsman has requested the Minister of Justice to look into this issue.
When retailers bear the cost of lab testing of products
A seller may be required to cover the cost of laboratory tests ordered by a trade inspector during the inspection of a business if the tests show that the product does not meet quality or safety standards.
Reclassification of natural gas transmission lines
Thanks to a new EU definition of “transmission,” some high-pressure gas pipelines will be treated as distribution pipelines exempt from restrictive regulations.
Magnesium and vitamin B6 may be good for stress, but not for everyone
Common and generic names of an informational nature may become distinctive when specific elements of the names are combined in a unique way, which means that they can become the dominant element of a trademark.
Must a notary know foreign languages?
A notary who certifies the signature on a document need not review whether the content of the document is lawful—and thus may certify a signature on a document written in a language the notary does not know.
State Treasury's liability for violation of EU regulations
A beneficiary of EU Structural Funds that violates procedures and has to repay the funding because of a failure by Polish state authorities to implement EU regulations properly may seek damages from the State Treasury.
The colour game: pink as a trademark
The issue of colour as an element of a trademark will once again be the subject of a ruling by the courts in Poland. This time it is pink.
Severe sanctions for illegal hiring of foreigners
Magdalena Świtajska from the Employment Law practice group at Wardyński & Partners explains the sanctions faced by employers for illegally hiring foreigners and by foreigners working illegally in Poland.
Competition authority's rules for calculating fines not binding courts
When ruling on the amount of a fine, courts should be guided by the principle of proportionality, meaning that the fine should be tied to the revenue generated on sales of products affected by unlawful practices by the seller…
