Bulgaria and Romania join the EU on January 1. The Community Trademark Office, OHIM, has published these faqs on CTM enlargement.

Reuters: “Metro defeats Tesco in trademark battle” (re use of METRO in EU for soap).

Out-Law: Hackney council has won £300,000 from Nike in adispute over the London borough council’s logo, which Nike had used on sports clothes without permission. Nike will also pay the council’s legal costs.”

News.com: ‘Behind Google’s German Courtroom Battle” (Lawsuit contesting Google’s ability to use the GMAIL mark in Germany and other countries).

Wings Group of Indonesia sues Murzah of Tanzania for infringing its rights in GIV Soap.
And on Alibaba, you can buy not only GIV Soap:

but CLV Soap as well, both from Yiwu & Zhejang Fortune Import and Export Co:

Business Standard: The Battle Over Injunctions by MJ Antony.

Odd NY Lawyer article detailing trademark/contract dispute between Topps and former Argentinian licensee, allegedly using Topps’ bubble gum recipe. Article indicates that Topps had sold the TOPPS name to the licensee awhile back. I don’t know the background so I will only say ‘hmmmm.’

“Mattel says it will sue over ‘lesbian’ Barbie.’