Playing the Fame Card in the MENA

The most valuable and famous trademarks span both the globe and a wide range of industries. The cream of the crop includes GOOGLE, MICROSOFT, COLGATE, NESTLÉ, MCDONALD’S, WALMART, IBM, VODAFONE, GE, APPLE, PEPSI and AT&T. These marks are extremely valuable assets that companies will go to great lengths to protect. Brands tend to be valued based on their earnings over the past years and their relevance within their particular industries, in addition to their presence in various markets. Standards of fame vary and are not always clearly defined in national laws and regulations. Therefore, the question of how to determine fame and to what extent famous marks can be protected is a local one. Generally speaking, enforceability of famous marks is determined by the extent to which all trademarks are protected. Penalties for infringement are seldom specific to the infringement of famous marks but rather are common to all cases of infringement. Penalties vary from country to country and may include fines, imprisonment and the confiscation and destruction of goods. Read more insights from Zeina Salameh, Shareholder and Head of Client Relationship at Saba IP.