The Battle for the Buy Button: Brand Owners' Curtain Call Against Online IP Infringement

Sarah Bazaraa, Solicitor, Pannone Corporate LLP, United Kingdom

There have been significant changes to brand protection considerations since Bass registered the UK’s first trade mark in 1876. Companies that once survived on a loyal local customer base now have access to a global audience; their brand acting as a passport to markets which preceding generations could only dream of. The internet has provided limitless possibilities for those businesses technologically astute enough to grasp the opportunities provided by the digital age. There is no doubt that an online presence is important for brand owners, and that online retail is booming. E-commerce is the fastest growing retail market in Europe and the Office for National Statistics has reported that online sales have increased by 12% in the 12 month period since January 2014. Customer desires to shop online have also meant that online marketplaces have thrived. Where bricks and mortar stores have struggled, online platforms such as Amazon have stepped in and revolutionised the retail environment. The nails for the coffin of High Street retail were probably purchased online.