Netherlands: Intellectual Property

In the food industry, it’s not uncommon for product packaging design to be similar between brand owners. At what point does the similarity of packaging lead to trademark infringement, and what can trademark holders do to prevent copycat packaging and market confusion? Mariëlle Hoffer provides some guidance.

Veel merkhouders in de levensmiddelenindustrie worden geconfronteerd met huismerken in een verpakking die opvallende gelijkenis heeft met die van het A-merk.

Pop superstar Dua Lipa is pursuing a multi-million claim against Samsung Electronics over the unauthorized use of her photograph on television packaging.

The cinematic release of the 2021 novel, Project Hail Mary, has received rave reviews, with audiences praising the film as a faithful and visually stunning adaptation of the book.

The Unified Patent Court has begun issuing cross-border injunctions extending beyond its member states, reaching the UK and Spain. As Dutch courts maintain their tradition of long-arm jurisdiction and European patent holders increasingly opt out of UPC coverage, the Netherlands has become a critical enforcement venue where a single proceeding can trigger cascading injunctions across multiple European jurisdictions, creating significant strategic risks for Chinese enterprises expanding into European markets.

The Local Division of The Hague's decision in UPC-CFI-305/2026 addresses critical questions about claim construction under Article 69 EPC and procedural rules for online participation in patent proceedings. The case involves Stratasys's application for provisional measures against Bambulab concerning EP 2 964 450, with the court interpreting the technical meaning of "layer by layer manner" in 3D printing technology. Additionally, the ruling establishes important precedent regarding the participation of minu

En droit allemand des marques, le principe du « premier déposant » semble, à première vue, accorder des droits exclusifs au titulaire de la marque simplement par enregistrement. Cependant, ce principe est soumis à une limitation fondamentale. Giovanna Cassin décrit le concept de mauvaise foi dans les dépôts de marques, connu en droit allemand sous le nom de « Bösgläubigkeit ».

Dans son arrêt du 22 avril 2026 (T-228/25), le Tribunal de l’Union européenne (TUE) confirme la nullité de son modèle faute de caractère individuel.

In the food industry, it’s not uncommon for product packaging design to be similar between brand owners. At what point does the similarity of packaging lead to trademark infringement, and what can trademark holders do to prevent copycat packaging and market confusion? Mariëlle Hoffer provides some guidance.