An Update on the Rapidly Changing World of Geographical Indications

Uğur Aktekin joined the firm in 1999 and has been a partner since 2003. He is co-chair of the firm’s intellectual property practice and the technology, media and telecom industry practice. Uğur’s Intellectual Property practice focuses on trademarks, designs and copyrights. He advises on implementing IP protection and enforcement strategies and portfolio management, representing clients before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, as well as cancellation, infringement and other court actions and domain name ADR proceedings, filing for interlocutory and precautionary injunctions, negotiating and drafting co-existence, settlement and licensing agreements. Uğur has been involved in numerous anti-piracy campaigns, civil litigation, criminal raids and litigation involving software copyrights, cinematographic and musical copyrights, cartoon character copyrights, architectural copyrights, databases and television film formats. His TMT practice covers media, advertising, consumer, internet, technology licensing, information technologies, computer software, computer games, data protection, data privacy and security. He advises on all aspects of advertising and media laws, including clearance of advertisements, contracts, promotions and sweepstakes to various local and multinational companies primarily on food and beverages, technology, media, telecom and entertainment sectors. Uğur also advises on data protection legislation, website privacy policies and terms of use under Turkish law.

Benjamin Fontaine is a Partner at Plasseraud IP. He is a qualified French and European Trademark & Design Attorney as well as a Spanish-qualified lawyer. He has been coordinating the Trademark and Litigation practice of the Alicante office since 2003. He also acts as a panelist at WIPO. Benjamin brings his know-how in geographical indications and UDRP procedures as an expert of Plasseraud IP Appellations & Origins and Plasseraud IP Internet & Data. He has a broad range of experience in trademarks and related matters. He guides clients from the early consultation stages, to consolidation of rights and through disputes in France, Spain and before the EUIPO or the General Court of the European Union. He has many years of experience in EU proceedings and disputes. Benjamin is particularly well known for his expertise in geographical indications and the EU trademark system. He regularly publishes and intervenes on these subjects, notably at WIPO, the EUIPO and several universities. He was the chair of the geographical indications committee of ECTA during six years. He is currently the chair of the EUIPO-Link committee of this association. He was also an auditor of the quality of the decisions of the EUIPO, on behalf of ECTA, for several years. 
Benjamin joined EGYP, a company of Plasseraud IP Group, in 1999. He became a Partner in 2014.

Jimmy Huang has been advising clients on intellectual property matters for over 20 years, working with leading international as well as domestic law firms. His practice is particularly focused on trademarks prosecution and enforcement, as well as copyright, domain names, and unfair competition. In March 2024, Jimmy and a team of 36 professionals joined East IP. Jimmy was born in Sichuan Province and obtained his L.L.B. from China Youth University for Political Science in 2003. He then obtained his L.L.M. from University College London (UCL) in 2005. Jimmy was admitted to practice law in China in 2006. Jimmy excels at understanding the needs of clients and helping them solve problems through proactive and comprehensive advice and with the aim of achieving positive outcomes. Jimmy was recognized by The Legal 500 as a recommended lawyer in 2020 and a leading individual in 2018, 2019, and 2021 through 2023; and as a ranked lawyer by Chambers & Partners from 2022 to 2024. He was also included as a top practitioner in the World Trademark Review 1000 in 2017, 2019 through 2023.

Emily Scott advises on a wide range of UK, European Union and international trade mark cases for a diverse client base. She has particular experience of working across the food and beverage, manufacturing, retail and security sectors, with strong skills in trade mark filing, prosecution and maintenance, as well as portfolio management, reviews and audits. I have also assisted in a range of contentious proceedings before the UKIPO and the EUIPO. She also negotiates amicable settlement of trade mark disputes and prepares co-existence agreements.