Trademarks & Designs
Our team represents and advises international and Swiss clients in all fields of trademark and design law. We provide strategic solutions for branding and the protection of product design in the analogue and especially the digital domain, and have a reputation as experienced litigators and arbitrators both in Switzerland and internationally.
Areas of expertise
- National litigation and coordinating complex international litigation
- Strategic advice with regard to global brand and design protection
- Comprehensive management of global brand, design and domain portfolios
- Advice on IP transactions
- Representation of clients in all types of disputes concerning the use and enforcement of geographical indications
- Negotiation and design of development, licensing, franchise and distribution agreements
- Advice and support in all aspects of advertising, sporting events and sponsoring
Other relevant areas
Patents | Copyright & Media | Geographic indications of origin
“Renowned in the industry for its polished performances in precedent-setting IP disputes and its adroit portfolio management for world-famous brands”
Publications
Chambers and Partners – Switzerland: Trade Marks & Copyright 2025
Chambers and Partners - Switzerland: Trade Marks & Copyright, February 2025- EN
Trademarks 2023 Switzerland – Law and Practice
Chambers and Partners, Global Practice Guides, Trade Marks 2023, 1 March 2023- EN
NFTs and Trademarks – What You Need to Know
MLL-News, 8 April 2022- EN
Trade Marks 2022 – Switzerland
Chambers and Partners, Global Practice Guides, Trade Marks 2022, 1st March 2022- EN
Firm News
MLL Legal | INGRES/ETH Zurich IP Retreat | The Measure of All Things in Intellectual Property Law | 8 and 9 September 2023
MLL Legal ranked as Top Tier Firm 2023 by IP Stars
Managing IP EMEA Awards 2023 | MLL Legal shortlisted
MLL Legal presents Best IP Law Firm Award at JUVE Award Ceremony in Frankfurt 2022
MLL Legal successfully represents Lindt & Sprüngli against Lidl: Swiss Federal Supreme Court confirms trademark protection for the “Lindt Gold Bunny”
News Portal
Practice of Intellectual Property Law in Europe – Report on the INGRES meeting of 30 January 2023
For over ten years, this event was held on the Zurichberg. The numerous foreign specialists who attend consider it the best opportunity to obtain and exchange information on the most important developments in European intellectual property law at a high level. It was again conceived and led by Dr Michael Ritscher, while Dr Christoph Gasser was responsible for the organisation. The preceding weekend in the snow has also become an integral part of the calendar of more and more intellectual property law practitioners. As previously, the morning was devoted to patent law and the afternoon to other intellectual property law, and new names joined established speakers.
More
Trademark protection of a very simply designed sign; no application in bad faith
The trademark holder of the new trademark had unsuccessfully sued for cancellation of the earlier trademark before the Commercial Court of the Canton of Bern after the trademark holder of the earlier trademark had filed an opposition against the registration of the new trademark. The dispute concerned, firstly, whether the registered trademark belonged to the public domain within the meaning of Art. 2 lit. a TmPA and, secondly, whether it had been applied for in bad faith within the meaning of Art. 8 Swiss Civil Code. The judgement of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court of 8 September 2022 (4A_227/2022), which is gratifying for trademark owners, is of groundbreaking importance for both issues.
More
NFTs and Trademarks – What You Need to Know
«NFT» seem to be the word of the hour. Everyone wants NFTs, many are creating NFTs, some are buying and trading NFTs, few are getting rich off NFTs and even fewer know what an NFT really is. Currently, «The Merge»-NFT is the most expensive NFT ever traded – it was purchased for more than 91 million USD. However, NFTs are a much talked about topic not only because of their sometimes-astronomical purchase prices, but also because several legal disputes have already arisen in connection with NFTs – including over intellectual property rights. We tell you what you need to know, what you need to keep in mind and which questions are currently still unanswered with regard specially to trademark law.
More
The Shape of the VW Bulli – A trademark? A trademark!
The First Board of Appeal at EUIPO has ruled that the shape of the VW Bus (commonly referred to as «Bulli»), the cult van of Volkswagen («VW») is protectable as a 3D trademark and shall be registered accordingly as a European trademark (Decision of the First Board of Appeal at EUIPO of 29 November 2021, case no. R 2421/2020-1).
More
The Capsule Saga Comes to an End – Swiss Federal Tribunal Denies Trademark Protection to Nespresso Capsules
The Swiss Federal Tribunal has ruled that the shape of the Nespresso capsules is technically necessary and that Nestlé’s 3D trademark shall therefore be cancelled (decision 4A_61/2021 of 7 September 2021).
MoreUpdate Your Browser
This website cannot be displayed correctly because you are using Internet Explorer. For optimal viewing and security, please use Chrome, Firefox or Edge.
