Geographical names

By Edy Guadalupe Portal, Portal & Asociados

The Salvadorean Company Industrias Caricia S.A. de C.V. filed an application to register trademark GREATLAND FOOTWEAR to protects goods in International Class 25 and specifically shoes. The Intellectual Property Department denied registration , arguing the shoes were made in El Salvador and that the trademark in the English language could mislead consumers and cause confusion about the geographic origin of the products. The National Bureau of Registries, on appeal, admitted the trademark application, stating there is no prohibition to register trademarks in English or any other language. Also, the word GREATLAND in Spanish (tierra grande) does not make any reference to any country or geographical region that would mislead the public as to the origin of the shoes.

Eproint

Whether your company is big or small, at Eproint you are our priority and we can take care of everything regarding legal processes to create and protect your brands, and provide you with an Intellectual Property strategy to achieve your goals.

In El Salvador, Practice Head Edy Guadalupe Portal is a partner at Eproint and has more than 25 years of experience in Intellectual Property. Since 1995, she has been recognized as the Salvadoran voice of Intellectual Property protection for always informing the IP community about changes to IP law and international treaties.

During her career, Mrs. Portal has helped numerous international law firms and in-house counsel with all facets of their IP matters in El Salvador and Central America. Her extensive practice includes work in trademarks, patents, industrial designs, utility models, copyrights, unfair competition, foreign investment, regulatory law/health registrations, licensing, franchising, appellations of origin, geographical indications, IP litigation, fashion law, new technologies, data privacy, cybersecurity, domain names, entertainment law, advertisement law, trade secrets, valuation of intangibles, and IP due diligence. She is also recognized for the great anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting results she has delivered for her clients. She also helps coordinate Latin America Intellectual Property Protection for the firm.

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