Rubik’s Cube legal puzzle leaves toy maker frustrated November 10, 2016 The makers of the world-famous Rubik's Cube have been frustrated by the top European court. Seven Towers, which manages Rubik's Cube intellectual property rights, have been told the cube's distinctive shape is not sufficient to grant it protection against copycats. German toy maker Simba Toys brought a challenge against a 1999 European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) trademark [...]
Canada Goose fluffs up the market by revealing plans for $100m listing February 16, 2017 High-end US coat maker Canada Goose has announced plans to raise $100m by listing on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. The listing will give the firm, backed by Bain Capital, the ability to pay down debt and expand sales in the US. And in what could be seen as a stroke of marketing genius, the [...]
Iceland Foods wants to thaw dispute after Iceland the country announces legal action against the supermarket November 29, 2016 Iceland the country got a bit frosty with Iceland the retailer last week. And now Iceland Foods is seeking to smooth over any grievances, saying it seeks "peaceful coexistence" with the country. In a statement, the company said: "Following the regrettable outbreak of legal and verbal hostilities last week, the UK retailer Iceland Foods is urgently seeking [...]
Frosty relations: Iceland vs Iceland legal action has been filed November 24, 2016 Iceland, the country, has today confirmed it is taking legal action against Iceland, the supermarket. The Icelandic government, along with SA Business Iceland and Promote Iceland, has said it is taking the action so its own producers can use the word 'Iceland' when advertising their own food products. The country argues the retailer cold-heartedly pursued businesses [...]
Specsaver founder Dame Mary Perkins and her husband have their payout cut in half December 11, 2016 Despite Specsavers’ solid earnings last year, Dame Mary Perkins and her husband had their payout cut in half. Perkins started the optical chain in 1984 and became Britain's first billionaire businesswoman. It was revealed she and her husband Doug had their dividend cut to £17.4m last year compared to £36.8m the year before in recently filed [...]
Piaget Altiplano turns 60, and it’s still the choice of today’s jetset sophisticate February 6, 2017 Last week the great and the good of the luxury world descended upon Geneva Airport’s Palexpo convention centre for the “Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie” – which basically translates as “glamorous showcase of mindbogglingly complicated timepieces”. So glamorous, in fact, that even the iron-clad bleakness of Palexpo was not enough to dissuade a healthy [...]
Liverpool want to trademark Jurgen Klopp nickname “The Normal One” January 12, 2016 Liverpool have applied for a European trademark for "The Normal One", the nickname bestowed upon their manager Jurgen Klopp. The charismatic German coach used the phrase, a reference to Jose Mourinho's "I am the special one" pronouncement, to describe himself in his first press conference as Liverpool boss in October. Just over a week later Liverpool [...]
Hidden on Sri Lanka’s south coast is architect Geoffrey Bawa’s ultimate project, now a boutique hotel called The Last House January 17, 2017 Geoffrey Bawa is Sri Lanka’s most renowned architect, the creative force behind what’s known as “tropical modernism” and among the most influential Asian architects of his generation. But while his works include such notable sites as the Sri Lankan Parliament Building, his style is best appreciated in the subtle details of his smaller, more rural [...]
Amazon wants to create giant airship warehouses to speed up your drone deliveries December 30, 2016 The year is 2050. You've just thought your order into your MindModule. A dark mass lurches in front of the sun as a giant airship floats into view overhead. Seconds later, you hear the familiar whine of a drone outside your front door as your package is delivered. Welcome to Amazon's vision of the future… This morning [...]
Ted Baker boosts sales against a “tough trading backdrop” January 11, 2017 Ted Baker's share price climbed 2.79 per cent this morning after the luxury brand reported an 18 per cent jump in sales over the festive trading period. Like many retailers, a large chunk of Ted Baker's sales were made online this year. Online sales jumped 35 per cent year-on-year in the eight weeks between 13 [...]