News

• TikTok Plays Economic Card in UK Amid Escalating Security Scrutiny

  
  
  
  As geopolitical tensions increasingly intertwine with tech policy, TikTok is making a calculated appeal to UK policymakers by spotlighting its economic footprint. The Chinese-owned platform now boasts over 30 million users in Britain—its largest European market—and claims that more than 1.5 million UK businesses operate on the app, contributing an estimated £1.6 billion to the national economy. TikTok also reports a workforce of 3,000 employees in the UK, where its European operations are officially incorporated. These figures, trumpeted amid ongoing political unease about data sovereignty and Beijing’s potential influence, are clearly intended to mollify mounting concerns in Westminster. Despite launching an official TikTok channel earlier this year, the UK government has maintained a ban on the app across its devices, mirroring Washington’s hardening stance. While British authorities have so far stopped short of a full prohibition, any definitive US ban could recalibrate the UK’s position. With France, Germany, and Italy also representing major EU user bases—totalling over 70 million accounts collectively—TikTok’s latest charm offensive underscores both its strategic defensiveness and the precariousness of its Western ambitions. The following chart illustrates TikTok penetration across selected European countries as of February 2025. It visually captures the platform’s user base relative to national populations, highlighting the app’s reach and influence in markets such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.
  
  

  
  

  11/06/2025

• Carrefour Faces Domain Name Setback in Trademark Dispute

  
  
  
  In a recent WIPO arbitration ruling, French retail heavyweight Carrefour SA failed to secure the transfer of the domain name carrefoursolutions.com, held by Senegal-based entrepreneur Benjamin Diallo. Although the panel acknowledged that the domain name bore confusing similarity to Carrefour’s registered trademarks — including French, EU, and U.S. filings — the decisive factor lay in the legitimacy of the respondent’s use. Diallo successfully demonstrated the formation of a legally registered company, Carrefour Solutions, operating in Senegal since 2024 and engaged in intellectual services distinct from retail. He argued convincingly that "carrefour" — a generic French word meaning "crossroads" — symbolised a convergence of solutions rather than a misleading commercial link to the French multinational. Despite Carrefour’s assertions of bad faith, the panel ruled that Diallo’s preparations and business registration constituted a legitimate interest, ultimately rejecting Carrefour’s complaint. The case underscores the increasingly complex terrain of domain disputes, especially where trademarked terms overlap with common language and diverse industry applications. The chart below illustrates Carrefour’s trademark portfolio categorized by trademark classes.
  
  

  
  

  10/06/2025

• Adidas Stripes Face Legal Scrutiny Amid Opposition Tactics and Countersuit by Steve Madden

  
  
  
  Adidas has filed for an extension to oppose the U.S. trademark application 'THREE BAR BALMS FOR MEN', citing potential confusion with its iconic three-stripe branding. The dispute underscores Adidas' aggressive defence of its hallmark design—but the timing is notable. It arrives as footwear rival Steve Madden escalates its own legal challenge, accusing Adidas of attempting to monopolise a common design motif within the fashion industry. Madden, seeking declaratory relief in a U.S. federal court, argues that its sneaker designs—featuring two nonparallel stripes—do not infringe Adidas’ trademarks and reflect widely used aesthetic elements across various brands. This legal friction is not unprecedented: the two companies settled similar stripe-related lawsuits in 2003. But in this latest round, Madden contends Adidas is overreaching, claiming proprietary rights over generic visual elements like bands, bars, and stripes. While Adidas remains silent publicly, the broader legal backdrop—recent losses in stripe disputes, including against Thom Browne—signals that its grip over the three-stripe domain may be loosening under judicial scrutiny. Following visualisation shows detail info on the 'THREE BAR BALMS FOR MEN' trademark potentially opposed by Adidas. The trademark’s design elements, particularly the three-bar motif, are likely under scrutiny due to their perceived similarity to Adidas’ well-known three-stripe branding, which the company has rigorously defended in past legal proceedings.
  
  

  
  

  05/06/2025