The Argentine National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) declared the nullity of the denominative trademark “LION’S MANE” (Resolution 3.699.014), registered to identify dietary supplements, vitamins and nutritional preparations. The administrative decision concerned a registration owned by TRADING MASTER SRL, after noting that the sign coincides with the common name of a well-known medicinal fungus: Hericium erinaceus.
Mondelez Argentina S.A. and Teubal Trading Co. S.A. faced each other in court (“Mondelez Argentina S.A. c/ Teubal Trading Co S.A. s/ acción de reivindicación”) over the historic “1/2 HORA” candy trademark, a product with a strong presence in the Argentine market.
The Federal Civil and Commercial Court of Appeals (Division I) once again ruled on a highly relevant issue in intellectual property: the protection of trade dress, or the distinctive appearance of products. In Docket No. 3778/2019 (“Laboratorios Felipe Bajer v. Laboratorios Monserrat y otro s/ cese de uso de marca”), the court analyzed the similarity between the medicines “Farm X” (Bajer) and “Calcusan X” (Monserrat and Eclair), whose packaging displayed a notably similar aesthetic.
The Federal Civil and Commercial Court of Appeals (Division III) undetook a new chapter in the trademark dispute between McDonald’s and the Argentine chain Mostaza in Docket No. 7609/2025 (“Mc Donald’s International Property Company Ltd v. Mostaza y Pan S.A s/ medidas cautelares”). The court upheld a precautionary measure in favor of McDonald’s against Mostaza, ordering the immediate cessation of the use of the designation "MEGA TASTY".
A recent verdict by the National Civil and Commercial Federal Court No. 10 undertook a high-profile trademark dispute between Apple Inc. and Swatch AG. Both companies faced each other in Docket Nos. 580/16 and 7945/16 (“Apple Inc v. Swatch AG s/ cese de oposición al registro de marca” and “Swatch AG c/ Apple Inc s/ cese de oposición al registro de marca”) over the registration of the trademarks "IWATCH" and "ISWATCH", related to products in classes 9 and 14 (technology and watchmaking).
The Federal Civil and Commercial Court of Appeals (Division II), once again put a classic trademark law debate on the table: how far does the protection of a shape extend when it comes to common forms in a product?
We are pleased to share that Lerman & Szlak has been recognized in the 2026 edition of the IP STARS rankings by Managing IP, with distinctions for both our intellectual property practice and members of our team.
The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has adopted, through INPI Resolution No. 297/2026, new Regulations governing administrative trademark opposition proceedings. Published in the Official Gazette, the Resolution introduces changes aimed at simplifying and expediting trademark opposition proceedings, streamlining their various stages and aligning them with the INPI’s current procedural framework.
In the recent article “ARGENTINA: INPI Issues First Ex Officio Trademark Nullity Decisions on Relative Grounds” published on August 5, 2026 in the INTA Bulletin, our partner Celia Lerman and our legal intern Victoria Weinmeister Diez, analyzed a highly significant change in Argentine trademark practice: the INPI began issuing the first ex officio trademark nullity decisions on relative grounds, marking a shift in the exercise of its administrative review powers.
We are pleased to share that our partner Celia Lerman and our Senior IP Manager, María Laura Etcheverry, will be attending the 40th Annual Industrial Property Conference organized by the Argentine Association of Industrial Property Agents (AAAPI), to be held on August 19–20, 2026, at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina (UCA), Puerto Madero Campus, in Buenos Aires.
