News updates

Zalo®’s spring campaign shows how recognition can arise even without the direct use of the brand name. When colours, shapes and slogans gain such a foothold without being registered, the question arises whether they can have – or acquire – protection through acquired distinctiveness. In this article we take a closer look at what acquired distinctiveness means and when it may be relevant.

European patent law is constantly evolving. At Håmsø Patentbyrå, we have for many years conducted internal courses to strengthen expertise and to prepare our staff for the European Qualifying Examination (EQE). From autumn 2025, we are opening Håmsø Academy to everyone who wishes to build or further develop their knowledge in this field.

Taking your brand to the global stage? Håmsø Patentbyrå helps you protect your trademark internationally – from preliminary searches and strategy to application and follow-up.

With the opening of our new London office, we’re thrilled to announce that Håmsø’s Europe-leading experts can now work directly with the UK Intellectual Property Office! Whether you're an inventor, designer, entrepreneur, or foreign counsel, understanding how intellectual property (IP) works in the UK – and why it’s a smart jurisdiction to consider – can give you a strategic edge. 

In the early 1980s, Håmsø Patentbyrå became one of the first in the industry to adopt a custom-designed logo. The hand-drawn form has proven timeless – and still stands as a strong symbol of who we are.

What happens if someone grabs the domain name for your company, service, or product? Which rights can you actually rely on—and when will a trademark come to your rescue?

For the sixth year in a row, Håmsø Patentbyrå has been ranked as one of Europe’s leading patent firms by the Financial Times, in collaboration with the research company Statista. We are proud to be included on the list – once again! This recognition is a clear acknowledgment of the work we do – every day, all year round.

From May 1, 2025, everyone who has a registered design – whether in the EU or Norway – can use a brand new symbol: Ⓓ. This symbol serves for designs what the © symbol does for copyright and the ® symbol does for trademarks. We recommend that our clients start using Ⓓ as soon as their design is registered; the clearer you show your ownership, the harder it becomes for others to copy you.

When you have a Master's degree in nanotechnology from NTNU and a PhD from the University of Oslo, a career as a patent advisor may not seem like the obvious choice. For Astri, who joined Håmsø Patent Agency in 2021, it was a coincidence that led her into this specialized industry – a field that has opened doors to an entirely new world of innovation and challenges.