Alexandra J. Roberts (University of New Hampshire School of Law, US), Katja Middelhoff (CMS, DE) and Dev Gangjee, (Oxford University, UK) will examine and compare the function of those signs not protected as trademarks or used exclusively for commerce, and that appear in the public space in mixed functions, mainly on social media. The discussion, moderated by Fenwick partner Andrew Bridges, will be enriched by a semiotic analysis on the meaning of these signs, detecting possible overlaps with trade marks or other IP rights, as well as other fields of law, such as the freedom of speech, advertising, etc.