Senin, 29 September 2003

Eu Software Patents Come Upward A Footstep Closer

Last week, the European Parliament approved a proposal allowing for the patentability of computer-implemented inventions. However, it added 72 amendments to the master draft, limiting the proposed directive’s scope. The highlights according to the IPKat are equally follows:

The proposed directive is non meant to alteration the existing provisions on the patentability of computer-related inventions nether the European Patent Convention (EPC). Instead, it aims to render guidance to the European Union Member States inwards interpreting the EPC.
In accordance amongst the EPC, reckoner programs “as such” rest unpatentable (see Article 5(1)(a)). The proposal also emphasises that computer-implemented inventions do non instruct especial handling as well as are silent dependent champaign to the normal criteria of patentability. The proposed directive but gives guidance on how to apply those criteria.
The Parliament has deleted a recital stating that the European Union as well as its Member States are saltation yesteryear TRIPs as well as that Article 27(1) of TRIPs calls for patent rights to live available for all inventions, including, yesteryear implications, computer-implemented inventions. (Amendment 31 deleting what was previously Recital 6).
The amendments innovate a position out of defences, including ane where role of the protected cloth is necessary to ensure interoperability as well as to allow dissimilar reckoner networks to communicate (Articles half dozen as well as 6a),
Recital fourteen volition reiterate that concern methods rest unpatentable.
The European Union has expressed its exasperation at the European Patent Office’s lack of transparency as well as its do of obtaining payments for the patents that it grants, which, according to the newly introduced as well as strongly worded Recital 7(1)(b), “harms earth nature of the institution.”

The Commission is unhappy amongst the extent of the amendments as well as Commissioner Bolkestein threatened, ahead of the vote, that if the amendments were passed the Commission may remove the directive as well as instead force straight for the EPC to live renegotiated.

, inwards welcoming the draft directive, makes the next comments:

 This directive is a foreign exercise inwards harmonisation. Usually it’s the noun police force that gets harmonised. This fourth dimension circular the noun police force is already harmonised but its fashion of interpretation as well as application to the facts differs from soil to country. If this “second tier” of harmonisation succeeds for patents, volition it also live used for reinforcing the harmonisation of other IP rights, notably merchandise marks?

 Recital half dozen of the previous draft affirmed the European Union’s commitment to implementing Article 27(1) of TRIPs. Since this provision contained no excuse for omitting whatever software-related inventions from patentability, it could hardly live expected to live on to the concluding version of a directive which provides solely limited patentability for such inventions. The conclusion to fleck it was thus a sensible one.

 The onetime version of Recital eighteen promised that the “interoperability” defense to copyright infringement nether the 1991 Software Directive would remain. The novel version goes farther as well as confirms that acts permitted nether that directive volition non infringe a software patent either. This is welcomed inwards that it fosters the evolution of novel as well as interoperable software piece silent protecting a software patent possessor against serious unauthorised commercial exploitation of his invention.

 We look to convey a curious province of affairs inwards which the European Commission is telling Member States how to translate domestic laws which they adopted inwards implementing the non-EU European Patent Convention. The reality is non withal a problem. What nosotros convey is the primary power-house states of the European Union using the Commission equally a mouthpiece for articulating demands to all the other European Union Member States that they harmonise the means they apply their laws.

 The deletion of Recital thirteen -- which stated that algorithms that do non convey a “physical environment” are unpatentable equally beingness non-technical -- does non necessarily hateful that all of a abrupt all algorithms are patentable. The basic criteria of patentability silent (i) exclude mathematical formulae as well as (ii) necessitate industrial applicability. However, if an algorithm tin give notice satisfy that criterion, at that topographic point is no argue why it should live excluded from beingness patented.

 It is equally patently equally a pikestaff that concern method patents are regarded yesteryear close Europeans equally a hurting inwards the proverbial as well as they look to convey left a trail of misery as well as incertitude behind them inwards the US. is happy to run into them rest out inwards the mutual depression temperature until a serious illustration for patenting them tin give notice live raised.

Against software patents? Click here
If you lot actually enjoyed this weblog you lot mightiness desire to click here or here
All this software materials also high-tech for you? Why non drive softwear instead?


Minggu, 28 September 2003

Oclc Throws The Mass At Library Hotel

The Chicago Sun-Times reports on an odd merchandise grade infringement suit. The Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) -- the torso that owns merchandise grade registrations for the Dewey Decimal library classification scheme -- is suing New York’s The Library Hotel for failing to credit the OCLC equally the possessor of the Dewey merchandise marks. The hotel contains unopen to 6,000 books, ranged across its 10 floors, each of which is dedicated to i of the Dewey system’s brain categories. Thus room 800.001 on the literature floor, for example, features a collection of erotica, spell Room 1000.003 on the full general noesis flooring pays homage to the encyclopedia.

The OCLC is claiming permanent injunctive relief in addition to triple profits yesteryear vogue of damages. Said Joe Dreitler, acting for OCLC:

"This is a cooperative of libraries, a nonprofit organisation. The final affair they wanted to produce was convey lawyers larn involved inwards filing a lawsuit. But they equally good recognise that i of their crown jewels, equally an asset, is Dewey Decimal".

Craig Spitzer, the Library Hotel's full general manager, responded: "We are non a library lending books, only rather nosotros convey created a unique hotel sense for booklovers to enjoy. We produce non believe that our guests or other consumers are confused into thinking that the Library Hotel's hospitality services in addition to the OCLC's data services come upwards from the same source”.

quietly ponders on whether at that spot is whatever vogue of referring to the Dewey Decimal classification scheme other than yesteryear using its merchandise mark, equally all adept librarians look to do. It would last dainty to encounter whether courts on both sides of the Atlantic would consider the give-and-take DEWEY equally existence non a lilliputian generic.

Check out the Dewey Decimal System here and compare it amongst the Library of Congress Classification
Dewey classification for Gideon’s (and other) bibles here
Discover Melville Dewey here
Other thematic hotels here, here, here, here and here


A Give-And-Take Inwards Your Shell-Like

The civil rights organisation, Liberty, has raised concerns virtually privacy implications of Transport for London’s Oyster smart carte scheme. The cards permit journeys in addition to season-tickets to live on paid for inwards advance in addition to tin plough over the axe live on easily swiped over ticket-gates without beingness position into the machine. However, they also convey an private ID position out in addition to tape the contact details of the possessor in addition to all of the journeys he or she has made. Although London Transport has said that the information virtually journeys made volition live on stored for planning purposes only, Liberty remains unconvinced, fearing the onset of “function creep.” According to its campaigns director, Mark Littlewood: “All likewise oft nosotros convey seen information collected for ane apparent purpose, merely for it to destination upwards beingness used for something alone different.” In fact, John Monk, of the Oyster Project has admitted that the information could live on used every bit show inwards criminal trials.

volition proceed a watching brief on this story. If the information truly is merely used anonymously for planning purposes, its collection in addition to retentivity is unobjectionable. There may live on to a greater extent than serious concerns it is used for other purposes but inwards that illustration at that spot volition live on Data Protection Act implications.

Invade an oyster’s privacy here or hither
Grow your ain oysters here
Have fun eating oysters here


Jumat, 26 September 2003

A Happy Novel Year

This eve sees the maiden off of Rosh Hashonoh, the Jewish New Year. would similar to conduct maintain this chance of wishing a Happy New Year's Day to all its readers, whether they are Jewish or not, in addition to to offering his promise that nosotros all volition relish together a twelvemonth of peace, of friendship in addition to cooperation, of abide by in addition to tolerance, in addition to of real enjoyable developments inward the plain of intellectual property.

Council's Disclosure Non Anti-Social

An odd slant on the protection of confidentiality cropped upward inwards Maddock v Devon County Council, a mid-August out-of-term representative earlier Judge Rich (a Deputy Judge) which has somewhat belatedly come upward to low-cal through the subscription-only Lawtel service. What happened was this. Maddock wanted to learn a social worker in addition to obtained a academy identify to written report that subject. The council afterwards disclosed data on its files to the academy concerning Maddock's fitness to hold out a social worker, next which the academy withdrew Maddock's place. Maddock in addition to thus sued the council for damages for breach of confidence, for making allegedly negligent misstatements in addition to for infringement of Art.8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The council conceded that at that topographic point was an obligation of confidentiality inwards honour of its files, but argued that the disclosure of the data was necessary inwards the populace interest, claiming that its social services had been involved inwards the upbringing of Maddock's boy around since his birth, that Maddock had refused to direct hold whatever responsibleness for his difficulties in addition to that his advert was eventually placed on the fry protection register on the soil of emotional abuse. The council later refused to withdraw its communications. As a resultant of the council's disclosure, the academy removed Maddock from the course of teaching after conducting its ain inquiry, having given Maddock an chance to set her case.

Judge Rich QC dismissed all Maddock's claims. In doing thus he observed that it was for the council to determine whether to brand the disclosure since at that topographic point was no requirement for it to obtain a courtroom ruling earlier doing so. He added that inwards general, equally a thing of expert practice, a political party inwards the council's position, inwards a representative such equally this, should inform the plain of written report of the disclosure of that intention inwards plenty fourth dimension to enable that soul to try an injunction from the courts earlier the intended disclosure takes place. In this case, though, the council's determination non to produce thus was justifiable.

is unaware of other cases inwards which a political party considering the communication of confidential data would hold out expected past times a courtroom to permit the plain of written report of that data know first. He notes that the other political party of one's intentions earlier committing a potentially wrongful human activeness is nevertheless a concept good known inwards European merchandise score law, where the European Court of Justice has said that parallel importers should notify merchandise score owners earlier importing repackaged goods into countries inside the European Economic Area.

Thinking of non keeping a secret? Read here, here and here
Best secrets revealed here, here and here


Women: Dice Dorsum To Your Kitchens!

An article inwards today’s New York Times draws attending to the scale of music piracy occurring exterior the USA. Asia (particularly China) is identified every bit a hotspot, precisely then is Europe, fifty-fifty though downloading is non on the same scale every bit inwards the US because fewer people inwards Europe convey network access. Two “problems” are identified: (1) the weakness of national copyright laws inwards these areas together with (2) the ubiquity of the activity. According to the author:

“In truth, the existent impediment to legal activity is non populace opinion, precisely Europe's crazy quilt of laws. The European Union passed a uniform copyright protection constabulary like to that inwards the United States. Now, it is upwards for ratification inwards each fellow member province — a procedure that has bogged down.”[sic]

thinks that the writer has misunderstood the agency Europe works. The “crazy quilt” is the effect of a carefully crafted political remainder betwixt the Member States of the European Union that recognises that each is independent together with sovereign. In whatever event, despite the being of mutual basic norms created past times treaties, it does non necessarily follow that every other province inwards the globe should follow the Pb of the US together with its rather heavy-handed approach to combating music piracy.

However, the prize for quote of the calendar week must become to Gerd Gebhardt, chairman of the German linguistic communication Phonographic Industry Association, who complained: "People inwards their 60's are burning CD's at home…Housewives, who should survive cooking, are burning."

Is a woman’s identify actually inwards the home? Click here, here, here, here and here for around modern perspectives
Click here, here and here for farther views



The Ipkat Mass Of The Month: September 2003

Ian Cram is a Lecturer inward Law at the University of Leeds, England. His book, A Virtue Less Cloistered: Courts, Speech together with Constitutions, addresses the issues raised past times the conflict between, on the i hand, “open justice” -- the media’s correct to study together with comment on litigation -- and, on the other hand, the management of judge together with the privacy of the individual. Cram’s approach is to compare the constitutional handling of this conflict past times contrasting the set taken inward 4 mutual police pull jurisdictions: the US, the UK, Commonwealth of Australia together with Canada. The writer does non even together with then fail civil police pull jurisdictions, paying especial attending to the experiences of Spain. Published past times Hart Publishing (Oxford together with Portland, Oregon), the mass is brusk past times modern legal standards, amongst alone to a greater extent than or less 220 pages of noun text. Yet it is rigid on especial together with analysis. What’s more, its conclusions address court-related speech communication inward the electronic age, dealing amongst the business office which the Internet has come upward to play inward the provision of access to, together with dissemination of, data which it was i time -- inward practical price -- quite straightforward for courts to control.

enjoyed reading this book. As good equally providing a narrow case-and-statute based legal analysis, the writer looks closely together with thoughtfully at the contribution of thinkers such equally Mill, Bickel, Dworkin together with Scanlon equally well. It is definitely a thinking cat’s book, good worth the endeavor of reading.

Kamis, 25 September 2003

Rolling Dorsum Ip Rights?

Yesterday the IPKat attended Peter Maggs’ seminar at the Queen Mary, University of London, Intellectual Property Research Institute. Professor Maggs took equally his subject the enquiry of whether intellectual holding rights are beingness “rolled back” (i.e. limited) inwards the United States of America as well as used the previous year’s instance police pull to bear witness his point.

There was a definite “roll back” inwards merchandise grade law. This could endure seen from the Victoria’s Secret case (requiring actual dilution rather than a likelihood of dilution to succeed inwards a federal dilution claim) as well as Dastar (placing the focus of an research into confusion nether §43a of the Lanham Act, which is the unfair contest provision, on deception equally to the physical beginning of goods, rather the beginning of ideas contained inside those goods). Also, inwards barcelona.com the courtroom refused to apply Castilian merchandise grade police pull that may direct maintain granted the metropolis of Barcelona merchandise grade rights inwards Barcelona, instead applying United States of America law, which emphatically did non grant such rights. The solely exception was California Innovations, where the courtroom widened the weather condition nether which geographically misdescriptive marks tin forcefulness out endure registered.

Copyright all the same was to a greater extent than of a mixed bag. Eldred v Ashcroft (where the Supreme Court upheld the Sonny Bono Act, which extends the term of copyright inwards the United States of America to lxx years) definitely “rolled forward” IP rights, equally did Verizon Internet Services (where the mightiness of RIAA to larn the details of downloaders from ISPs on withdraw was upheld). However, a “roll back” was visible inwards Veek, where it was held that a privately written model edifice code that was after passed into dry reason police pull was freed of its copyright as well as could endure posted on the defendant’s website without giving rising to copyright infringement. He also pointed to two conflicting Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) anti-circumvention cases. In Chamberlain, generic garage door openers that circumvented access controls to a calculator plan inwards the plaintiff’s opener were constitute non to infringe the DMCA. However, a violation of the DMCA was constitute inwards Lexmark where the defendant, inwards companionship to brand his refilled calculator cartridges operate amongst Lexmark’s printers circumvented programming inwards the printers that enabled them to solely operate amongst Lexmark cartridges. He pointed out that a dissimilar number was probable inwards the European Union because of the directive that bans non-refillable cartridges.

notes that spell these cases propose that at that spot has been something of a judicial “roll back” of IP rights, the tendency has been for the United States of America legislature to “roll forward” IP rights, amongst the Federal Trademark Dilution Act, the Anticyberpiracy Consumer Protection Act, the DMCA as well as the Sonny Bono Act beingness a few prominent examples from the terminal decade. In the EU, the “roll forward” has been judicial equally good equally legislative amongst a number of ECJ decisions (all available here) that direct maintain pushed IP rights frontward – accept for instance the broad Definition of “trade grade use” inwards Arsenal v Reed, the favouring of regional rather than international exhaustion inwards Levis v Tesco, as well as the extension of dilution-style protection to similar as well as identical goods inwards Davidoff II and the Advocate General’s conclusion inwards Adidas v Fitnessworld. The pose inwards the United States of America is somewhat dissimilar to that inwards the European Union because the Supreme Court as well as the lower courts produce non rely on IP rights equally a beginning of their jurisdiction, whereas inwards the EU, if the instance inwards enquiry is exterior the compass of IP rights, jurisdiction defaults dorsum to the Member States as well as the ECJ is deprived of its role.

The cases Professor Maggs referred to are available here
See another “roll back” attempts here, here , here as well as here
An endeavor to “roll forward” here


Spanish Ready To Larn Official Linguistic Communication Of Madrid

A WIPO Press Release today announced that, from i Apr 2004, applicants for merchandise marks inwards a multiplicity of countries volition live on able to file their Madrid Protocol applications inwards Castilian every 2d an option to the electrical flow English linguistic communication too French. This deed is seen every 2d offering an incentive to Spanish-speaking countries to sign upwardly for the Madrid Protocol. At introduce many Spanish-speaking countries prevarication exterior the orbit of the international filing systems offered past times the Madrid Protocol too the French-only Madrid Agreement, including Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay too Venezuela.

Text of Madrid Protocol here
Countries operating the Madrid arrangement here
Other languages spoken inwards Kingdom of Spain here, here and here


Rabu, 24 September 2003

Restitutio Inwards Integrum Guidance

Last week, the CFI decided the instance of Beckett Expression, providing guidance on the circumstances inward which a restitutio inward integrum claim tin live on successful. This doctrine allows people having dealings alongside OHIM who direct maintain missed their deadlines through circumstances beyond their command to file the relevant documents exterior the deadline inside 2 months on payment of the relevant fee. Here the appellant had missed his deadline because he was sick on the solar daytime the document had to live on sent inward as well as this had escaped his secretary’s attending because of her heavy workload. The appeallant likewise did non file his restitutio inward integrum claim until later the 2 calendar month deadline. According to the CFI:

The displace of the non-compliance upon which the restitutio inward integrum claim could live on based (OHIM had non denied that the appellant’s disease was an acceptable reasons for non-compliance) was removed in 1 trial the manager returned to operate as well as at that indicate he could direct maintain discovered that the written arguing was late. The fact that the secretarial assistant had a complex arrangement for monitoring deadlines which she continually checked likewise militated against the success of the claim.

The two-month menses for lodging the restitutio inward integrum claim begins to run from the engagement at which the impediment to compliance is removed, as well as non from when OHIM notifies that applicant that his appeal is belatedly because such an interpretation would live on acre reverse to Article 78(2) as well as because the CTMR does non oblige OHIM to mail the letters.

It is clear from the wording of Articles 78(1) as well as (3) of the CTMR that an application for restitutio inward integrum must live on made past times a form act, distinct from the human action past times which the appeal is brought. Additionally, an application for restitutio inward integrum is deemed to exclusively live on filed in 1 trial the form fee for re-establishment of rights is paid. Therefore, at that spot tin live on no restitutio inward integrum claim implicit inward a arguing of appeal to OHIM.

says: “If you’re responsible for filing documents alongside OHIM, for goodness sake, move past times on an center on your deadlines as well as don’t larn out it to the terminal minute. It seems foreign though that the secretary’s arrangement for monitoring deadlines truly worked against her as well as was 1 of the bars to a successful restitutio inward integrum claim.”

Some Beckett expressions here as well as here


Inta Merchandise Seat Mediation Roundtable

Yesterday even out the IPKat attended the INTA roundtable on Alternative Dispute Resolution inwards Trade Mark Disputes, hosted inwards the scenic London offices of Howrey Simon Arnold & White, alongside panoramic views overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral. The give-and-take was led yesteryear Piet Schalkwijk (Akzo Nobel’s Director of Intellectual Property) together with Sir Robin Jacob, soon to induce got his house inwards the Court of Appeal.

Since INTA has established an international Panel of Neutrals for the role of encouraging its members to plough to alternatives to direct litigation, it was non surprising that the ii leaders of the give-and-take strongly supported greater usage of ADR, specially mediation. Piet Schalkwijk described legal disputes every bit “not a battle to locomote won but a occupation to locomote solved”, drawing attending to the rank of emotional interest of parties involved inwards litigation which makes village difficult, quite apart from the fiscal cost. Where direct mediation betwixt the parties failed, “facilitated negotiation” through a trained mediator could ofttimes convey most splendid results. Even where it did not, the mediation procedure could induce got a highly beneficial number upon whatever ensuing litigation yesteryear sharpening the issues which remained to locomote tried.

makes the next observations:

(1) While ADR has much to commend it, many merchandise score disputes may locomote less suited to it - together with specially to mediation - than disputes inwards other areas. For example, inwards actions against counterfeiters together with other infringers, where at that topographic point is no previous commercial human relationship together with no trust exists betwixt the parties, it may locomote unreasonable to await a mediated village to result.

(2) Some merchandise score owners rely on an aggressive litigation policy every bit a fashion of deterring actual or potential competitors from coming likewise some their merchandise marks or merchandise dress. The MACDONALD’S policy of taking legal activeness against almost every tertiary political party usage of the MAC- prefix, irrespective of the forcefulness of the merchandise score owner’s case, is an representative of this policy. Where such a policy is commercially successful it is unlikely that the merchandise score possessor volition merchandise it inwards for a commitment to mediation.

(3) Many merchandise score disputes (for representative opposition hearings) are but likewise modest for the savings which mediation produces over litigation to add together upward to much.

(4) Failed or successful but protracted mediation may itself add together to the overall toll of dispute resolution.

(5) To run properly, mediations should conclude alongside a proper binding contract which determines the damage of the settlement. Failure to exercise together with then tin locomote out the parties alongside big problems, every bit happened inwards the battle between the World Wide Fund together with the World Wrestling Federation for command of the WWF merchandise mark.

More on mediation: INTA Alternative Dispute Resolution here; Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution here; International Court of Arbitration here
Less orthodox ADR here, here, here (rule 7, bullet indicate 8) together with here


Selasa, 23 September 2003

Scary Copyright Notice

The electrical flow lawsuit of New Scientist reproduces a alarm flora on a website offering graphics together with photos. At the human foot of the green legal boilerplate, the rubric runs: "My intellectual belongings attorney is a scary-smart guy. He was the youngest mortal to e'er buy the farm the bar examination inward his state. Plus he grade himself through constabulary schoolhouse past times working equally a professional person wrestler. I am non making this up".

would similar to demand heed from anyone who has come upward across whatsoever interesting or master threats inward copyright notices. Just post your comment below or e-mail it to .

Lawyers who wrestle here, here and here
Unusual copyright notices here (at p. 2), here and here (review past times the reader from Ithaca)


Peace, Harmony, Merchandise Marks

This Th as well as Fri (25 as well as 26 September) sees the Third European Trade Mark Judges Symposium in Alicante. Approximately 75 judges from the fifteen Member United States of the European Union as well as the accession countries, together amongst representatives from OHIM, the CFI, the ECJ, the European Commission as well as the European Patent Office volition get together at this biennial event. Its stated occupation is “to favour the necessary harmonisation inwards the application of the Community Trade Mark Regulation throughout the legal institution as well as inwards detail yesteryear the Community merchandise score courts.” The judges volition hold upwardly treated to a programme including:

Registrability of work, 3D as well as coloring marks
Scope of merchandise score proprietors’ rights
The concept of genuine use
The order of candidate countries
Developments inwards the proceedings of CTM courts
The effects of merchandise score instance police pull on European Union industry
The human relationship betwixt OHIM as well as the CTM courts

notes that next a lay out of high-profile ECJ cases, many of these points are a practiced bargain less uncertain than they must bring been 2 years agone at the previous symposium inwards Luxembourg. He trusts that getting the judges together volition let them to telephone substitution ideas, potentially leading to greater uniformity inwards the application as well as interpretation of merchandise score police pull across the EU. While the symposium is aimed at CTM law, it is equally good probable to deport upon on national merchandise score law, considering the keen similarity betwixt the CTM Regulation as well as the Harmonisation Directive on which all the Member States’ merchandise score laws are based. hopes that such harmonisation volition hold upwardly given a force inwards the correct administration yesteryear the fact that OHIM has right away posted a re-create of the national merchandise score legislation of each European Union Member State on its website. Although the IPKat welcomes this development, he is unhappy that the provision of translations is patchy. For example, the Castilian legislation is alone available inwards Castilian as well as less pop European Union languages are non represented at all.

Inspired yesteryear the judges’ example? Bring a fleck of harmonisation into your life here, here, hither and here


Employee’S Annunciation Of Merchandise Score Purpose Should Non Survive Ignored

This morning time the Court of First Instance of the European Communities gave judgment inwards Henkel v OHIM . When a Community merchandise rank application was filed for KLEENCARE for diverse chemicals, abrasives as well as detergents inwards Classes 1 as well as 3, Henkel opposed, alleging a likelihood of confusion amongst its ain before German-registered CARCLIN mark for the same products. The applicant demanded prove that Henkel had used CARCLIN inwards Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany inwards the previous 5 years. Henkel submitted, amid other things, a proclamation made yesteryear its industrial director to the upshot that Henkel had used CARCLIN for cleaning motor bikes as well as that he knew that the making of a faux proclamation could champaign of written report him to penalties. The Opposition Division dismissed the opposition as well as disregarded the employee’s declaration, asset that statements made yesteryear an employee of a political party to the proceedings were of less probative value than those made yesteryear tertiary parties. The Board of Appeal upheld the Opposition Division’s decision, refusing either to reconsider the centre of the employee’s contestation or to acknowledge fresh evidence.

The Court of First Instance allowed Henkel’s appeal. Under the CTM Regulation the Board of Appeal has ability to determine the number before it on the solid soil of previous as well as fresh prove or to remit it to the examiner or Opposition Division for reconsideration. Since the Opposition Division had the ability to watch the centre of the employee’s declaration, the Board did too, fifty-fifty if the abide by of appeal did non specifically need that it produce so. The Board of Appeal’s determination was hence nullified.

notes that the Boards of Appeal convey made it evidently inwards the yesteryear that they are reluctant to induce upwards one's heed issues on the solid soil of prove which should convey been seat before the examiner or Opposition Division inwards the root place. But the consideration of prove already submitted does non come upwards into that category, fifty-fifty if it may hold out of relatively piddling probative value.

Do yous postulate KLEENCARE or CARCLIN? To larn your motorcycle actually muddied click here , here or here


Navitaire Claim Tin Become To Trial, Rules Judge

After cut-price airline easyJet dumped Navitaire’s internet booking arrangement for a software bundle supplied past times Navitaire’s competition BulletProof Technologies, Navitaire claimed its copyright was infringed too sought to sue easyJet for infringement. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 spokesman for easyJet described the claim every bit “complete nonsense motivated past times commercial jealousy”. The Lawyer however reports that specialist IP estimate Pumfrey J did non manage too that the application to accept the claim struck out was rejected. London solicitors Herbert Smith human activeness for easyJet, spell Field Fisher Waterhouse represent Navitaire.

observes that it is likewise early on for Navitaire to uncork the Champagne, despite its victory. There is all the departure inwards the earth betwixt persuading the courtroom that you lot create indeed accept an arguable example (as happened here) too afterward winning that argument.

Click hither for bulletproof monks, music, comics and penguins
Bulletproof vests for Batman and for dogs


Senin, 22 September 2003

Is The Novel German Copyright Police Delineate A Handbasket Case?

The Register reports that Germany’s plans to implement the EU Copyright Directive have met alongside considerable domestic criticism. Legislation concerning the showtime role of the Directive was of late enacted inwards social club to comply alongside the European Union deadline for implementation; withal the controversial number of anticircumvention mechanisms was left out. This is to survive addressed inwards the forthcoming “second basket” of copyright laws. The fearfulness though is that the anticircumvention provisions volition dominion out the electrical flow correct to brand someone copies together with to brand other uses that would survive considered fair work nether traditional copyright law, such every bit work past times journalists. As the proposal currently stands, rights-holders too volition non demand to furnish access to schools, libraries together with the disabled for 1 year.

is worried past times the lack of mandatory fair-use type provisions inwards the circumvention sections of the European Union Copyright Directive. The effects of this volition survive felt inwards all the Member United States of America of the EU. Particularly worrying is the deport upon that this volition convey on educational work – a much relied-upon only seldom litigated copyright defense . notes that all of the Member United States of America of the European Union are signatories to the Berne Convention, which expressly calls for specific fair work exceptions to copyright together with wonders whether the Copyright Directive is inwards compliance.

Baskets here, here, here together with here


Laura Ashley Fails Acid Test

London-based pattern merchandise association ACID (Anti Copying inwards Design) has reportedly helped pattern identify Designer 12 (trading every bit Kandola Silks) secure most £50,000 inwards damages as well as costs against clothes as well as cloth retailers Laura Ashley for selling a cushion featuring a cloth which was “virtually identical” to a cloth of its ain design. Once famed for its distinctive floral patterns, Laura Ashley has since fallen on difficult times. The companionship did non acknowledge to the infringement. ACID members currently bask the back upwards of solicitors Addleshaw Goddard, whose London address they share.

notes ACID’s achievement. Founded inwards 1996, ACID has carved a niche for itself inwards the protection of designers’ IP rights. Relatively few pattern infringement cases are fought inwards the UK as well as designers’ rights are oft regarded every bit the misfortunate relation of patents as well as merchandise marks. But ACID’s lobbying, monitoring as well as litigation back upwards gives pattern correct owners the confident belief that rights inwards designs are worth having afterward all.

Is your copyright nether threat? Click hither for the Federation Against Copyright Theft
Don’t confuse ACID alongside AcidDesign or ACIDesign
Acid tests here, here and here


The Ipkat Riddle No. 5

Sports activities are (at to the lowest degree inwards theory) build clean as well as wholesome as well as alcohol is harmful as well as sordid (at to the lowest degree when taken inwards excess). This is why it makes feel for owners of alcohol brands to plough over their products an uplift past times sponsoring football game teams. If you lot believe that the sight of a squad of plainly salubrious footballers running circular for xc minutes alongside beer brands on their shirts powerfulness encourage an impressionable supporter to potable the sponsoring brew, it is logical to regulate or indeed prohibit the display of beer brands on squad kit. 's riddle is this: inwards what circumstances may a ban on displaying beer brands on sports equipment travel exercised inwards such a agency every bit to forestall the display of the advert of fifty-fifty a non-alcoholic product? Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 small-scale prize is offered to the kickoff soul to postal service the right response below.


Minggu, 21 September 2003

Advertising: The Writing's On The Wall

Wooster Collective draws attending to a graffiti mural that has appeared inward SoHo, New York, publicising Jennifer Lopez’s http://www.jenniferlopez.com/ fragrance, Glow. It is the locomote of TatsCru, a collective of graffiti in addition to mural artists who employ “graffiti mural fine art equally commercially feasible fine art flat in addition to markets customized aeresol fine art to businesses” [sic]. TatsCru has an impressive listing of clients including Coca Cola, Reebok in addition to House of Seagrams (makers of inter alia, Chiva Regal).

says: “This could endure an effective agency of bringing a build onto the streets in addition to causing it to choke engrained inward the everyday surround of the community. At the same time, this approach could backfire, equally tin endure seen from the comments on the Wooster Collective site, condemning TatsCru for ‘selling out.’ Such negative feelings don’t only reverberate badly on the artists – they tin besides rub off on the brand-owners who committee them in addition to could endure defendant of commercialising an art-form that relies on subversiveness for its authenticity.”

Graffiti non your style? Join a to a greater extent than suitable cru here, here, or hither


Brand Bring Upwards Sacrificed To Spare Men’S Blushes

The Sunday Telegraph here and here.


Sabtu, 20 September 2003

Ipkat Riddle No. 4

While at the MARQUES conference, the IPKat attended a session on digital rights management (DRM). Although the session contained a detailed together with considered analysis of the police pull inwards this area, the focus was primarily on how the laws inwards the European Union preventing the circumvention of DRM measures tin hold upward used to protection copyright-type works, rather than for the protection of merchandise marks. Kirsi Ekström, (TeliaSonera OY, Finland) suggested that it could hold upward used to preclude the sharing of downloadable mobile call logos that besides hap to hold upward merchandise marks. However, the IPKat suspects that DRM volition hold upward of express application to merchandise marks because mark-holders wishing their marks to hold upward exposed to earth for advertising purposes together with and then bring petty involvement inwards “locking” them upward through DRM. In whatever event, many marks, different complex copyright-type works, are slowly to re-create together with and then it may non hold upward worth an infringer’s piece to circumvent DRM measures.

Once again, the IPKat offers a minor prize to anyone who tin enjoin him (by e-mail, or inwards the comment box below) how DRM tin hold upward used to protect merchandise marks.


More From Marques Inwards Istanbul

Problematic cyberspace connections kept this study from hitting the weblog earlier now, exactly the IPKat is determined non to disappoint his readers. So hither are about of the highlights from the residuum of the MARQUES conference.

Marcel Beerthuizen (TWBA/Brand Experience) gave an impassioned draw of piece of work concern human relationship of the advantages of both number sponsorship together with ambush marketing (here and here), showing outset how maximum publicity tin forcefulness out survive leveraged from becoming an official sponsor together with and hence how cunning planning tin forcefulness out undermine or completely scuttle the official sponsor’s position. One practiced representative was Amstel’s hijacking of a Carlsberg-sponsored football game number past times giving out its distinctive hats to thousands of spectators. In this context he revealed that entirely 36% of sponsorships were undertaken on the ground of whatsoever planning. , who enjoys cat-and-mouse games, has weighed the prove together with concludes that ambush marketers concord all the trump cards.

Following on from Marcel, Sven Klos (Klos Morel Vos & Schaap) had about practical things to say almost protecting sponsors against ambush marketing. The crudest forms of ambush marketing are actionable equally infringements of merchandise grade rights or other IP rights; the occupation lies amongst to a greater extent than subtle approaches, which care to infiltrate a competitor’s construct yell into the oculus of a sponsored number earlier the ambush tin forcefulness out survive detected. In about cases it’s non clear whether IP rights are infringed at all. This was the representative when Telecom New Zealand replaced the v interlocked Olympic rings amongst the strategically placed words “ring” “ring” “ring” “ring” “ring” (click here and scroll downward to paragraph 50). But are ambushes fifty-fifty wrong, the IPKat muses. Normal principles of contest nevertheless apply fifty-fifty when a draw of piece of work concern has spent a lot of coin on a high-profile sponsorship deal. Besides, the ambush marketing is normally much to a greater extent than fun for viewers than the unending torrent of official advertising that accompanies the Olympics together with other events.

In his workshop session, Massimo Sterpi (Jacobacci, Turin) detailed the many ways inwards which a construct tin forcefulness out courtroom unpopularity inwards the marketplace or beyond it. This unpopularity may bring out itself inwards the construct beingness parodied, defamed or attacked inwards to a greater extent than subtle ways. Massimo listed 3 types of hatred: that which attaches to the grade itself, that which points to the society behind the grade together with that which points at the province amongst which the construct is associated. There was together with hence about lively ground on overbranding, viral marketing together with whether at that spot should survive world spaces from which construct advertising should survive excluded. enjoyed the cut-and-thrust of debate, noting that MARQUES participants seemed to guide keep softened their previously antagonistic views on Naomi Klein’s vigorous criticisms of bad conduct past times big brand-owners.

is abode 1 time to a greater extent than now, licking the concluding of his Turkish Delight off his paws together with happily contemplating side past times side year’s MARQUES conference inwards Rome.


Jumat, 19 September 2003

The Ipkat Has Landed

has safely returned from the 2003 MARQUES conference inward Istanbul in addition to volition go bringing you lot the highlights of the programme over the coming days.

Some friends the IPKat made on his travels here

Rabu, 17 September 2003

The Ipkat - Alive From Istanbul

Having arrived safely inward Istanbul, the IPKat joined the ranks of 400 merchandise grade enthusiasts, owners, practitioners in addition to experts attending this year's MARQUES conference at the Ceylan Inter*Continental Hotel. After Day 1, the IPKat, inspired past times the excellence of the presentations, offers yous the next points for consideration:

(1) Wim Holterman (PwC) mentioned that concern to concern brands volition e'er endure valued lower than brands aimed straight at consumers because B2B brands don't accomplish out in addition to straight address the consumer. This work tin endure resolved, according to Katherine Basile (Howrey Simon) past times 'ingredient branding' where a branded production manufacturer promotes the construct of a manufacturer of a element of its production (e.g. where branded computers are advertised past times reference to the INTEL microprocessor).

(2) On the termination of taxation in addition to transfer pricing, Arnout van der Reste (also PwC) raised issues concerning the split upwards betwixt legal in addition to beneficial ownership of merchandise marks, where the beneficial ownership is held inward a lower taxation regime. Questions were asked equally to whether the split upwards ownership could jeopardize the merchandise grade registration.

(3) Sheila Henderson (Reckitt Benckiser) in addition to Ben Goodger (Rouse & Co. International) both emphasised the danger of showing in-house counsel simply the IP bits of a proposed K & H5N1 transaction which laissez passer on counsel no adventure of advising on the IP-related damage inside the context of the bargain equally a whole. This is important, given that the IP damage tin construct or interruption the whole deal, depending on how primal they are to it.

(4) In the session on the legal aspects of construct extension, Annelise van Zoest (Bockel de Neree) drew attending to the difficulties of showing reputation where the possessor of a grade which has been extensively used on i production in addition to and so applied to a hit of dissimilar goods wished to fighting its role past times a 3rd political party on unrelated products.

(5) Ozlem Futman (OFO Ventura) drew attending to the difficulties of registering packaging in addition to slogans inward Turkey. While the Turkish merchandise grade police delineate parallels that of the EU, the Turkish Patent Institute is sometimes liable to decline applications for subject-matter which is registrable elsewhere inward Europe.

(6) The conference was treated to a tour de strength past times Muhtar Kent (CEO, Efes Breweries) who told of the remarkable ascent of the EFES brand, which right away enjoys to a greater extent than than 75% of the Turkish beer market, in addition to of its Russian subsidiary, which inward solely iv years had run i the acme Russian beer brands. , afterward sampling to a greater extent than than i glass, tin encounter why...


Senin, 15 September 2003

Import-Ant Efta Case

In a rare ruling given before this summertime but well-nigh ignored yesteryear the legal press, the EFTA Court has advised the Norwegian Supreme Court that the merchandise compass rights of a master drugs manufacturer were non exhausted yesteryear starting fourth dimension sale to the indicate that those rights could non move enforced against an importer of branded goods who used the colours of the master merchandise compass inward stripes along the edges of its repackaged versions of the merchandise compass owner’s products. The instance was referred to the EFTA Court later Panarova started employing tributary coloring schemes on its repackaged versions of RENITEC, SINEMET too other Merck products.

Citing the ECJ’s determination inward Case C-143/00 Boehringer Ingelheim five Swingward, the EFTA Court advised that derogations from the regulation of complimentary displace of goods are justifiable exclusively to the extent permitted to enable a merchandise compass possessor to safeguard rights that compass percentage of the specific subject-matter of the mark, equally understood inward the lite of its “essential function”. This agency that, in 1 lawsuit products are marketed amongst his blessing, the merchandise compass possessor has to exhibit the necessity for exhaustion doctrine non to apply to subsequent sales inside the EEA. The trend to create this, nether Article 7(2) of Directive 89/104, is to exhibit “legitimate reasons” for beingness able to enforce his merchandise mark.

The generic importer/repackager is allowed to cook the master manufacturer’s products where at that spot is a necessity for it to create so, next the ECJ’s instance police line inward Case C- Bristol-Myers Squibb five Paranova [1996] ETMR 1 equally long equally the other factors mentioned inward that case’s 4 element assay out (para. 32) are also satisfied. However the EFTA Court advised that the necessity for the master manufacturer, equally merchandise compass owner, to protect his merchandise compass where he has a “legitimate reason” to create too thence trumps the repackager’s necessity to repackage goods too resell them inward the unmarried European market.

Even where the 4 Bristol Myers requirements are met, the EFTA Court confirmed, next previous ECJ instance law, that a merchandise compass possessor tin forcefulness out also oppose farther commercialisation of his goods that accept house inward a trend that is probable to harm his reputation, for example, if the repackager uses untidy novel packaging or unsuitable advertising methods amongst regard to the merchandise compass owner’s product. In particular, the national courtroom should accept into concern human relationship whether at that spot is inappropriate presentation of the repackaged product. Additionally, next the ECJ’s judgment inward BMW five Deenik, the EFTA Court held that a merchandise compass possessor tin forcefulness out also oppose the utilisation of his merchandise compass inward the farther commercialisation of his production yesteryear 3rd parties where the compass is used inward such a trend that it may laissez passer on ascent to the impression that at that spot is a commercial connecter betwixt the reseller too the merchandise compass proprietor. The utilisation of coloured stripes on pharmaceutical packaging though would neither harm the merchandise compass owner’s reputation nor crusade confusion equally to a commercial link betwixt the repackager too the compass owner. Any confusion would move dispelled yesteryear the requirement that the names of the parallel importer too the manufacturer move clearly stated on the novel packaging.

Finally, the EFTA Court agreed amongst the merchandise compass possessor that repackaging that causes “degeneration” of the merchandise compass because the merchandise marked goods are sold inward dissimilar packaging yesteryear dissimilar repackagers could also industrial plant life a legitimate argue to oppose repackaging. At the same fourth dimension though, it was recognised that mutual utilisation of 1 merchandise compass yesteryear to a greater extent than than 1 repackager was an inevitable termination of allowing parallel importers to accept payoff of exhaustion.

welcomes the EFTA Court’s careful consideration of the interests of both merchandise compass owners too repackagers too consequently of the availability reliable indications of rootage too the regulation of the complimentary displace of goods. He is also intrigued yesteryear the “degeneration” of merchandise marks dry ground for opposing repackaging. This volition take away farther evolution because a bird of degeneration is a cost that nosotros pay for allowing repackaging, though this could move combated if repackagers had to utilisation repackaging that was equally unopen equally possible to the goods’ master packaging. notes that the EFTA Court used the term “blurring” inward this case, but non inward the dilution sense. Instead, it was referring to confusion betwixt the manufacturer too the repackager that could move prevented yesteryear clearly stating the hollo of the 2 parties on the novel packaging.

Imports to Kingdom of Norway here and here
Norwegian exports here, here too here


Minggu, 14 September 2003

An Apple Tree A Day

It came to calorie-free at the destination of concluding calendar week that Apple Corp, the Beatles’ tape company, has here
Apple tape labels here
Bad apples here together with here
Good apples here
Mushy apples here
Make certain your nearest together with dearest eats an apple tree a day



The Singer, Non The Song

Ananova download, lyrics and legal condition
Karaoke disasters here, as well as here
Interpret your daydreams here, here and here. Interpret your dreams as well as nightmares here, here and here
If yous liked this blog, yous tin contribute to Cancer BACUP here


Packing Our Bags For Istanbul

“Successful Brand Growth”, this year’s conference of MARQUES, the association of European merchandise rate proprietors, starts this Tuesday. , busily packing his bag, looks forwards to blogging the upshot for his dedicated readers. If you lot are assist the MARQUES conference together with would similar to run into the IPKat, delight email us every 2nd presently every 2nd possible.

Kamis, 11 September 2003

Just Undo It!

Attacks on the phenomenally successful here
Find out most Nike caput Phil Knight here
More most Blackspot here, here and here


The Ipkat Mass Of The Month: September 2003

We all cause got them -- objects of desire, alternative items of personal belongings which nosotros taste as well as enjoy. Be it a fine bottle of unmarried malt whisky, an elegant slice of jewellery or a state-of-the-art camcorder. 's electrical flow pet object wish is the novel edition of Bill Cornish's classic, Intellectual Property. Patents, Copyright, Trade Marks as well as Allied Rights , the 5th edition of which has simply been published yesteryear Sweet & Maxwell. This novel edition, extending to nigh 900 pages, has been co-authored yesteryear London solicitor David Llewelyn of White & Case, who has taken responsibleness for this tome's 4 chapters on merchandise marks.

Having sampled diverse segments of the novel Cornish, the IPKat is pleased to pronounce it excellent. Tightly written, it provides a review of U.K. as well as much European IP police pull which is every mo remarkable for its depth of analysis every mo for its breadth of subject-matter. As it travels the years the endure every mo good seems to cause got instruct increasingly navigable (though this is peradventure at to the lowest degree a by-product of the IPKat's increasing familiarity amongst it). Although the endure was originally written for students, practitioners as well as academics volition greatly appreciate it. The text is electrical flow to boundary 2003. The paperback retails at £32 for the create goodness of students, but the existent object of wish -- the handsome, company hardback edition inwards its smart dark binding amongst greenish as well as gilt championship box -- is a snip at the mere £80 asked for it.

Brussels Gets Closer To Madrid

In the bad onetime days, if yous wanted international merchandise grade protection yous had to file a assort merchandise grade application inward each province inward which yous wanted protection. The Madrid Agreement, the image scheme for facilitating international protection via a unmarried international application, made things slightly easier. Now the Madrid Protocol has provided a comparatively attractive in addition to easy-to-use scheme for international merchandise grade filing. Between the Agreement in addition to the Protocol it is at i time possible, through a unmarried application, to designate upward to 71 countries inward which protection is sought. The EU's Community merchandise grade (CTM), introduced inward 1996, every 2d good makes it easier to larn international protection since a unmarried application tin Pb to the grant of a unitary merchandise grade roofing thirteen jurisdictions in addition to fifteen countries (next twelvemonth 25 countries, later the novel batch of entrants gains admittance to the EU. Up to at i time it has non been possible for a Madrid Protocol applicant to designate the European Union in addition to thence secure a CTM through the Protocol route, though the European Commission has proposed to meliorate the Community Trade Mark Regulation so every 2d to become far Madrid-compatible.

This calendar week UNICE (the Union of Industrial in addition to Employers' Confederations of Europe), AIM (the European Brands Association) in addition to MARQUES (the Association of European Trade Mark Owners) convey jointly affirmed their back upward for the European Commission's proposal, which volition enable the European Union to accede to the Madrid Protocol. The 3 organisations are every 2d good pressing for amount "opt back" provisions to render that, where an international application that designates the European Union fails, the merchandise grade applicant volition last able to convert the failed application into assort national applications that relish the same priority appointment every 2d the master copy international application.

welcomes the European Commission's proposal (which has been on the agenda for years) in addition to looks forwards to the European Union joining the U.S. every 2d a fully functional player inward the Madrid Protocol.

Current listing of countries adhering to the Madrid Agreement and/or Madrid Protocol here
Madrid Protocol Implementation Act (United States) here
File your Madrid merchandise grade application here


The Big Snapple?

Snapple, owned past times Cadbury Schweppes, has been awarded the exclusive v yr contract to provide New York City's schools alongside beverages, beating contest from Coca-Cola as well as PepsiCo. It is to prepare a novel hit of 100% juice drinks inward Green Apple, Orange Mango, Grape as well as Fruit Punch flavours, enriched alongside vitamins as well as calcium, but volition also sell bottled water. All the drinks volition sell at $1 each. Snapple volition also invest at to the lowest degree $3million a yr inward sponsoring sporting equipment as well as playgrounds as well as materials encouraging a salubrious diet as well as physical activity. Cadbury Schweppes' press liberate says that such vending machines volition alone endure provided alongside the consent of the private schools involved but the New York City press liberate says that the intention is to allow the NYC Department of Education to centrally teach by vending needs.

Snapple has also been awarded a split upwards contract to vend iced-tea, chocolate drinks as well as H2O at city-controlled properties, inward render for which Snapple volition hand New York City $66million as well as "an annual marketing commitment for purpose of city-owned media (outdoor, television, online) city-run promotions, the sponsorship of events as well as concerts" etc. Snapple as well as New York City volition also operate together to promote the link betwixt New York as well as Snapple -- attracting tourists as well as benefiting Snapple at the same time.

every bit a dominion favours contest as well as hence is somewhat perturbed. He is uneasy nearly the sentiment of eliminating contest where at that spot is a captive marketplace position such every bit schoolhouse children. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot volition depend on the mode inward which the $3million pound investment inward sporting facilities as well as equipment is spent --“ the IPKat would endure disturbed if the sponsorship system was simply a mode of marketing Snapple to schoolhouse children e.g. if the salubrious diet educational activity took the assort of "drink Snapple for all your nutritional needs" as well as if the sports equipment provided prominently bears the indicia of the Snapple brand. While this solution is preferable to giving the contract to a fizzy-drinks manufacturer (although of course, Snapple's bring upwards fellowship is Cadbury Schweppes of chocolate as well as drinks fame), it seems simply a fiddling foreign that the contract has been awarded to a fellowship that does non currently create pure juice products. also hopes that the fact that Snapple has a contract to provide H2O volition non atomic number 82 to schools limiting the availability of fresh water.

Read the Cadbury Schweppes and New York City press releases here
Meanwhile, the practiced people of Snappleton are oblivious to the controversy
Why fruit juice is bad for children here
Why fruit juice isn't bad for children here
Fun things to make alongside Snapple hither
Make your ain Snapple-alike alongside this recipe



Rabu, 10 September 2003

Ecj Gives Kik The Companionship Of The Kick

The beaches of Alicante were heaving amongst sighs of relief subsequently the European Court of Justice (ECJ) gave its ruling yesterday inwards Case T-120/99 (Christina Kik v OHIM) that the Community merchandise score (CTM) organization was non reverse to European Union police pull fifty-fifty though it may prejudice the interests of speakers of minority European languages. In 1996 Dutch lawyer in addition to merchandise score attorney Christina Kik applied to register a CTM for the give-and-take KIK. In her application form, which was inwards Dutch, she too nominated Dutch every bit the "second language" of the application, inwards which proceedings mightiness last heard if Dutch were non the appropriate linguistic communication for them. In 1998 OHIM dismissed the application on the grounds that she had failed to nominate every bit the mo linguistic communication 1 of the v languages of the Office (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish). Kik appealed, claiming that OHIM’s determination was unlawful. After the OHIM Board of Appeal dismissed Kik’s appeal she applied to the Court of First Instance (CFI) in addition to claiming that, inwards applying the CTM Regulation, OHIM had infringed the regulation of non-discrimination nether Art.12 of the EC Treaty. The CFI dismissed the action, finding that the OHIM could non select for itself non to apply Art.115(3) of Regulation 40/94 in addition to Kik appealed to the ECJ.

Yesterday the ECJ dismissed Kik’s appeal. The ECJ said the selection of using a mo linguistic communication for written communications was an exception to the regulation that the linguistic communication of the master copy proceedings last used but noted that the CTM Regulation did guarantee purpose of the linguistic communication of the master copy application filed every bit the linguistic communication of the basic proceedings. As to the claim that the entire linguistic communication authorities was unlawful, the ECJ ruled that the Regulation sought to accomplish the necessary residue betwixt the competing interests of applicants in addition to tertiary parties affected past times their applications. Where the parties could non concord on which linguistic communication to use, it was legitimate to try an appropriate solution. Even if official languages of the European Union were treated differently, limiting OHIM to those that were well-nigh widely used inwards the European Union was appropriate in addition to proportionate.

notes that, according to Alta Vista’s Babel Fish translation service, “miaow” comes out every bit “miaow” inwards all v official languages of OHIM.

KIK inwards a crowded marketplace: klik hither for Kwik Kik, Kik Wear, Kik It computer products, Kik Consulting and Kik-It games
More on official languages here, here and here
Make English linguistic communication the official language? Click here, here and here
Unofficial languages here, here and here
Listen to Unofficial Language here


Selasa, 09 September 2003

Bringing Upwards The Riaa

RIAA, the U.S. of A. recording manufacture involvement group, is in 1 lawsuit once to a greater extent than flexing its muscles (RIAA press unloosen here). Yesterday it filed papers bringing actions against 261 individuals defendant of downloading on average to a greater extent than than 1,000 songs each in addition to said that it would convey farther actions against thousands more. This is a novel development. Previously RIAA has alone gone later the networks that facilitate peer-to-peer file sharing such every bit Napster and, to a greater extent than recently, Grokster. RIAA president Cary Sherman showed he was all heart, maxim "We hold off people to country 'It isn't me, it was my kid,' only someone has to accept responsibility.” True to his word, amidst those names inwards the actions is Texas grandad Durwood Pickle, who claims his grandchildren performed the downloads when they visited him.

Meanwhile, RIAA has also offered an amnesty (known every bit the “Clean Slate Program”) to anyone willing to sign an affidavit promising to halt using P2P networks for illegal downloading, non to allow others to work their computers for that role in addition to to delete all illegally downloaded files from their machines. Those against whom courtroom actions receive got already been brought volition non hold upward able to rely on the amnesty, nor volition those for whom RIAA has requested details from their mesh service providers. It seems this is a slightly devious vogue of getting downloaders to come upward frontwards voluntarily – something downloaders may seriously consider inwards the low-cal of the recent actions. The affidavits would also allow RIAA to fighting that whatever subsequent downloads yesteryear people who receive got signed them constitutes wilful copyright infringement, which carries criminal penalties inwards the US.

RIAA could nonetheless hold upward stopped inwards its tracks though. H5N1 adult woman known alone yesteryear her online nickname of nycfashiongirl has challenged the constitutionality of a subpoena ordering her mesh service provider to expose her details, disputation that RIAA is non entitled to accept that measuring because it is non affiliated amongst whatever authorities organisation.

While the IPKat does non condone copyright infringement, he is disturbed yesteryear the climate of fearfulness that RIAA seems to hold upward creating yesteryear its two-pronged approach. The implication is, yous every bit good could hold upward on the receiving halt of a courtroom summons unless yous voluntarily expose yourself every bit a P2P user. While it is at nowadays fairly clear that theatre activity volition hold upward taken against P2P users, this was non ever the case. notes that many people who started using them are non hardened criminals in addition to idea that at that spot was a marker of acquiescence for the millions of people using them. To convey actions against such users who arguably did non receive got fair honor of the consequences of their activity would hold upward callous in addition to would give nothing. He also notes that the “Clean Slate” affidavit has a infinite allowing for the signature of those who are nether xviii in addition to their parents – does this hateful that RIAA plans to convey courtroom actions against those of that historic menstruum group?

UPDATE: The "Clean Slate Programme" has been challenged in a California courtroom yesteryear Eric Parke.

Have yous been a naughty man child or girl? Then accept this affidavit to your local notary world immediately
View the latest peer-to-peer developments hither
If you’re an NYC Fashion Girl click hither


Beware Of Baddies Shout Out For For Money

The U.K. Patent Office has simply issued a fresh warning against companies that write to patent too merchandise score applicants, offering services of dubious value or making what look to live on misleading requests for fees. These companies postal service applicants whose patent or merchandise score applications bring been published inward the bulletins of the European Patent Office, the World Intellectual Property Organization and OHIM, the European Community's merchandise score office. They unremarkably invite payment of a fee to seat the patent or merchandise score application on a spurious register which, it transpires, is non connected amongst whatever IP rights granting authorisation too has no legal significance.

Three companies that bring been doing this are the Institut (sic) of Commerce, Trade too Commerce (Switzerland), ZDR-Datenregister GmbH (Frankfurt) too the Company for Publications too Information Anstalt, Liechtenstein. The U.K. Patent Office says: if you lot larn 1 of these demands e-mail Ceri Carter (patents) or Joan Hopkins (trade marks) or telephone them on +44 (0)1633 814557 or +44 1633 811050. says: "Small too medium-sized inventors too merchandise score owners bring quite plenty to worry nearly without beingness ripped off past times these scams".

For non-official too misleading IP registration too protection companies click here, here and here
For fraudulent conception advertisement businesses click here too here
Think you're beingness laid for a scam? Contact Scambusters or the National Inventor Fraud Center


Senin, 08 September 2003

Noddy Leads Chorion's Rush To Banking Concern Profits

London-based construct administration grouping here
Another reformed Noddy here and here


Keep Up2speed Alongside The Merchandise Orbit Register

One of the IPKat’s favourite websites, Up2Speed (as it was) has changed its cite to MarketingWonk. This could last a wee fleck confusing for readers since the site exclusively late changed to Up2Speed from MarketingFix. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 here
Learn Wonk Language here




Latest Reported European Tm Cases

The September 2003 lawsuit of the European Trade Mark Reports has forthwith hitting the streets. It contains the ECJ ruling inwards Libertel that colours tin sack endure registered every minute merchandise marks nether Directive 89/104 in addition to the Advocate General's Opinion inwards Shield Mark five Kist (still non available elsewhere inwards English) that, apart from musical notation, sounds are unlikely to endure registrable. Additionally in that place are English linguistic communication language texts of the 2 French Greenpeace decisions (no interim relief inwards merchandise score infringement proceedings where in that place is a liberty of speech communication issue), the Belgian D'Ieteren representative (WECOVER registrable for insurance services) in addition to the Turkish La Chemise Lacoste case (slogans follow the same criteria of registrability every minute other discussion marks).

If yous accept been involved inwards an interesting merchandise score representative inwards Europe that you'd similar to come across reported inwards the ETMR, write to Jeremy in addition to Ilanah in addition to permit us know.

Cheap Band Give Away Inquiries -- Or A Stalkers' Charter?

Till a duet of weeks ago, British telephone users could dial British Telecom’s “192” directory inquiry service as well as endure given the disclose of whatever named telephone subscriber for whom they had an address. “192” has been scrapped inward favour of a bunch of over forty competing directory inquiry services, each using a six-figure disclose commencing alongside the digits “118”. Some of these novel services convey been accused of operating a "stalkers' charter" yesteryear providing telephone numbers for addresses to callers who don’t know the resident's name. In 1 representative a woman someone jogger was called at domicile yesteryear a stranger who had manifestly followed her to her door as well as discovered her telephone disclose using 1 of the novel 118 inquiry lines. There are equally good concerns that the provision of telephone numbers purely on the footing of an address could endure used yesteryear burglars to examination whether a holding is empty. The Office of the Information Commissioner, who is responsible for information protection, has received complaints virtually the trend that numbers are existence given out simply says that no rules convey been broken. Apparently the novel 118 operators tin create upwards one's heed for themselves whether to hit telephone numbers out to speculative callers. Even if the 118 operators necessitate names earlier giving out numbers, that’s non much protection against stalkers: all they convey to produce is consult the electoral register, a publicly available document which matches upwards names as well as addresses for everyone who is entitled to vote.

says: “Personal privacy is a value which the police rightly protects. But name-and-address type information is as well as then readily available to anyone who wants it that it is non viable for the police to confine all access to it. The best practical trend to goal someone getting your telephone disclose is to bit your province line, role a mobile as well as endure careful who you lot hit your disclose to. But it shouldn’t endure necessary to resort to this measure. Phone subscribers tin opt to become ex-directory. In the meantime the prudent caution of 118 operators is welcomed”.

Electronic Privacy Information Center here
Privacy International here
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse here
Find telephone numbers here and here
Homepage for stalkers here
What the well-dressed stalker is wearing here



Minggu, 07 September 2003

Taste Score Refused Merchandise Score Registration

More summertime fun from OHIM. This fourth dimension Eli Lilly was the plucky merchandise score applicant in addition to the s Board of Appeal was the lucky tribunal. Eli Lilly tried to register the TASTE OF ARTIFICIAL STRAWBERRY FLAVOUR equally a gustatory (taste) score for pharmaceuticals. This met amongst objections from the examiner based on Articles 7(1)(a) (insufficient graphic representation), 7(1)(b) (lack of distinctive character) in addition to 7(1)(c) (the score was descriptive of the goods, or i of their characteristics).

Eli Lilly appealed, but without success. Although the examiner eventually waived his objections nether Article 7(1)(a), his determination to create in addition to then was in all probability incorrect. Since the examiner had reached his decision, the ECJ had decided the Sieckmann case, holding that the graphic representation requirement is non satisfied for olfactory marks past times a description of the aroma inwards written words. The same logic should too apply to gustatory signs, important that but describing the gustation inwards words would non satisfy the graphic representation requirement. However, this didn’t affair to much because the examiner’s objection to the registration of the gustation score Article 7(1)(b) was valid.

In cases such equally Libertel (on coloring marks), the ECJ in addition to the CFI had industrial plant life that the role of Articles 7(1)(b)-(e) of the CTM Regulation is to forestall a unmarried task from gaining exclusive rights to signs that whatsoever trader may legitimately wishing to exercise past times registering it equally a merchandise mark. There is a populace involvement inwards non unduly restricting the availability of tastes for other traders. Here, granting Eli Lilly exclusive merchandise score rights inwards the gustation of artificial strawberries would interfere amongst the liberty of Eli Lilly’s competitors, who were entitled to add together that season to their pharmaceutical products to disguises whatsoever unpleasant gustation their products may have, or simply to brand their products gustation nice. Additionally, a gustation cannot distinguish i pharmaceutical training from another, kickoff because a characteristic that whatsoever manufacturer of such goods is entitled to exercise cannot distinguish betwixt the goods of different manufacturers in addition to too because such a gustation is unlikely to hold out perceived past times consumers equally a merchandise mark. Instead, consumers volition exactly assume that it is intended to disguise the unpleasant gustation of the product.

notes that inwards Libertel the ECJ inwards fact said that Article 3(1)(c) (the equivalent of Article 7(1)(c)) specifically protects the populace involvement inwards leaving sure signs complimentary for other traders to use, rather than referring to Articles 3(1)(b)-(e) equally the Board has done here. This is ironic because descriptiveness is a major objection to gustation existence a merchandise score for a flavoured product, especially food, soundless the Board did non regard it here, fifty-fifty though the examiner did. welcomes the number of this illustration because of the uncertainly of the compass of the score applied for (does artificial raspberry season gustation confusingly similar to artificial strawberry season in addition to does everybody know what artificial strawberry season tastes like?) in addition to the mutual nature of strawberry flavour. Also, it is unclear how a gustation tin dismiss human action equally a merchandise score because consumers ordinarily create non learn the chance to pick out their goods according to gustation land they are shopping. However, the Board did non categorically spend upward the notion of gustatory marks. Nonetheless, the IPKat has had to pose his application to register the gustation of mackerel for the provision of intellectual belongings services on hold.

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Real strawberries here in addition to here
Berry expert fun here
Strawberry jam recipe here