Recent Publication

The June/July outcome of Legalease's Advertising, Marketing & Branding Law Journal contains only about practiced contributions. Hugh Latimer (Wiley, Rein & Fielding) explains how shape actions against fake advertising inwards the US lay a threat to advertising every bit nosotros know it, piece Giles Crown in addition to Pauline Dore (Lewis Silkin) add together only about thoughts on the latest changes to blueprint protection police inwards the UK of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland in addition to Europe.

For to a greater extent than data concerning the Advertising, Marketing & Branding Law Journal click here.

Ipkat Translation Lookout Adult Man (Again)

isn't unremarkably a gambling cat, merely today he proposes to brand an exception. He proudly announces the opening of the "Translation Watch Sweepstake". Submit your gauge equally to the appointment on which the ECJ volition brand an English linguistic communication translation of Anheuser-Busch to theipkat@yahoo.co.uk. The someone whose gauge is closest to the actual appointment volition have a lavish however tasteful gift from the IPKat. (There's a particular bonus prize for the someone who correctly guesses the appointment on which the Maltese translation volition appear).

Ipkat Translation Watch: Anyone Out At That Spot Italian As Well As Neat On Beer?

Today Advocate General Tizzano delivered inwards consider inwards Case C-245/02 Anheuser-Busch. Sadly, the conclusion is exclusively available inwards Italian, German, Portuguese in addition to Swedish. According the the ECJ Diary, the next issues were raised inwards the opinion:

Interpretation of Community constabulary concerning merchandise marks - Whether the TRIPs Agreement applies to an alleged infringement commenced earlier the entry into forcefulness of the Agreement in addition to continuing later that appointment - Interpretation of Article xvi of the TRIPs Agreement - Collision of a merchandise order in addition to a merchandise refer - Interpretation of the reference to existing prior rights - Whether protection of the merchandise refer nether Article viii of the Paris Convention included in addition to if in addition to thus nether what weather condition - "Budweiser" in addition to "Bud"

Ipkat Translation Scout Continued

French, Finnish together with Castilian accept been added inwards the final five mins - this is getting exciting:-)

Ecj Affirms Libertel Principles Inwards Heidelberger Colour Combination Case

On Fri 25 June this weblog mentioned Heidelberger's undelineated here

Ipkat Trips The Lite Fantastic

While Jeremy was living it upwards inward Warsaw, the other one-half of the IPKat (Ilanah) attended the here, here, here and here

Latest Reported European Merchandise Order Cases

The July-August 2004 number of the Sweet & Maxwell series The European Trade Mark Reports has forthwith been published. Packed amongst 190 pages worth of recent merchandise rate judgments from European national together with European Union sources, it features ii decisions that are available inward English linguistic communication for the get-go time:
* Kellogg's/Kelly's (Bundesgerichtshof, Germany): a lawsuit of unification of Germany, when all of a abrupt the West High German KELLOGG'S together with East High German KELLY'S merchandise marks works life themselves together on the same register.
* Lego System A/S v Mega Bloks Inc (Swiss Federal Court, Lausanne): whether the LEGO three-dimensional block shapes are (i) devoid of distinctive grapheme or (ii) functional.
This number likewise contains the controversial appellate judgment of Lord Justice Jacob inward Reed v Reed, inward which dubiety is cast upon about cherished assumptions relating to the assessment of damages for infringement on a "willing licensor/willing licensee" basis.

If y'all know of whatever cases that y'all intend should last reported inward the ETMR, delight email the IPKat together with permit him know.

European Wedlock Accedes To Madrid

According to a MARQUES newsflash, on 21 June the European Union submitted to WIPO its musical instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol on the international registration of merchandise marks. The accession volition found a link betwixt the Madrid Protocol as well as the Community merchandise mark. This link volition enable businesses to produce goodness from the advantages of the Community merchandise rank through the Madrid Protocol organisation as well as vice-versa.

By filing an International Registration an applicant tin designate both national merchandise marks as well as the Community merchandise mark. This facility volition simplify the procedure of obtaining international merchandise rank protection roofing the European Union along amongst other Madrid Protocol countries. If a Community merchandise rank application made through the Madrid Protocol fails, it is nevertheless possible to convert dorsum to national designations nether the same Protocol. The accession volition accept number equally of ane Oct 2004.

welcomes this move, regretting solely the real long fourth dimension that has elapsed betwixt the kickoff of the CTM as well as Madrid Protocol systems (both of which came into functioning inward 1996) as well as the EU's accession to the Protocol.

WIPO's Madrid website here
Real Madrid here; imitation Madrid here

Princess Caroline Wins Echr Privacy Case

Friday’s Daily Telegraph reports that Princess Caroline of Monaco has won her activity against Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany earlier the European Court of Human Rights. She challenged the High German Constitutional Court’s determination that those inwards the populace take in must scope upwards amongst photographs appearing that exhibit them inwards populace places, fifty-fifty spell they were engaged inwards everyday activities, rather than populace duties. The Princess, relying on her Article viii rights nether the European Convention of Human Rights, went to the Strasbourg court, argument that the police trace inwards Federal Republic of Federal Republic of Germany should survive to a greater extent than zealous inwards guarding privacy, fifty-fifty if the dependent plain of the intrusion is a celebrity.

The European Court agreed. It recognised that fifty-fifty those who are inwards the populace take in convey a correct to terminate photographs beingness published if the pictures made no contribution to a fighting of full general populace interest. Said the court:

"The courtroom considers that the populace does non convey a legitimate involvement inwards knowing where [Princess Caroline] is as well as how she behaves to a greater extent than oftentimes than non inwards her someone life - fifty-fifty if she appears inwards places that cannot e'er survive described every bit secluded as well as despite the fact that she is good known to the public.”

and

"Even if such a populace involvement exists, every bit does a commercial involvement of the magazines inwards publishing these photos . . . those interests must, inwards the court's view, yield to the applicant's correct to the effective protection of her someone life."

welcomes this sensible decision. The courtroom has blocked needless intrusion into the everyday life of the famous spell at the same fourth dimension leaving the door opened upwards to enabling the press to comment on their activities when it is genuinely inwards the populace involvement to create so.

More on Princess Caroline here as well as here
More on Monaco here and here

Ecj Coloring Combination Case

The ECJ decided the Heidelberger case on the registrability of combinations of colours equally merchandise marks on Thursday. More to follow from the IPKat soon. In the meantime, here's a link to the case.

Open Root For Iraq?

The BBC here

Students' Research: Worth Exploiting?

Today Jeremy gave his newspaper at the conference, "Intellectual Property inwards a Changing Society" (see previous blog). When he spoke well-nigh academy IP policy, he mentioned that it wasn't but academic employees such equally professors, lecturers in addition to query fellows who generate potentially valuable in addition to commercially exploitable IP: students too generate operate that tin last commercially exploited, though their legal positition is oftentimes unclear in addition to their operate is sometimes abused yesteryear supervising staff in addition to universities alike. This comment triggered off a heated intelligence of the province of affairs inwards Poland, where students bring patently had quite a raw deal. would similar to demand heed from whatever visitors to this spider web log if they know of whatever existent alive cases of students' query beingness misappropriated yesteryear their teachers or yesteryear the academy at which they are registered. Please postal service your comments below.

Greetings From Warsaw

One one-half of the IPKat (Jeremy) is inward Warsaw, Poland, correct now, where he is participating inward a conference, "Intellectual Property inward a Changing Society". This effect is organised yesteryear TAIEX (the Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office), a branch of the European Commission's Directorate General for Enlargement, inward conjunction alongside WIPO and the Polish Patent Office. Jeremy is speaking on Fri virtually the protection together with exploitation of inventions together with other subjects of IP protection that are created inward the milieu of universities. If you'd similar to come across his paper, email him together with he'll ship you lot a re-create on his return. The newspaper is really much function inward progress (he had exclusively a fortnight's uncovering of his participation inward the conference) together with it may teach developed into something to a greater extent than substantial inward the fullness of time. The conference, incidentally, is has to a greater extent than or less 250 Polish participants, drawn from government, industry, academe together with person practice.

Polish inventors here , here and here
Polish inventors who don't come upwards from Poland here and here

And Galaxia Makes 2 ...

While the IPKat was bringing you lot yesterday's Court of First Instance decision in Picaro/Picasso, the CFI was craftily slipping through another decision: Case T-66/03 Koffiebranderij en Theehandel 'Drie Mollen sinds 1818' BV v OHIM. The applicant sought to register a figurative order containing the discussion GALAXIA for coffee; the opponent resisted, since it held the before GALA discussion order inward Greece, the Benelux too elsewhere, equally good for coffee. The CFI agreed alongside the Opposition Division too the OHIM Board of Appeal that the ii marks were dissimilar. And too then indeed they were: you lot tin travel compare them here.

Ipkat Riddle: Copyright, Your Pose Out Is Up

has seen details of a illustration on here
More on numbers stations here, here together with here

Picaro Rolls By Picasso Estate Inwards Race For The European Vehicle Market

The Court of First Instance (CFI) has precisely published its ruling in Case T-185/02, Claude Ruiz-Picasso as well as others v OHIM. The Picassos, ably represented yesteryear leading European merchandise seat lawyer Charles Gielen (NautaDutilh), opposed an application yesteryear DaimlerChrysler AG to register every bit a Community merchandise seat the discussion PICARO for motor vehicles as well as their parts. The opposition, based on the Picassos' registration of the discussion seat PICASSO for diverse vehicles, was dismissed by OHIM's Opposition Division as well as so yesteryear the Board of Appeal, next which the Picasso clan appealed to the CFI. All iii tribunals were united inward their understanding that at that spot was no likelihood of confusion betwixt the words PICASSO (an immensely famous artist) as well as PICARO (an one-time discussion pregnant "rogue"). The CFI affirmed that, any the European Court of Justice mightiness remove maintain said nigh famous marks beingness entitled to greater protection against confusion than less well-known marks, that regulation sure could non apply hither where Picasso's squall was so widely-known that people wouldn't error a discussion such every bit "picaro" amongst it. The CFI said:

"57 The discussion sign PICASSO has a clear as well as specific semantic content for the relevant public. Contrary to the applicants’ submissions, the relevance of the pregnant of the sign for the purposes of assessing the likelihood of confusion is non affected inward the acquaint representative yesteryear the fact that that pregnant has no connector amongst the goods concerned. The reputation of the painter Pablo Picasso is such that it is non plausible to consider, inward the absence of specific bear witness to the contrary, that the sign PICASSO every bit a seat for motor vehicles may, inward the perception of the average consumer, override the squall of the painter so that that consumer, confronted amongst the sign PICASSO inward the context of the goods concerned, volition henceforth disregard the pregnant of the sign every bit the squall of the painter as well as perceive it principally every bit a mark, amidst other marks, of motor vehicles."

It added:

"61 Moreover, the applicants are incorrect to rely, inward the acquaint case, on the case-law which states that merchandise marks which remove maintain a highly distinctive character, either per se or because of the reputation they possess on the market, bask broader protection than marks amongst a less distinctive grapheme (SABEL, cited inward paragraph 35 above, paragraph 24, as well as Case C-39/97 Canon [1998] ECR I‑5507, paragraph 18). That the discussion sign PICASSO is good known every bit corresponding to the squall of the famous painter Pablo Picasso is non capable of heightening the likelihood of confusion betwixt the 2 marks for the goods concerned".

thinks this determination is absolutely correct. It is an absurd fiction to advise that well-known marks are to a greater extent than inward demand of protection against likelihood of confusion if the rattling fact of their well-known nature causes them to stand upwards out inward the eyes of the relevant consumer every bit conveying the course of report of powerful message or icon that "Picasso" does. The populace is to a greater extent than probable to confuse MUFFINS amongst MUGGINS for sausage meat than PICASSO amongst PICARO for motor vehicles but because it has heard of neither of them.

Real Picassos here and here; faux Picassos here and here
's favourite Picassos here, here and here; the IPKat's favourite faux Picasso here

The Temperature's Ascent Inwards Cinema Championship Dispute

Ananova reports that Ray Bradbury, writer of the novel Fahrenheit 451, is objecting to documentary maker Michael Moore's purpose of Fahrenheit 9/11 every bit the championship of his cinema virtually the "war on terrorism". Bradbury chose that temperature because it's the estrus at which newspaper burns as well as Moore has explained that Fahrenheit 9/11 is the "temperature at which liberty burns". Bradbury is seeking an apology as well as wants to avoid legal action. He has said that he is "hoping to settle this every bit 2 gentlemen, if he'll [Moore] milkshake hands alongside me as well as give me dorsum my majority as well as title".

doubts whether legal activity would last possible inward such a scenario inward the UK. Although inward theory unproblematic phrases such every bit the titles of books as well as names may qualify for copyright every bit literary works, the courts as well as other legal regime bring been reluctant to recognise copyright inward names as well as titles inward private cases. Perhaps though roughly variety of passing off activity would last possible if it were shown that Bradbury has goodwill inward the championship as well as that consumers were deceived yesteryear Moore's purpose of his championship into believing that the cinema had inward roughly mode been endorsed yesteryear Bradbury. In whatever event, he's non impressed yesteryear the notion of Moore "giving back" the championship to Bradbury. Though he may bring benefited from the association alongside the championship of Bradbury's book, he has inward no mode deprived Bradbury of the purpose of the championship for his ain work.

Fahrenheit 451 here
Fahrenheit 9/11 here and here
Fahrenheit here and here

Bournemouth Ip Workshop Coming Up

has heard that there's an interesting workshop coming upwards at Bournemouth University on vi July 2004, from 11:00-15:30 at the Talbot Campus. The Centre for Intellectual Property Policy & Management is organising a workshop on about electrical current intellectual belongings issues inward footing trade, amongst a focus on empirical methodologies.

The programme includes a newspaper past times Dr Dwijen Rangnekar (Centre for the Study of Globalisation too Regionalisation, Warwick University) on Geographical Indications: "Origin Labels every bit Club Goods: The organisation too governance of provide chains", also every bit 1 past times Prof. Philip Hardwick & Prof. Martin Kretschmer (CIPPM) on "Origin Labels: An economical model". After lunch, Prof. Paul Heald (University of Georgia) is speaking on "Foreign Direct Investment too IP Enforcement: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 critique of Edwin Mansfield's 1994 study". the Finale is an opened upwards forum on empirical methodologies amongst contributions past times Prof. Stuart Macdonald (Sheffield University) on researching SMEs, Prof. Ruth Soetendorp (CIPPM) on patent databases too Dr Puay Tang (SPRU, Sussex University) on the hazards of interviewing. Other named contributions are invited: delight contact Martin Kretschmer.
To mass a place, contact Jane Gwizdala.

Ipkat Translation Watch: Outset The Expert Intelligence ...

As of concluding week, decisions of the European Court of Justice in addition to the Court of First Instance are at 1 time beingness offered inward a selection of all twenty official European Union languages, non only the previous 11. Alas, none of the cases sampled past times the IPKat this morning time seem to bring been translated into whatever of the nine accession languages (in alphabetical order: Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Slovak, Slovene). What's worse, inward Case C-64/02 OHIM five Erpo Möbelwerk, the Advocate General's Opinion on the appeal from CFI every bit to the registrability every bit a Community merchandise score of the slogan DAS PRINZIP DER BEQUEMLICHKEIT hasn't fifty-fifty been translated into English, the linguistic communication the accession states tin in all likelihood contend alongside best.

Clash Of Patriots Heads For A Amount Trial

In Bayer Cropscience SA five Agropharm Ltd (18 June, noted inwards the subscription-only LexisNexis All England Reporter Bayer Cropscience, a French company, owned the registered score PATRIOT for goods designed to kill weeds in addition to vermin. Bayer argued that since 1991 it had continuously in addition to extensively used the score inwards the UK. From 1993 Agropharm sold populace wellness insecticide nether the cite Patriot Flying in addition to Crawling Insect Killer, too equally 2 other products called Patriot C in addition to Patriot P. Bayer sued for merchandise score infringement, alleging either same-mark/same-goods (Trade Marks Act 1994, s.10(1)) or similar-marks/similar-goods-plus-likelihood of confusion (Trade Marks Act 1994, s.10(2)), seeking summary judgment. It was accepted that, if a decisive determination could non last arrived at nether s 10(1), consideration of the likelihood of confusion of the average consumer nether s 10(2) was non appropriate for summary judgment.

Mr Justice Patten dismissed the application for summary judgment. Although the courtroom could approach the Patriot C in addition to Patriot P signs on the footing that i alphabetic quality did non brand much difference, it was incorrect in addition to unwise to determine the representative definitively on a summary judgment application when, inwards lodge to produce so, the courtroom would receive got to assume what the average consumer would receive got inwards mind.

agrees that the nation of hear of the consumer cannot last second-guessed inwards summary proceedings, but notes that at that topographic point has been a spate of cases lately inwards which, for perfectly goods reasons, the courts receive got refused summary judgment: this is either because claimants maintain applying for it where they shouldn’t or because the courts receive got larn increasingly reluctant to grant it.

Pests here, here and here
Patriots here and here
Patriotic pests here and here

Are You Lot Lovin' Construct Journalism

“Brand journalism” is the hereafter according to McDonald’s principal marketing officer, Larry Light. AdAge reports his speech communication at the the AdWatch: Outlook 2004 conference inward New York. Mass marketing, based on unmarried adverts, is quondam lid according to Light. "We don't take away i big execution of a big idea" he said, speaking of the McDonald’s strategy. “We take away i big persuasion that tin live on used inward a multidimensional, multilayered as well as multifaceted way”. This is where “brand journalism” comes in. It communicates "‘what happens to a build inward the world,’ as well as exercise advertizement communications that, over time, tin enjoin a whole storey of a brand”. In other words, instead of communicating i message virtually the build it, it shows how dissimilar people are using the build inward lots of dissimilar ways. As an example, Light cited McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign, which is based roughly iv “cultural languages”: sports, fashion, music as well as amusement as well as employs a multifariousness of media to instruct its message across.

tin run across the wisdom inward such an approach. Different aspects of the crusade volition appeal to dissimilar consumers, enabling the message to hit the widest possible audience. At the halt of the 24-hour interval though, all the strands are brought together past times a unmarried merchandise grade which enables consumers to know where to instruct the goods or services beingness provided.

Are you lot lovin’ it? If so, click here, here, here as well as here

Music Giants' Merger Goes I Pace Further

The BBC reports that the Mario Monti, the EU’s Competition Commissioner, is willing to permit Sony-Music and BMG to merge. The merger of the 2 music companies, whose artists include Aerosmith, Beyonce, Britney Spears, in addition to George Michael, would operate out 80% of the world’s music marketplace seat inward the hands of iv companies. However, independent tape labels convey objected, claiming that it volition Pb to the infinite available to them inward music shops beingness express in addition to ultimately, a narrower make of music beingness available to consumers. The merger yet has to hold out approved past times the US contest regime though.

hopes that the combined companionship volition apply the copyright that it holds wisely. He notes that BMG is behind Napster in addition to hopes that the merged companionship won’t hold out tempted to bound access to its portfolio to other online music providers.

EU Competition Commission here
More close the music concern here, here in addition to here

Truancy Patent Goes Missing Inwards Part

This came out yesterday from the subscription-only LexisNexis All England Reporter.

Frontline registered a patent inwards the Great Britain entitled ‘Attendance Registration System past times Radio Link’, which was filed amongst a priority engagement of vii Oct 1992. The patent was for a schools attendance record-keeping organization of pupil attendance at schoolhouse using portable information collection units, such every bit laptop or palmtop computers, equipped amongst transceivers that communicated amongst a cardinal estimator via a wireless network. Claims 1 as well as 2 were broadly conceptual, piece claim vii related to the exercise of radio frequency transceiver units (RTUs) which could command the traffic information flowing betwixt the portable units as well as the cardinal computer.

It later transpired that K, a exercise built schoolhouse that opened earlier the patent’s priority date, operated networked PCs. This network was used for teaching as well as administrative purposes, including collecting information inwards relation to pupil attendance. The Secretary of State thence sought revocation of the patent.

David Young QC, sitting every bit an additional judge, upheld the patent inwards part. Claims 1 as well as 2 were obvious as well as lacking inwards an inventive pace inwards persuasion of K’s prior use. Claim vii was non yet obvious inwards the low-cal of either the cited prior fine art or whatever exercise or disclosures. The concept of a wireless network organization using portable laptops or palmtops inwards house of wired PCs was no to a greater extent than than a logical option to K’s system, every bit would bring been obvious at the fabric time, to a squad of persons skilled inwards the information technology teaching champaign as well as a to full general systems analyst considering K’s system. However claim 7, relating to the exercise of intelligent RTUs, was something that those skilled inwards the fine art amongst the assistance of a radio frequency information technology specialist could bring arrived at alone amongst hindsight.

marvels at how clever everyone seems to live after the event. Lack of inventive pace must live a existent hurting for pocket-size scale inventors, whose investment is ever at opportunity of a key patent beingness establish to live obvious many years after the event. At to the lowest degree inwards this instance Claim vii survived, but non all patentees are as well as then lucky.

School attendance as well as truancy here, here, here and here
Some odd truants here and here; skiving off here and here

Fourteen Questions For The Ecj From Pharma Repackaging Case

Yesterday saw the latest evolution inwards the protracted together with keenly fought grouping of cases that goes nether the handy banner of Boehringer Ingelheim v Swingward. This was the setting out past times Lord Justice Jacob (for the Court of Appeal) of the questions which are to travel referred to the European Court of Justice relating to the legitimacy of reboxing together with overstickering pharmaceutical products that are bought inwards i European Union province together with and hence imported into roughly other inwards which the language, or marketplace seat preferences, are different. The parcel for the ECJ includes v questions on repackaging, v on overstickering together with a farther 4 on the requirement of the parallel importer to give let on to the merchandise rank proprietor (the master copy pharmaceutical manufacturer) before doing either of those things.

The questions are every bit follows:

(1) Reboxed products: Where a parallel importer markets inwards i Member State a pharmaceutical production imported from roughly other Member State inwards its master copy internal packaging but alongside a novel outside carton printed inwards the linguistic communication of the Member State of importation (a “reboxed” product): (a) does the importer demeanour the burden of proving that the novel packaging complies alongside each of the weather laid out inwards Joined Cases C-427/93, C-429/93 together with C-436/93 Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova or does the merchandise rank proprietor demeanour the burden of proving that those weather convey non been complied alongside or does the burden of proof vary from status to condition, together with if hence how? (b) does the outset status laid out inwards Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova every bit interpreted inwards Case C-379/97 Upjohn v Paranova together with Case C-143/00 Boehringer v Swingward, namely that it must travel shown that it is necessary to repackage the production inwards companionship that effective marketplace seat access is non hindered, apply precisely to the fact of reboxing (as held past times the EFTA Court inwards Case E-3/02 Paranova Inc v Merck & Co Inc) or does it likewise apply to the precise mode together with trend of the reboxing carried out past times the parallel importer, together with if hence how? (c) is the 4th status laid out inwards Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova, namely that the presentation of the repackaged production is non such every bit to travel liable to harm the reputation of the merchandise rank or its owner, solely infringed if the packaging is defective, of wretched character or untidy or does it extend to anything which damages the reputation of the merchandise mark? (d) if the response to query 1(c) is that the 4th status is infringed past times anything which damages the reputation of the merchandise rank together with if either (i) the merchandise rank is non affixed to the novel outside carton (“de-branding”) or (ii) the parallel importer applies either his ain logo or a house-style or get-up or a get-up used for a publish of dissimilar products to the novel outside carton (“co-branding”) must such forms of box blueprint travel regarded every bit damaging to the reputation of the merchandise rank or is that a query of fact for the national court? (e) if the response to query 1(d) is that it is a query of fact, on whom does the burden of proof lie?

(2) Overstickered products: Where a parallel importer markets inwards i Member State a pharmaceutical production imported from roughly other Member State inwards its master copy internal together with external packaging to which the parallel importer has applied an additional external label printed inwards the linguistic communication of the Member State of importation (an “overstickered” product): (a) create the v weather laid out inwards Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova apply at all? (b) if the response is query 2(a) is yes, does the importer demeanour the burden of proving that the overstickered packaging complies alongside each of the weather laid out inwards Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova or does the merchandise rank proprietor demeanour the burden of proving that those weather convey non been complied alongside or does the burden of proof vary from status to condition? (c) if the response to query 2(a) is yes, does the outset status laid out inwards Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova every bit interpreted inwards Upjohn v Paranova together with Boehringer v Swingward, namely that it must travel shown that it is necessary to repackage the production inwards companionship that effective marketplace seat access is non hindered, apply precisely to the fact of overstickering or does it likewise apply to the precise mode together with trend of overstickering adopted past times the parallel importer? (d) if the response to query 2(a) is yes, is the 4th status laid out inwards Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova, namely that the presentation of the repackaged production is non such every bit to travel liable to harm the reputation of the merchandise rank or its owner, solely infringed if the packaging is defective, of wretched character or untidy or does it extend to anything which damages the reputation of the merchandise mark? (e) if the response to query 2(a) is yeah together with the response to query 2(d) is that the 4th status is infringed past times anything which damages the reputation of the merchandise mark, is it damaging to the reputation of a merchandise rank for this role if either (i) the additional label is positioned hence every bit wholly or partially to obscure i of the proprietor’s merchandise marks or (ii) the additional label fails to province that the merchandise rank inwards query is a merchandise rank owned past times the proprietor or (iii) the advert of the parallel importer is printed inwards working capital alphabetic character letters?

(3) Notice: Where a parallel importer has failed to give let on inwards observe of a repackaged production every bit required past times the 5th status of Bristol-Myers Squibb v Paranova, together with accordingly has infringed the proprietor’s merchandise mark(s) for that argue only: (a) is every subsequent human action of importation of that production an infringement or does the importer solely infringe until such fourth dimension every bit the proprietor has travel aware of the production together with the applicable let on catamenia has expired? (b) is the proprietor entitled to claim fiscal remedies (i.e. damages for infringement or the handing over of all profits made past times infringement) past times argue of the importer’s acts of infringement on the same footing every bit if the goods had been spurious? (c) is the granting of fiscal remedies to the proprietor inwards observe of such acts of infringement past times the importer dependent area to the regulation of proportionality? (d) if not, upon what footing should such compensation travel assessed given that the products inwards query were placed on the marketplace seat inside the EEA past times the proprietor or alongside his consent?

wonders whether the ECJ volition response all these questions, or whether it volition precisely shrug its shoulders together with enjoin that the response to them is somehow implicit inwards its before ruling together with that the Court of Appeal should travel able to run them out for themselves.

Court of Appeal’s before judgment of 5 March 2004 here; IPKat spider web log on it here
European Court of Justice’s before ruling here

Us Antitrust Limited

The United States of America Supreme Court has pose a boundary on the achieve of United States of America antitrust police describe exterior the United States of America reports the New York Times. In an viii to 0 decision, the courtroom held that Sherman Antitrust Act entirely covers effects of demeanour that are felt abroad if the defendant’s demeanour that caused these effects took house inward the US. The illustration clarifies that where the demeanour inward query took house exterior the United States of America AND its effects are felt exterior the US, the Sherman Act volition non apply. This ruling was made inward the context of a mortal trial concerning alleged price-fixing past times companies inward Australia, Ecuador, Panama as well as Ukraine on behalf of purchasers of the products produced past times those companies who were based exterior the US.

says that the possible extra-territorial achieve of United States of America antitrust police describe should hold out of involvement to European Union IPR holders, equally good equally those inward the United States of America as well as thence that they know if the fashion they purpose their rights are probable to scandalize against United States of America antitrust law. This illustration though makes a conflict betwixt IPR holders exterior the United States of America as well as United States of America antitrust enforcement a footling less likely.

Sherman Act here as well as here

Cunning Dutch Royalty Avoidance Innovation Hits Trouble

The Register reports that a Dutch company's cunning innovation to deliver DVD movies to customers' TV sets digitally, without having to pay additional functioning rights has already encounter trouble. DVDStream's partner Homelink - the Danish manufacturer of the Palmbutler 600 set-top box - has gone into receivership together with may non hold out able to deliver the hardware on time. DVDStream was planning to deliver movies through Palmbutler 600, a set-top box that streams digital media to TVs together with stereos inwards the home. The Dutch start-up claimed that past times adopting a DVD rental sales model, it wouldn't bring to pay for royalties that are imposed on regular streaming video or video-on-demand services. The consider was that customers would buy a DVD motion-picture exhibit digitally together with brand a re-create of it for their personal role (which is patently legal inwards the Netherlands). After watching the movie, the client would sell the motion-picture exhibit dorsum to DVDStream. This way, the payments for the movies would bring been exclusively temporary deposits, the companionship claimed, together with the service would non bring to pay extra royalties. Although experts flora it highly doubtful that the service would rest online for long, it may non forthwith move on later on all. DVDStream says it is looking for alternatives, including products from Hauppauge or Pinnacle, precisely none of these bring been able to deliver the features the Palmbutler laid top-box was able to offer. DVDStream withal hopes it tin launch inwards August.

is most impressed at the ingenuity of this scheme, the legitimacy of which DVD producers volition hold out certain to exam inwards the courts in i lawsuit it's introduced. Even if copyright is non infringed, at that spot is no guarantee that this system would non autumn foul of the police delineate of unfair competition.

Video streaming here and here
Videos close streams here, here, here and here

Trade Names? You Lot Must Locomote Joking

New Scientist's Feedback column for 1 June lists around deliciously (in)appropriate trouble concern names, or "antinyms" equally they accept considered dubbing them. They include the Impact driving school, 2 airlines (Penguin and Emu) named afterward flightless birds, a safety fellowship named Lowe Security together with the Nessun Dorma (the Italian for "no-one sleeps") invitee house.

suspects that Earth finds these names non but memorable but sweetly enduring. Choice of antinyms such equally these is equally good less probable to depict a trouble concern into refer conflicts amongst its competitors than the endlessly allusive/descriptive names that many industries appear to favour these days (despite the frequently-experienced difficulty inward registering them equally merchandise marks).

Funny (and not-so-funny) names for people together with businesses here, here and here

Funny names for molecules and places

Why T&T Merchandise Order Registry Can’T Magic Registrations Into Existence

The Privy Council ruled yesterday on an appeal from Trinidad & Tobago inward Cigarrera Bigott SUCS 5 Phillip Morris Products Incorporation as well as unopen to other [2004] UKPC 28. This representative arose after Phillip Morris Inc applied to register the discussion BELMONT equally a merchandise score for tobacco products. After the application was refused as well as next an internal reorganisation, Phillip Morris Inc assigned diverse assets to PMP asked the registrar to substitute it equally applicant inward honor of that application. The registry staff, accepting that asking equally an ordinary asking for registration yesteryear an assignee of the mark, didn’t topographic point that in that place was no registered score to assign as well as issued a certificate of assignment stating that PMP had been entered on the register equally proprietor of the score yesteryear virtue of the assignment. Under the constabulary of Trinidad as well as Tobago, that certificate served equally prima facie evidence of the entry inward the register which it recorded. However, PMP continued to believe that the score had non been registered as well as that the application remained pending. Bigott after applied successfully to register BELMONT. PMP filed an opposition to the application inside the extended menstruation allowed to it yesteryear the registrar as well as Bigott sought a conclusion that PMP was irretrievably out of fourth dimension inward seeking to oppose the application. The deputy registrar constitute inward Bigott’s favour whereupon PMP appealed, disceptation that it was the registered proprietor of the mark. This appeal was upheld as well as that judgment was affirmed yesteryear the Court of Appeal of Trinidad as well as Tobago.

Bigott’s appeal to the Privy Council succeeded. That courtroom ruled that, on its truthful construction, the register did non prove registration of the score inward PMP’s name. The register contained no entry of the actual registration, precisely alone an entry of an assignment as well as it was clear that the entry was concerned alone amongst an assignment of the application, non amongst an assignment of a registered mark. It was likewise apparent that the master copy application had been neither accepted nor advertised. That beingness so, the registrar had no jurisdiction to register PMP equally proprietor. Accordingly, Bigott should last registered equally BELMONT’s proprietor instead.

notes that, fifty-fifty inward the post-colonial era, the Privy Council tin come upwardly up amongst unopen to pretty effective as well as sensible reasoning when righting wrongs perpetrated inward far-flung colonies yesteryear merchandise score registries who tin magic a merchandise score registration into existence via the certification of the assignment of an application.

Why Tobago is called Tobago here und hier

Kazaa Deemed Confusingly Like To Casa

The Register reports that Sharman License Holdings, the society behind the controversial P2P utility in addition to search engine Kazaa, has been unable to obtain the registration of its merchandise grade nether the Community merchandise grade system. Kazaa may fifty-fifty convey to modify its mention inwards Germany. FastTrack, the society that developed Kazaa in addition to thence sold its rights to Australian society Sharman, had previously lost a Community merchandise grade opposition against High German society SpeedWare Software GmbH, which claims that inwards the High German linguistic communication the mention Kazaa is phonetically similar to Casa, the merchandise grade it uses for (database) search software.

FastTrack applied to register KAZAA dorsum inwards 2000 amongst OHIM, the Office for Harmonisation inwards the Internal Market, which registers Community merchandise marks in addition to Community designs. SpeedWare Software GmbH (which straight off operates nether the mention of Nemetschek CREM Solutions) vigorously opposed the Kazaa application, claiming that a likelihood of confusion existed equally the marks were phonetically the same in addition to the goods/services for which Kazaa was sought to hold out registered were identical or similar". Sharman disagreed, argument that the minute syllable of CASA started amongst the missive of the alphabet 's', piece the grade applied for KAZAA contained the quite odd missive of the alphabet 'z', Sharman argued. Moreover, the double missive of the alphabet 'a' was atypical inwards the High German language. From a phonetic betoken of view, CASA is pronounced equally the Castilian give-and-take 'casa', amongst the emphasis on the kickoff syllable 'ca' in addition to a soft in addition to curt audio for the minute syllable. OHIM, however, concluded that the merchandise marks were indeed phonetically similar inwards the High German language. Now that FastTrack/Sharman’s CTM application has failed, the society may straight off convey to apply its build mention individually inwards each fellow member state. More importantly, it tin hold off opposition from Nemetschek CREM Solutions inwards Germany.

understands how frustrated FastTrack/Sharman must be, given the fact that the KAZAA build mention is hugely known simply about the world, piece the prior-registered CASA grade is not. He wonders whether FastTrack/Sharman volition appeal on the footing that it is equally good famous a grade to hold out probable to hold out confused amongst the before mark.

Confusion here, here and here
ConFusion here and here; Confucius here and here

Do Parallel Imports Order A Direct Chances To Uk Patients?

A brief banking venture annotation inwards the Metro (no link available) reports that a Social Market Foundation report that came out on Mon claims that the NHS practise of parallel importing drugs from other European countries could set UK of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland patients at run a endangerment for two reasons: (1) it’s to a greater extent than hard for medicines to hold upward recalled if a employment is flora alongside a item batch in addition to (2) human mistake is possible where a unusual linguistic communication on the master copy packaging is translated when the production is repackaged to enable it to penetrate the UK of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland market.

has had a expect at the Social Market Foundation’s website, simply could non abide by the paper, though he did abide by this trial which took house on Monday. While he hasn’t seen the paper, his instinct is to process the study alongside a slight grade of scepticism until it is shown that the run a endangerment of the negative consequences identified outweighs the benefits to hold upward obtained from to a greater extent than people gaining access to the medicine because it is to a greater extent than cheaply priced.

More mistranslations here, here, here in addition to here

Fat Cats Wing Due South On Burger Sponsored Gravy Train

Ananova reports that a grouping of British Members of Parliament has come upwardly nether burn downwards for going on a gratis trip to come across the Euro 2004 football game tournament, courtesy of McDonald's. The grouping of 17 MPs ― xvi Labour in addition to i Conservative ― includes Alan Simpson, who lately called for a taxation on fast food. The £20,000 trip comes merely days subsequently MPs called on the Football Association to drib McDonald's every bit a sponsor. According to the Sunday Mirror others inwards the grouping include Trade Minister Gerry Sutcliffe in addition to Ed Owen, a unopen ally of Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

The MPs, job of the All-Party Parliamentary Football Group, are paying the facial expression upwardly value of the 2 matches they are seeing, which include the highly prized England-France match. The toll of the flights in addition to four-star hotel accommodation is existence dissever yesteryear McDonald's in addition to the Portuguese authorities. The MPs are reported to live on playing a charity game of football game against Portuguese politicians, from which McDonald's charities volition benefit. Dr Steve Watkins, of the British Medical Association's populace wellness committee, said:

“For members of parliament to allow their names to live on linked to promote fast nutrient is seriously irresponsible."

feels that, any the wellness behave on of their products on Britain’s obese youth, McDonald’s tin flame hardly live on blamed for using build sponsorship to maximum commercial in addition to political effect. At present, exclusively cigarette sponsorship of sports events is strictly regulated, but in that place must live on enough to a greater extent than things that are bad for your health: volition the sports live on discouraged from taking their coin too?

McDonald’s here; I’m lovin’ it here and here; I’m non lovin’ it here, here and here
Things that are bad for your wellness here, here and here

The Rootage Takes The Rap Every Mo Eminem Sues Again

The rapper Eminem seems to endure turning into a voracious litigant. His latest foray into the wonderful globe of copyright proceedings has resulted inward hip-hop magazine The Source being flora inward contempt of courtroom for publishing the sum lyrics to ii of the rapper’s songs, according to the BBC. The songs, which allegedly accept racist overtones, were written past times an 18 year-old Eminem. He claims that they were composed every 2nd a foolish as well as hot-headed reply to breaking upwards amongst a dark girlfriend. However, the magazine claims they are racist as well as offensive to dark women. In December, Judge Lynch flora that The Source could rely on a fair-dealing defence, simply that this alone entitled them to reproduce 8 lines of the song. Nonetheless, the magazine reproduced all the lyrics on its website as well as the recordings as well as Eminem sued for copyright infringement. On Thursday, Judge Lynch flora inward Eminem’s favour. It is claimed that the litigation is business office of an ongoing spat betwixt Eminem as well as the founder of the source who is likewise a rapper.

feels that piece it’s a skilful thought for the quoting of sections of a locomote to endure allowed to enable it to endure credibly reviewed, he wouldn’t desire to run across the fair-dealing defense used every 2nd a encompass for mortal to reproduce the locomote to enable him to compete amongst the master author.

Eminem lyrics here
Eminem here
M&Ms here

Ipkat Translation Watch: Decease On Taking The Tablets

Anyone who wants to read the ECJ's conclusion inwards the Henkel dishwasher tablets cases (C-456/01 together with C-457/01) together with has been frustrated to notice that it's still non available inwards English linguistic communication on the ECJ website volition endure glad to know that the IPKat has industrial plant life an English linguistic communication version on the OHIM website - click here to become through to it.

Beatles Cyberspace Bargain Inward The Offing

The Telegraph reports that the 2 remaining Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney as well as Ringo Starr, together amongst Yoko Ono as well as Olivia Harrison (widows of John Lennon as well as George Harrison), are negotiating amongst technology scientific discipline companies inwards a milestone bargain for digital music. Industry sources written report that "a considerable sum" was existence asked past times the musicians, who insist on maximum command of their recordings. The expectation is that they volition presently seal an exclusive bargain amongst a leading operator such every 2d Microsoft's MSN, which plans an cyberspace music store. MSN has already previewed a service which enables buyers to browse through huge listing of songs as well as albums to purchase as well as download on to their computers. There may likewise last a Beatles-branded store, where the group's music, videos as well as other multi-media products could last bought.

Along amongst Madonna as well as members of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles convey long resisted the internet, although the band has its ain website, amongst links to those of Starr, Sir Paul as well as the belatedly George Harrison. EMI, which owns The Beatles' master copy recordings, has urged them to grant permission for online access.

hopes that the negotiations attempt out successful as well as that the parties’ respective constabulary firms are accorded a per centum of the bargain that is commensurate amongst the happiness they confer upon the Beatles’ ever-faithful fans.

Beatlemania here, here und hier
Beetlemania here and here

Hands Off Our Balls, Says Reckitt

In some other twist to the saga of merchandise score protection for dishwasher tablets, the Daily Telegraph reports that Reckitt Benckiser went to courtroom yesterday to protect the kind of its Finish Power Ball dishwasher tablets. Reckitt is appealing against the decision of the Trade Marks Registry, which held that its rectangular tablets amongst a cerise ball inwards the pump which is meant to stand upwardly for extra cleaning to take tough stains, was non distinctive. The company, whose activeness is beingness opposed past times their rival, McBride, told Mr Justice Mann:

“No i else has anything similar this…It is together with thence out of the ordinary that it volition stick inwards the hear of the purchasing party. They volition say ‘I don’t desire that one, I desire a tablet amongst a ball sticking out of the top, because it made my spectacles shiny end time”.

However, McBride argued that the Powerball was

“not unlike plenty to move a trademark [sic], together with that the consumer would non come across the kind equally production specific”.

awaits the number of this determination amongst involvement together with volition of class convey y'all coverage when Isle of Man J delivers his decision. He doesn’t know of whatsoever successful attempts to register the kind of a dishwasher tablet equally a merchandise score (and non for desire of trying on the exercise of their producers). However, if whatsoever of his readers know of such an application that has gone through, he’ll brand certain that they’re the proud recipient of a pocket-sized withal tasteful prize.

More powerballs here and here
More cerise balls here, here , here and here and here

Delays Inwards European Ip Litigation: It Tin Solely Popular Off Worse

At Mon night's Competition Law Association coming together on "Recent European Trade Mark Cases", hosted at here and here
Swift judge here, here and here

European File-Sharers Settle

The BBC reports that xviii file-sharers accept settled litigation out of courtroom alongside the IFPI. The grouping of 17 Danes too i High German are run of the starting fourth dimension moving ridge of 200 vocal swappers against whom the IFPI launched legal actions this March. Meanwhile, litigation against other individuals is pending inwards Italy, Kingdom of Denmark too Canada. The IFPI besides announced that it has begun proceedings against other file-sharers this week. The IFPI besides claimed that at that spot has been a 30% driblet inwards illegal file-sharing since this fourth dimension terminal yr too has claimed that it vindicates its shape of action. Said its chairman, Jay Berman:

"Today's results exhibit that litigation, combined alongside the rollout of novel legal online music services, is having a existent touching on on people's attitudes to illegal file-sharing".

notes that every minute good every minute saving defendants from the expense too hassle of courtroom proceedings, out of courtroom settlements avoid whatsoever potentially unfavourable precendents for IPR holders.

Compromises here too here
No compromise here

Stix-Hackl Pronounces On Database Protection: Only Volition The Ecj Follow Her Advice?

Directive 96/9 on the legal protection of databases (“the database directive”)introduced a sui generis right that was designed to protect the contents of organised collections of data, fifty-fifty if the compilation of information savage far brusk of a piece of occupation of authorship that was entitled to copyright protection. The nature of the sui generis right is defined past times Article seven of the database directive, which provides:

Article seven
Object of protection
1. Member U.S. of A. shall furnish for a right for the maker of a database which shows that at that spot has been qualitatively and/or quantitatively a substantial investment inwards either the obtaining, verification or presentation of the contents to foreclose extraction and/or re-utilization of the whole or of a substantial part, evaluated qualitatively and/or quantitatively, of the contents of that database.
2. For the purposes of this Chapter:
(a) 'extraction` shall hateful the permanent or temporary transfer of all or a substantial role of the contents of a database to roughly other medium past times whatever way or inwards whatever form;
(b) 're-utilization` shall hateful whatever course of report of making available to Earth all or a substantial role of the contents of a database past times the distribution of copies, past times renting, past times on-line or other forms of transmission. The starting fourth dimension sale of a re-create of a database inside the Community past times the rightholder or alongside his consent shall exhaust the right to command resale of that re-create inside the Community; Public lending is non an deed of extraction or re-utilization.
3. The right referred to inwards paragraph 1 may live on transferred, assigned or granted nether contractual licence.
4. The right provided for inwards paragraph 1 shall apply irrespective of the eligibility of that database for protection past times copyright or past times other rights. Moreover, it shall apply irrespective of eligibility of the contents of that database for protection past times copyright or past times other rights. Protection of databases nether the right provided for inwards paragraph 1 shall live on without prejudice to rights existing inwards abide by of their contents.
5. The repeated as well as systematic extraction and/or re-utilization of insubstantial parts of the contents of the database implying acts which conflict alongside a normal exploitation of that database or which unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the maker of the database shall non live on permitted.

Today Advocate General Christine Stix-Hackl has delivered Opinions concerning the interpretation of the database directive inwards no fewer than iv cases that cause got been referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for preliminary rulings. Three bargain alongside databases of football game fixtures, spell the 4th deals alongside a database of horse-racing data. All of these cases enhance issues concerning the truthful import of Article 7. The cases are:

* Case C-46/02 Fixtures Marketing Ltd v Oy Veikkaus Ab (referred from Finland)

* Case C-444/02 Fixtures Marketing Ltd v Organismos Prognostikon Agonon Podosfairou (referred from Greece)

* Case C-338/02 Fixtures Marketing Ltd v Svenska Spel AB (referred from Sweden)

* Case C-203/02 British Horseracing Board Ltd as well as others v William Hill Organization Ltd (referred from the United Kingdom)

The questions referred to the ECJ are likewise lengthy as well as complex to relate here, but the summary of the Advocate General’s Opinion goes equally follows (all references to Articles are to provisions of the database directive):

1. Whether the works, information or other materials derived from the database cause got the same systematic or methodical organisation as well as private accessibility equally inwards the master database is non relevant to the interpretation of the expressions ‘a substantial role … of the contents of that database’ or ‘insubstantial parts of the contents of the database’ inwards Article seven (BHB).

2. The facial expression ‘obtaining’ inwards Article 7(1) must live on interpreted equally pregnant that it also covers information created past times the maker if the creation of the information took house at the same fourth dimension equally its processing as well as was inseparable from it (BHB).

3. The term ‘verification’ inwards Article 7(1) is to live on interpreted equally pregnant that it is non limited to ensuring from fourth dimension to fourth dimension that information contained inwards a database is or remains right (BHB).

4. The facial expression ‘a substantial part, evaluated qualitatively ... of the contents of that database’ inwards Article 7(1) is to live on interpreted equally pregnant that the technical or commercial value of the affected role must live on taken into account. The facial expression ‘a substantial part, evaluated quantitatively ... of the contents of that database’ inwards Article 7(1) is to live on interpreted equally pregnant that the amount of the affected role is relevant. However, inwards both cases it is non precisely the relative amount of the affected role equally a proportion of the contents equally a whole that is relevant (BHB; Svenska Spel).

5. The facial expression ‘insubstantial parts of the contents of the database’ inwards Article 7(5) is to live on interpreted equally pregnant that such parts are to a greater extent than than private information as well as less than ‘substantial parts’ inside the pregnant of Article 7(1) (BHB).

6. The term ‘extraction’ inwards Article seven covers precisely the transfer of the contents of the database straight from the database to roughly other information medium (BHB).

7. The term ‘re-utilisation’ inwards Article seven covers non precisely the making available to Earth of the contents of the database straight from the database, but also the making available to Earth of works, information or other materials which are derived indirectly from the database, without having direct access to the database (BHB).

8. Acts which foreclose the economical exploitation of the sui generis right past times its proprietor fifty-fifty on potential markets are to live on considered to live on ‘acts which conflict alongside a normal exploitation of that database’. Acts which harm the legitimate economical interests of the maker to a bird which exceeds a certainly threshold are to live on considered to live on ‘acts which unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the maker of the database’ (BHB).

9. Article 10(3) is to live on interpreted equally pregnant that whatever ‘substantial change’ to the contents of a database which qualifies the database for its ain term of protection, entails that the resulting database must live on considered to live on a new, variety database, including for the purposes of Article 7(5) (BHB).

10. In assessing whether a database is the upshot of a ‘substantial investment’ inside the pregnant of Article 7(1), the run of the investment is non material. Investment for the run of drawing upwards the fixture lists inwards a databank must also live on taken into line of piece of occupation organisation human relationship (Svenska Spel).

11. The protection granted past times Article 7(1) as well as Article 7(5) against the ‘extraction’ of the contents of a database is confined to practices which entail direct exploitation of the database. The protection granted past times Article 7(1) as well as Article 7(5) against ‘re-utilisation’ also covers the exploitation of the contents of a database where those contents are available from roughly other source (Svenska Spel).

12. The facial expression ‘normal exploitation’ inwards Article 7(5) of the Directive must live on interpreted equally pregnant that economical exploitation tin sack live on prevented past times the possessor of the sui generis right on potential markets too. The facial expression ‘unreasonably prejudice’ inwards Article 7(5) must live on interpreted equally referring to harm to the legitimate economical interests of the maker which goes beyond a certainly threshold (Svenska Spel).

13. The term ‘database’ inwards Article 1 is to live on interpreted equally pregnant that it tin sack also comprehend lists of football game fixtures (Organismos).

14. Article 7(1) must live on interpreted equally pregnant that a database containing lists of football game fixtures tin sack live on the object of protection, if qualitatively or quantitatively a substantial investment inwards the obtaining, verification or presentation of the contents is necessary. The maker of such a database has the right to foreclose extraction and/or re-utilisation of the whole or of a substantial part, evaluated qualitatively and/or quantitatively, of the contents of that database (Organismos).

15. Article 7(5) prohibits the repeated as well as systematic extraction and/or re-utilisation of insubstantial parts of the contents of the database implying acts which conflict alongside a normal exploitation of that database or which unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the maker of the database (Organismos).

16. Article seven inwards conjunction alongside Article 10(3) must live on interpreted equally pregnant that extraction and/or re-utilisation is also prohibited inwards abide by of a database to the contents of which at that spot has been a substantial change, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively, which is therefore the upshot of a substantial novel investment, evaluated qualitatively or quantitatively (Organismos).

17. The requirement inwards Article 7(1) for a link betwixt the investment as well as the making of the database must live on interpreted inwards the feel that the obtaining referred to inwards Article 7(1) as well as the investment directed at it refers, inwards a representative such equally that inwards the primary proceedings, to investment which is directed at the conclusion of the dates of the matches as well as the jibe pairings themselves as well as the drawing upwards of the fixture listing also includes investment which is non relevant to the appraisal of the criteria for granting protection (Oy Veikkaus).

18. The protection provided for past times the Directive against extraction and/or re-utilisation must live on understood equally pregnant that persons other than the authors of the fixture listing may not, without authorisation, utilization the information inwards that fixture listing for betting or other commercial purposes (Oy Veikkaus).

19. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 substantial part, evaluated qualitatively and/or quantitatively, of the contents of a database may also live on affected where, of the information inwards the fixture list, on each occasion precisely information necessary for i calendar week is used inwards the weekly pools coupons, as well as where the information relating to the matches is obtained as well as verified from sources other than the maker of the database continuously throughout the flavor (Oy Veikkaus).

volition postulate a petty fourth dimension to digest all this. What he tin sack say, though, is 2 things.

* One surface area of argument is the upshot of updating an existing database: does it larn a novel database inwards abide by of which a fresh menstruum of xv years protection may live on enjoyed? The Advocate General advises that whatever ‘substantial change’ to the contents of a database which qualifies the database for its ain term of protection way that the resulting database must live on considered to live on a “new, variety database”. This may live on impossible to ascertain inwards practice: you lot tin sack maintain amending information on a database as well as it may modify a peachy bargain inwards price of novel content -- but tin sack it e'er live on said to live on “separate”? If incremental amendments are non adequately protected, however, the incentive to brand databases available may live on greatly reduced.

* The Advocate General has also advised that the requirement for a link betwixt an investment as well as the making of the database must live on interpreted inwards the feel that it refers, on the facts of the primary proceedings, to investment which is directed at the conclusion of the dates of the matches as well as the jibe pairings themselves. This advice volition live on greatly welcomed past times those who pass a lot of fourth dimension on endeavour creating or ascertaining information which costs petty or nix to describe upwards inwards its terminal form.

Neh, Neh, Neh, Neh, Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh , Neh Copyright!

The Times reports that Carmine Infantino, the creator of Batman, Batgirl together with superhero The Flash is suing Time Warner together with DC Comics, his erstwhile employers, for copyright infringement inwards the US. Infantino, who claims he revived the fortunes of Batman inwards the 1960s, decided to sue after he saw together with interview alongside a Warner Bros executive who failed to cite him equally the creator of the characters. Infantino worked inwards a freelance capacity for DC Comics, which was afterward bought past times Warner Brothers betwixt 1943 together with 1967. The organisation was that 1 time his pay-check was signed past times all parties, he relinquished all rights. Copyright inwards Batman is peculiarly sensitive since a novel Batman cinema is to hold upward released past times Warner Bros side past times side year.

says that it’s difficult to comment on the rights together with wrongs of this representative without seeing the weather of work together with whatever assignments of copyright that were made. However, if y'all desire to hold upward a Boy Wonder, brand certain ownership of copyright inwards employees’ creations are sorted out inwards advance, peculiarly if the employee is gratuitous lance. Copyright is freelance employees’ locomote has too caused problems inwards the UK inwards the recent representative of Griggs v Evans .

Batman here, here together with here
Batgirl here
The truth close Batgirl here
Batmobile here, here, here together with here

Don't Forget!

Tomorrow is Super Tuesday. "Why?" yous mightiness ask. Well, it's the twenty-four hours that the ECJ Advocate General delivers his long-awaited starting fourth dimension decisions on the Database Directive inward the cases brought past times the Fixtures Marketing Board as well as the British Horse Racing Board. volition of shape choose yous the details of the Advocate General's opinions every bit before long every bit they give-up the ghost available.

Ftc To Larn By Trolls

The States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is putting frontward reforms to the States patent organisation reports the BBC. Both the administrators together with concern are fed upwards amongst patents beingness used anticompetitively. One occupation is that patents are granted to undeserving claims because lack of funds has led to insufficient fourth dimension beingness devoted to their examination. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 farther occupation is the ascension of “patent trolls” (see IPKat spider web log of Th fourteen August 2003) who purchase upwards newspaper patents together with role them inwards social club to concord the manufacture to ransom, claiming that the technology covered past times their patent is beingness infringed past times the whole industry, fifty-fifty if the characteristic is really minor. In response, the FTC has had proposals on the drawing board for a twelvemonth which include a novel administrative physical care for to challenge a patent's validity without having to become to constabulary together with measures to restrict the awards of treble damages for infringement.

welcomes this approach to the problems of patent abuse. It recognises that patents tin halt live on used anticompetitively together with seeks to unopen the specific loopholes that permit this to come about spell at the same fourth dimension acknowledging that the patent organisation is fundamentally OK.

More patent abuse here
More trolls here, here, here together with here

Imitation Or Flattery: Honda Sues For Existent Damages

Findlaw.com here, here
China’s reply to piracy here and here
Imitation: flattery or thievery? Click here, here and here

Irish Re-Joyce Every Mo Copyright Act Amended

Alan Cunningham of Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute has brought the furore over the copyright inwards James Joyce’s Ulysses to the IPKat’s attention. The National Library of Republic of Ireland are planning an exhibition of manuscripts of Joyce’s operate to coincide alongside Bloomday, sixteen June (the appointment on which the activity inwards Ulysses inwards meant to direct maintain taken place). However, Joyce’s estate has argued that such a display of the documents could breach its copyright inwards Joyce’s works. This has caused the Irish Gaelic Parliament to cash inwards one's chips emergency legislation, the Copyright as well as Related Rights (Amendment) Bill 2004, to “remove whatever incertitude equally to the correct of whatever someone to house literary or artistic industrial plant protected past times copyright or copies thereof on populace exhibition without committing a breach of copyright”.

is somewhat startled past times all the fuss. He doesn’t remember that displaying a re-create of a literary operate falls inside the Definition of infringement anyway, unless it counts equally a surgical physical care for of the work. He’s too quite alarmed at the comport on the Joyce estate tin direct maintain equally a upshot of simply intimating that it is contemplating an infringement action.

Bloomsday here, here as well as here
Kidney recipes here as well as here

Are Us Brands Losing Their Lustre?

This from Freepress, via Adbusters: consumers are sending “warning signs” to U.S.A. brands, according to Patrick Barrett. He writes that declining honour for American cultural values, exacerbated past times the crisis inwards Iraq, is having a potentially disastrous consequence on the ikon of U.S.A. brands such equally McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Nike as well as Microsoft. This is the determination of a novel worldwide report of consumer attitudes. According to NOP World, the publish of people who similar as well as role U.S.A. branded products has fallen significantly over the past times year, piece brands perceived to hold out non-American convey remained relatively stable. Tom Miller, the managing manager of NOP World, said worsening attitudes to the county's products could harm U.S.A. business.

"It's non similar there's a massive boycott. Instead, it seems to hold out an erosion of support. It's non falling off the facial expression upwardly of the earth, only it is clearly a alert sign for brands."

Surveying the attitudes of 30,000 consumers worldwide, NOP institute the popularity as well as consumption of U.S.A. products had declined for the kickoff fourth dimension since the interrogation programme was launched inwards 1998. Until 2002, brands such equally McDonald's as well as Coca-Cola were notching upwardly good for you lot annual increase inwards damage of role as well as familiarity inwards international markets. However, final twelvemonth NOP discovered that the increase inwards popularity of all major consumer brands - including those from Europe as well as Asia - had stalled. Over the past times 12 months the positive tendency has gone into reverse, amongst U.S.A. products hardest hit. The publish of non-American consumers who "trust" Coca-Cola had fallen from 55% to 52%, piece McDonald's rating had slipped from 36% to 33%, Nike's from 56% to 53% as well as Microsoft had fallen from 45% to 39%. The full publish of consumers worldwide who "use" U.S.A. brands was institute to convey fallen from 30% to 27%, piece non-American brands remained stable at 24%.

wonders how the survey distinguishes betwixt a spend upwardly inwards construct popularity which is caused past times a construct beingness American as well as a spend upwardly caused past times wellness or investment concerns.

Politicisation of brands here, here and here
More on construct surveys here and here

Even If You Lot Abhor Sport...

... you lot volition hold upwards enthralled past times adjacent Tuesday's couplet of European Court of Justice Opinions. Three of them (Cases C-46/02, C-338/02 as well as C-444/02) relate to the efforts made past times Fixtures Marketing to industrial plant life its entitlement to enforce database rights inwards United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland as well as Scottish football game Premiership fixture lists against businesses that extract information relating to football game fixtures as well as utilization them for betting purposes. The fourth, Case C-203/02 British Horseracing Board five William Hill, relates to the command of the correct to exploit commercially a vast as well as complex database of horses, riders as well as racing fixtures which the BHB maintains as well as operates at dandy expense.

hopes to convey you lot intelligence as well as comment on the Advocate Generals' Opinions inwards these cases every moment presently every moment it is available, as well as thence scout this space.