Kamis, 31 Juli 2003

Disclosure Inwards Patent Cases

Another of the tranche of cases decided yesteryear the Court of Appeal on Midweek (30 July), this fourth dimension of a to a greater extent than procedural nature. Smithkline Beecham 5 Generics together with BASF 5 Smithkline Beecham arose out of 3 course of teaching attempts to accept Smithkline’s patent for paroxetine hydrochloride anhydrate revoked. The outset laid of proceedings against Generics was settled. However, in that place were surely documents disclosed yesteryear Generics that Smithkline wished to role inward the minute together with 3rd sets of proceedings involving BASF together with Apotex respectively. Generics did non desire Smithkline to brand role of those documents together with applied for an club nether Civil Procedure Rule 31.22 prohibiting their disclosure which the outset illustration gauge granted together with which was effective for both the minute together with the 3rd sets of proceedings (CPR 31.22 states that a political party to whom a document has been disclosed may exclusively role it for the laid of proceedings inward which it has been disclosed except where the document has been read to or yesteryear the courtroom at a hearing that has been held inward populace together with fifty-fifty together with thence the courtroom may club that it should non endure used, the courtroom gives permission or where the parties agree).

The Court of Appeal held that piece the gauge was right to brand the club concerning the minute laid of proceedings, he should accept allowed the documents to endure used inward the 3rd laid of proceedings. With reckon to the minute laid of proceedings the gauge was right to base of operations his conclusion on the interests of the populace together with the 3rd parties alongside which the documents originated (they had been compiled yesteryear independent experts) together with the requirement to produce justice. Thus he was right to come upward to the conclusion that it was non necessary for the documents to endure disclosed. However, inward the 3rd laid of proceedings in that place was a existent declaration that the documents had to endure made available inward club to let the claim to endure fairly disposed of. This constituent would enable them to endure discoverable nether CPR 31.17 together with made disclosure necessary inward the interests of justice, albeit alongside a relevant club to protect the interests of the owners of the documents. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 farther quirk was that the gauge who was hearing the 3rd laid of proceedings had already been exposed to the documents inward 1 of the before sets of proceedings together with thence could good accept been influenced yesteryear them, unconsciously at least.



“Sexual Proclivities” Tape-Recording Stays Where It Is

The Court of Appeal yesterday ruled on the condition of confidential conversations tape-recorded yesteryear i someone without the noesis or consent of another. In L v D (the parties’ names were concealed for the sake of privacy) the claimant recorded conversations amongst the defendant, a musician/songwriter she used to alive with, for the role of her protection inwards relation to domestic violence proceedings. In a subsequent legal activity the claimant sued the accused for a portion inwards his home. Giving evidence, the accused mentioned his sexual proclivities, including an “additional aspect” which he sought to maintain private. Subsequently the accused applied for an interim injunction to halt whatsoever work of the claimant’s recordings. The trial guess refused the injunction in addition to the Court of Appeal dismissed the defendant’s claim.

According to the Court of Appeal, where a tape recording is made yesteryear i someone of a individual conversation but without the consent of the other, equity imposes a duty of confidence inwards relation to the recording which is kind from whatsoever confidentiality inwards the data revealed inwards the recording. This is because, inwards like trend to a photograph, the recorded details of the words of a individual conversation could brand to a greater extent than impact, in addition to crusade greater embarrassment in addition to distress, than a mere trouble concern human relationship of the conversation inwards question. Equity imposes on the conscience of a someone who secretly takes recordings of a individual conversation an obligation non to work those recordings for whatsoever other purpose. In this case, however, the claimant did non conception to work the recordings for whatsoever role except that for which she had obtained them. What was more, she had made no travail to issue the recordings. This beingness the case, the accused was non entitled to the relief he sought.

This weblog is based on an banker's complaint published on the Butterworths Lexis Nexis Direct subscription-only service, details of which are available here. The same illustration is equally good available from Thomson's Lawtel subscription service nether the hollo D v L. The case's neutral citation issue is [2003] EWCA Civ 1169.
Choose your voice-activated tape recorder here



Copyright Bodies Gear Upward To Lock Horns

A dispute between the British Phonographic Industry Limited (BPI) too the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) volition before long hold upward heading for the UK's Copyright Tribunal. BPI, a tape manufacture merchandise association, represents a diversity of dissimilar manufacturers, producers too sellers of well too audiovisual recordings of music too other data. Anyone who wants to perform whatever reproductive copying of musical industrial plant for defined products inwards DVD video format has to larn a BPI licence. Meanwhile, MCPS -- which collects too distributes "mechanical" royalties to composers too music publishers who are its members -- grants recording licences nether its electrical flow system too may grant licences nether a farther proposed scheme. The BPI has complained that both the electrical flow system too the proposed system are unreasonable too has asked the Copyright Tribunal to adjudicate. In exceptional the BPI is objecting to a "very substantial too unjustified proposed growth inwards licensing fees". In the spirit of brotherly dearest neither the BPI nor the MCPS accept pose details of their dispute on their websites. would similar to listen on theipkat@yahoo.co.uk from anyone who tin nation us more.

Learn to a greater extent than almost DVD video format here

Rabu, 30 Juli 2003

Court Of Appeal Takes Its Pick

Wednesday was a bumper solar daytime for Court of Appeal IP decisions. volition locomote bringing you lot the highlights over the adjacent few days. On the merchandise rate side of things, the courtroom decided Inter Lotto 5 Camelot, an appeal from Laddie J’s determination of final month. Inter Lotto had chosen the cite HOTPICK inwards July 2001 together with started using it inwards August of that year. By 17 Oct 2001 it had signed upwardly 424 pubs for its functioning although the game didn’t starting fourth dimension until 28 November. Meanwhile, Camelot applied to register HOTPICKS every bit a merchandise rate on 17 Oct 2001, only Camelot’s game was non launched until Apr 2002.

Inter Lotto sued Camelot for passing off. Camelot responded that Inter Lotto could entirely base of operations its passing off claim on goodwill that had accrued to it before the appointment of Camelot’s application for merchandise rate registration (which wasn’t much because Inter Lotto's game was non properly launched until the calendar month later on the application). Inter Lotto on the other manus claimed that, nether passing off principles, its goodwill cruel to locomote determined at the appointment Camelot launched its HOTPICKS game inwards Apr 2000. By that time, Inter Lotto’s game had been operating a lot longer together with had had to a greater extent than fourth dimension to construct upwardly a reputation. The courtroom had to produce upwardly one's heed betwixt applying passing off principles every bit Inter Lotto wanted or Camelot’s registered merchandise mark-inspired argument. Affirming the determination of the trial judge, the Court of Appeal accepted Inter Lotto’s submission together with held that Camelot’s launch appointment was the relevant date. Passing off lives on inwards this context, fifty-fifty where in that place are registered merchandise marks involved, because department 2(2) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 states that “nothing inwards this Act affects the police pull relating to passing off.” However, this won’t locomote the illustration where the police pull has been expressly changed then that it is inconsistent alongside passing off principles, every bit is the illustration for illustration alongside loss of rights past times acquiescence nether s.48 of the TMA.

Learn almost Camelot here, here together with here
A vocal to sing at (k)night here

The Tweenies Attain Back

Yesterday The Daily Telegraph reported that the BBC was coming nether burn downward from the Food Commission for allowing popular, clean-living children's TV characters The Tweenies to move used to promote junk food: In its report the Food Commission charged that the Tweenies had effectively been prostituted through their enforced sale for role past times Heinz, McDonalds in addition to fifty-fifty Marks & Spencer.

tin flame let on that, inwards what volition move a ground-breaking action, The Tweenies are to sue Britain’s iconic broadcasting establishment for damages in addition to injunctive relief. This volition move the starting fourth dimension activeness brought past times fictional characters for infringement of their rights to liberty of thought, conscience in addition to religion nether Article nine of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) besides equally their correct of liberty of facial expression nether Article ten of the same convention.

In an interview this morn on White City Radio, Ms Lou Biloux for the BBC has described the proposed activeness equally vexatious in addition to equally trivialising the notion of human rights. Mr Andrew Pandy, acting for The Tweenies, withal points out that human rights protection has already been given to fictional bodies such equally corporations and media personalities and that the European Court of Human Rights could unremarkably move expected to order a favourable ruling if the respondent was business office of the British establishment. Pandy commented that fictional grapheme abuse is rife inside the BBC, adding that this illustration may larn a shape action.

Find out what The Tweenies are doing today
Show your solidarity amongst the White City Seven past times organising a world rendition of their campaign song
Get your Tweenies ringtones here
For a rant almost The Tweenies click here in addition to scroll downward to 25 April.

Selasa, 29 Juli 2003

Copyright Function Created Yesteryear Accident

Dannii Minogue, known for her contributions to the musical life of this as well as other countries, may good bring bestowed a copyright-protected dramatic hap the basis without fifty-fifty trying. Ananova reports that, during a recent concert, Ms Minogue started pointing at a lake behind the arena to alarm the audience that a crewman was inward problem later his boat capsized. However, the audience mistook this noble-hearted gesture for a novel trip the calorie-free fantastic toe as well as began pointing dorsum at her. wonders whether this trip the calorie-free fantastic toe would live on protected yesteryear copyright had it been performed inward the UK. The notion of a dramatic industrial plant is said inward department three of the CDPA 1988 to include dances, simply tin such gesticulation live on considered a dance? Must a trip the calorie-free fantastic toe live on intentionally created to count every bit a dance? It belike doesn’t affair because mimes are also expressly said to live on dramatic industrial plant and, inward whatever event, in that place is no exhaustive listing of industrial plant that tin live on considered dramatic works. For the copyright protection to boot in, Minogue would bring to exhibit that the move had been recorded simply presumably soul inward the audience was videoing the concert – the concert may fifty-fifty bring been recorded for commercial or broadcasting purposes. It mightiness live on a picayune flake to a greater extent than hard for her to assert her moral rights. To enforce her correct to live on identified every bit the writer she’d bring to assert her correct origin as well as the IPKat is unsure how the courtroom would persuasion a derogatory handling claim when the discipline of the claim arose yesteryear accident.

Learn how to rescue sailors inward problem here
Learn how to attain Dannii Minogue’s favourite dish here

Vote - Or The Beanz Snuff It It

Writing in The Daily Telegraph today, Campaign editor Caroline Marshall identifies a leitmotiv inwards Heinz's brand marketing: the endangered species. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few years agone Heinz warned consumers it would shelve its SALAD CREAM concoction if they kept buying mayonnaise instead. This sparked off a "save our Salad Cream" displace inwards the national press. SALAD CREAM was saved, relaunched amongst a cost ascension too forthwith sponsors the ITV lather Emmerdale. Now the same strategy is beingness employed for Heinz' baked beans. Two weeks agone Heinz announced it was considering ditching what Marshall calls the most celebrated slice of dyslexia inwards British advertising: "Beanz Meanz Heinz". In its novel displace Heinz is urging consumers either to "save our slogan" or "vote for change". It volition hold upward showing a serial of historical edible bean TV ads to tending viewers build their decision. Bean fanatics tin vote via Sky's interactive TV platforms, yesteryear text message or yesteryear visiting the website beanzmeanzheinz.com where at that spot are daily updates on the results.

Most consumers bring voted to decease on the slogan fifty-fifty though it was final used xiii years ago. This shows how good Heinz has manipulated nostalgia for a job that a whole generation of teenagers has never heard to spin a media story.

For the Emmerdale Salad Cream advertising lick here too scroll downward till yous larn it
Make your ain salad cream here
On the history of baked beans click here
Make coin here from archival baked beans
For jokes well-nigh baked beans, endeavor another blog

Senin, 28 Juli 2003

Och Yes The No

The BBC reports that it has conclusive proof that the Loch Ness monster does non exist. This got the IPKat to thinking (after rejoicing – lack of sea-monsters agency to a greater extent than fish for felines). If there’s no Loch Ness monster, in addition to therefore the photographs which supposedly demo it must live on fakes. Certain of those fakes are doctored photographs (in other words, someone has added item to the master copy photograph at a after date). This has copyright implications.

First, what type of function are nosotros talking close for the purposes of the subsistence of copyright if nosotros cause got a photograph which someone has drawn on in addition to reproduced? Both photographs in addition to drawings are classed equally artistic industrial plant nether Section 4(1)(a) of the Copyright Designs in addition to Patents Act 1988. More interesting though is who owns the copyright inwards the doctored photo? Assuming that the photograph was doctored past times a mortal other than the writer of the photograph, has the mortal who touches upwards the photograph created a novel master copy function or has he simply infringed the photographer’s copyright inwards the photograph. In Frank Searle’s case, he seems to cause got taken an chemical gene from a postcard in addition to superimposed this onto a photograph therefore he may also cause got infringed the copyright of the creator of the postcard. Finally, inwards the United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland at least, the master copy lensman may live on able to claim an infringement of his moral rights nether s.80 CDPA. Under this section, an writer tin strength out object to derogatory handling of his work. One of the tests of whether handling is derogatory is whether it volition harm the author’s reputation. Involvement inwards a photo-faking scandal would live on pretty damaging to a serious lensman (or fifty-fifty simply someone taking vacation snaps).

According to this site, the Loch Ness monster is long dead.
All things Nessie-inspired here
See if yous tin strength out rails downward the monster here
Meet the entirely humans to cause got met the Loch Ness monster here. Here’s the tartan yous bespeak to brand your Loch Ness kilt.
Read close Nessie’s niggling sis inwards Loch Lochy here
Another doctored photograph scandal here

Obelix Bar Brawl Inwards Portugal

The subscription service World Trademark Law Report has late brought word of a colourful footling spat inward the Portuguese courts betwixt French publishers Les Editions Albert René Sarl together with a bar-owner called Madaleno. Albert René, having registered the discussion rank OBELIX inward Portugal for a multifariousness of goods together with services, was displeased to detect that Madaleno's draw of piece of job organization was trading every bit the Obelix-Bar. The Court of Golegã ruled that the bar infringed the mark, exactly what was interesting was the enquiry of damages. Normally yous can't larn merchandise rank infringement damages inward Portugal ― or indeed inward most other places ― without showing some bear witness of loss. In this representative even together with thence the courtroom said, inward a conclusion which merchandise rank owners volition welcome, that iv years' unauthorised purpose of the OBELIX merchandise rank was per se bear witness of loss. The rank of damages was entirely around 1,500 euro though.

Make friends amongst Obelix here
For a Korean recipe Obelix would allegedly accept loved, stance here
This is where yous purchase your sum colouring high-density plastic figurine of Obelix carrying a menhir
Visit the Menhir Sanctuary here

Minggu, 27 Juli 2003

Microsoft Patent Case

Earlier this month, Microsoft lost inwards the pre-trial phase of a lawsuit brought against it inwards the Northern California District Court by InterTrust Technologies. InterTrust claims that 85% of Microsoft’s production attain infringes its digital-rights management together with trusted systems patents.

Background to the example here
Read almost around other of Microsoft’s less successful patent cases hither

Sabtu, 26 Juli 2003

Have A Interruption Representative Goes To Ecj

Société des Produits Nestlé SA v Mars UK of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland Ltd is the latest UK of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland merchandise marks instance to instruct to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) inwards Luxembourg. Nestlé's slogan "Have a suspension ― direct maintain a KIT KAT" was extremely good known inwards the UK, where it had been used extensively for many years inwards adverts for KIT KAT chocolate bars. When Nestlé applied to register the words HAVE H5N1 BREAK every mo a merchandise mark, Mars opposed on the grounds that the orbit was non distinctive. The Hearing Officer held that HAVE H5N1 BREAK had non acquired distinctive grapheme through role made of it earlier the appointment of the application. The sticking betoken was that he was non prepared to convey that extensive role of "Have a suspension ― direct maintain a KIT KAT" constituted prove of the distinctiveness of the words HAVE H5N1 BREAK past times themselves.

Nestlé's appeal to the High Court having failed, the society appealed farther to the Court of Appeal, which has asked the ECJ whether the distinctive grapheme of a orbit referred to inwards Article 3(3) of Council Directive 89/104 (to guess the laws of the fellow member states relating to merchandise marks) in addition to Article 7(3) of Council Regulation 40/94 (on the Community merchandise mark) may travel acquired next or inwards termination of the role of that orbit every mo percentage of or inwards conjunction amongst some other mark.

If the ECJ answers "yes", the conclusion of the jurist in addition to the hearing officeholder volition travel laid aside in addition to the affair remitted to a dissimilar hearing officer. If the ruling is inwards the negative, the conclusions of the jurist in addition to the hearing officeholder volition travel held to travel right every mo a affair of law.

To abide by why The Guardian thinks Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia should direct maintain a suspension from Nestlé click here
Looking for person to direct maintain a suspension with? Click here
For the dietary benefits of having a suspension click here
To brand Kit Kat ® bars click here
To brand generic kit kat bars click here

Jumat, 25 Juli 2003

Top 100 Brands

Interbrand and Business Week have published their list of the summit 100 most valuable brands of 2003. The rankings were based on projected profits, discounted to reverberate how probable those profits were to materialise. In lodge to move eligible, the brands had to move valued at over $1 billion. They had to derive at to the lowest degree a 3rd of their sales from exterior their habitation countries as well as accept a pregnant distribution throughout the Americas, Europe as well as Asia (although presumably non Africa as well as Australasia as well as inward fact at that topographic point are no brands from those 2 continents on the list). The take away for the brands to accept publicly available marketing as well as fiscal information also knocked some major brands out.
Not surprisingly, COCA COLA is top-dog, amongst MICROSOFT second as well as IBM third. Top non-US construct is NOKIA at issue 6, which is Finnish. For the parochially-minded, 5½ British brands made it on to the list: HSBC (37); BP (69); REUTERS (76); SMIRNOFF (85); JOHNNIE WALKER (99) as well as SHELL (which is articulation British as well as Dutch owned) (83).

Learn nigh effective branding here.
Utterly irrelevant site flora spell searching for information nigh branding here.

Kamis, 24 Juli 2003

Ipkat Invitee Blogger Of The Month

Each calendar month Ipkat invites a prominent fellow member of the intellectual belongings community to contribute a invitee blog. Our kickoff invitee blogger is London-based barrister Ashley W. Roughton of Hogarth Chambers. Ashley’s do covers a broad multifariousness of IP topics too he is a co-author of The Modern Law of Trade Marks. He has lately appeared inwards Arsenal 5 Reed. Ashley’s chosen dependent plain is file wrapper estoppel, a U.S. of America legal concept which is existence spoken of inwards U.K. courts alongside increasing frequency. If yous receive got whatever comments on Ashley’s invitee blog, delight mail them to us at theipkat@yahoo.co.uk.

File wrapper estoppel (where a patent applicant is absolutely fountain past times representations made to the Patent Office) is unknown inwards the UK. However it seems incorrect that an applicant tin give the axe larn his patent past times telling the Patent Office that his patent specification or claims hateful i affair too after enjoin the courtroom something quite dissimilar inwards social club to select handgrip of an alleged infringer. How much, asks the law, tin give the axe this variety of behavior enlarge the defendant’s rights? In the U.K. the answer is non at all: it is non the defendant’s rights which are enlarged but those of the claimant which are diminished. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 patent claim non drafted inwards expert organized religious belief too inwards demand of a narrowing amendment may non live amended without the discretionary permission of the court, which takes into account, amid other things, shifts inwards the applicant’s position. But at trial the applicant is non held to his representations to the Patent Office. There is around sense inwards this: if file wrapper estoppel becomes a U.K. doctrine, the overall patent specification essentially comprises the lastly granted claims too specification equally good equally the Patent Office file held inwards Newport and, possibly, whatever oral representations which tin give the axe live established inwards evidence. So instead of having i document to assay too construe, yous receive got 2 too perhaps around hearsay. The Comptroller is non obliged to keep her files but exactly to keep the register.

Imagine immediately that the CEO of Largeco, a pharmaceutical company, announces that "our latest patent volition halt nobody producing hurting killers containing proprionic acid derivatives". Smallco produces a proprionic acid derivative hurting killer too Largeco sues. Smallco argues that (i) what the CEO said is a world declaration that strict legal rights volition non live enforced, which Smallco relied upon to its detriment (a classic estoppel situation) too (ii) that what the CEO said amounts to a licence. The instant declaration is hard because a bare licence tin give the axe live withdrawn on reasonable notice, say vi months, when Smallco wants to produce. The kickoff defense forcefulness is, however, upheld. Plenty of regime back upwards this proffer too many defences receive got succeeded along these lines, though U.K. courts volition non construe a patent’s claims too specifications past times reference to what others say virtually it - fifty-fifty if those others ain it.

Now, what is the departure betwixt the CEO making his declaration world or writing it downward on newspaper too depositing it inwards a publicly accessible Patent Office file? Superficially the answer seems to live none, though U.K. constabulary mightiness non regard this equally estoppel unless Smallco shows it read that document earlier it embarked upon production. Estoppel arises because what is said is exactly a declaration that Largeco volition non insist upon its strict legal rights ― but it must live clear too unequivocal too it must live intended that Smallco volition human action upon it. The departure betwixt this too file wrapper estoppel is huge. The latter imposes no apparent requirement of reliance ― the doctrine tin give the axe live relied upon fifty-fifty if the prosecution file was non read earlier the infringing acts took place.

Do nosotros demand file wrapper estoppel inwards the UK? Mr Justice Jacob inwards the lately reported Celltech Chiroscience illustration justifiably advises caution. The European prosecution file would live inwards whatever i of iii languages and, if U.S. of America sense is anything to boot the bucket by, many U.S. of America patent infringement proceedings are taken upwards alongside arguments virtually what the prosecution file genuinely meant. Conversely U.K. courts receive got faced footling existent criticism of the manner they construe patent claims too specifications.

New Geographical Indications

The next products convey been registered equally protected geographical indications yesteryear the European Commission recently:

Molise (Italy)
Welsh Lamb (United Kingdom)
Nürnberger Bratwürste/Nürnberger Rostebratwürste (Germany)
Pane di Altamura (Italy)
Finki Lakonais (Greece)

The EU’s protected geographical indications homepage here.
Read nearly Welsh Lamb here.
Find out nearly Molise here. Typical products from Molise here
Useful data for when y'all cash inward one's chips lost inward Alto Crotonese (and tin locomote utter Italian).
When inward Nürnberg, swallow your bratwurst hither http://www.bratwurst-gloeckl.de/.
Follow the fortunes of Altamura’s football game squad here.
International Olive Oil Council here.

Beckham As Well As Hulk Rising Precisely Royals Fall

The extent to which celebrity condition is a human correct and/or a purely commercial correct has been the bailiwick of much recent speculation inwards the UK, next the here

Rum Rumpus Inward British Pubs

UK world family chain JD Wetherspoon, the ninth-fastest growing companionship inwards Europe, has shocked the world’s Bacardi together with Coke drinkers past times instructing its pubs to stock competitor brands of white rum inwards house of Bacardi. Bacardi is insisting that Wetherspoons tells drinkers who enquire for a Bacardi together with Coke that what they are beingness served upward amongst isn’t genuinely Bacardi. Wetherspoons don’t charge per unit of measurement this equally a big problem. According to their companionship chairman “Most of the time, [customers] don’t genuinely know what they’re drinking, most of the fourth dimension it’s merely some other white rum”.

Click here to get Bacardi together with Coke. Learn here about Bacardi’s challengers inwards the white rum market. To meet how rum together with cola crystallites of the cocktail look nether a polarised lite microscope click here. For the words of the calypso Rum & Coca-Cola click here

Rabu, 23 Juli 2003

It's Fine Art - Simply Is It Inward Practiced Taste?

Yesterday IPKAT posted its thoughts on a coming together at the ICA at which at that topographic point was around intelligence every bit to the unsuitability of copyright every bit a agency of protecting around modern fine art forms, for event conceptual art. the work of what constitutes an "artistic work" is tricky together with volition non larn away. Thirty years agone the Tate Gallery's buy of Carl Andre's Equivalent VIII caused a storm, amongst many critics bespeak why populace coin had been spent on a pile of bricks. But here. Buy your Nibble Mouse here. Pink wafer information here.



Us Copyright Bill

Two Democratic Congressmen, John Conyers, Jr., and Howard Berman, get got introduced the Author, Consumer, together with Computer Owner Protection together with Security Act of 2003 (the ACCOPS Act for short). Most significantly:

1.The Bill clarifies that uploading a unmarried copyright-infringing file to a publicly-accessible calculator network counts every bit a felony nether US copyright law.
2.It requires file-trafficking software distributors to obtain consent from consumers who download their software if the software takes over the consumers’ computers to search other peoples’ computers for content or to shop files.
3.It makes it a federal offence, punishable past times fine together with upwards to five years imprisonment to render imitation contact data when registering a domain cite if the registrant has cognition that the data is imitation together with has fraudulent intent.
4.The Bill would become far a federal offence to video films at cinemas.

Don’t know if the Bill volition larn passed yet, exactly if it does (1) volition bolster the attempts of copyright owners to cleft downwardly on individuals who download copyright-protected operate spell (3) should inward theory become far easier for disgruntled companies to rail downwardly cybersquatters.

Read the Congressmens’ press loose here.

Surfing, Merchandise Order Style

Have a await at www.inta.com and www.marques.com. You may hold upwards surprised yesteryear what you lot find...

(INTA is an international merchandise score owners' involvement group, MARQUES is a European build owners' association.)

Selasa, 22 Juli 2003

Ipkat Visits The Ica

The IPKAT (and its masters) paid a see to the Institute of Contemporary Arts to ask heed Hogarth Chambers barristers Ashley Roughton and Simon Malynicz conduct a mock trial over whether Honda’s “Cog” auto squall infringes Fischli as well as Weiss’ cinema Der Lauf der Dinge (The Way Things Go). Fischli as well as Weiss’ cinema consists of a serial of everyday objects falling inwards a domino effect, patch Honda’s ii infinitesimal squall involves parts of a Honda Accord falling inwards similar fashion, eventually causing a consummate Honda Accord motorcar to curl off a gradient as well as unfurl a banner. The declaration centred on whether copyright subsisted inwards Fischli as well as Weiss’ cinema every bit a dramatic operate as well as whether, if it did, at that spot was a taking of a substantial business office of their operate (as is necessary for copyright infringement) past times Honda inwards its advert.

Honda "won" because they had non taken plenty of the original operate to own got infringed it, although their activities did non run across amongst approval. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 few points stand upwards out though:

The protection of contemporary fine art past times copyright is a novel as well as controversial area. Many examples of such fine art create non jibe easily (if at all) into the taxonomy of industrial plant that are listed inwards the statute every bit beingness eligible for copyright protection as well as and then may non last protected past times copyright. With the exception of Norowzian v Arks (No. 2) [2000] ECDR 205 there’s likewise rattling niggling precedental ascendance inwards this area.

Contemporary fine art v. advertising cases are a two-way street. Sometimes advertisers are inspired past times as well as simulate fine art industrial plant but oftentimes it’s the other agency simply about as well as it’s the artists who own got off adverts. The legal issues tin laissez passer on notice last unlike though because the afterward illustration may last viewed every bit a parody patch the onetime illustration is to a greater extent than clearly commercially driven.

Simon suggested that industrial plant of fine art that are intended to parody other industrial plant of fine art or adverts may create goodness inwards the United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland from the fair dealing for the purposes of criticism or review defense strength to copyright infringement. This is an intriguing prospect, although the creative someone may own got a difficult fourth dimension proving this because the criticism of the before operate is mostly implied as well as left for the viewers to figure out for themselves.

Honda’s squall has been parodied inwards another squall (be patient as well as click on the pinnacle TV) for 118 118 yell upwards directory services. If Honda’s squall was institute to last infringing, would the parody squall likewise own got infringed Fischli as well as Weiss’ film?

Barbara Taylor Bradford Loses Indian Copyright Claim

Barbara Taylor Bradford has lost her copyright claim against Sahara TV together with has been fined 150,00 rupees for every calendar week that she held upwards the screening of the defendant’s boob tube series. The writer claimed that the boob tube fellowship had plagiarised her novel A Woman of Substance in its 260 role lather Karishma, The Miracle of Destiny. However, the courtroom said that Taylor Bradford could non accept a monopoly on the sentiment of a woman’s rags-to-riches story.

Visit 1 of the many websites about Karishma Kapoor, the star of Karishma, The Miracle of Destiny.
Another rags-to-riches floor here.

Uk Authorities Slammed For Failure To Protect Smes

In a letter to The Times legal supplement today 268 signatories -- including clockwork radio inventor Trevor Bayliss OBE -- pillory the U.K. government’s mental attitude towards patent enforcement, specially amongst consider to the plight of SMEs (small together with medium-sized enterprises). “If Government ready out to blueprint a patent organisation that failed to run across the needs of SME inventors together with discouraged innovation, hence the 1 inwards identify would locomote roughly it”, they complain. In identify of the electrical flow organisation they advocate compulsory arbitration of patent disputes too every bit the institution of a patent defence strength matrimony and the introduction of additional damages for infringement. “It is high fourth dimension that the Government delivered on its hope to back upward Britain’s innovative businesses together with individuals” past times introducing the changes outlined inwards their letter.

Click here for the EU’s CORDIS programme on project design together with SMEs. Find out here how clockwork radios work. Learn here how ideas21 tin dismiss assistance SMEs.

A Alphabetic Lineament To Those Who Accept Ears That See

An interesting event of viral advertising from across the Pond. Nissan is pirating its ain advertisements for Nissan Almeiras. Ordinary advertisements for Almeiras are posted only overnight they are seemingly graffitied with, for example, stereo speakers in addition to the address www.electricmoyo.com. Other adverts are fly-posted in addition to are meant to await similar “street art” in addition to Nissan radio adverts are supposedly hijacked past times the phonation of Electric Moyo (examples here). H5N1 catch to the Electric Moyo website reveals that, underneath all the “cool jargon”, it’s all a Nissan publicity stunt. On entering the site, the next message appears:

"Much abide by to Nissan for allowing us to purpose their billboards in addition to radio commercials equally industrial plant of art, representing the kultcha of Electric MOYO in addition to promoting our message of freedom, access in addition to respect. These industrial plant of artistic messaging would non cause got been possible without Nissan's permission, in addition to equally a number our industrial plant are to a greater extent than powerful in addition to further reaching. The message of Electric MOYO is non nearly vandalism in addition to does non promote it. My message is nearly harnessing the ability of responsible artistic aspect amongst corporate participation to convey nearly to a greater extent than freedom, access in addition to abide by for myself in addition to the people of Electric MOYO."

Nissan’s senior director for youth in addition to urban communications has been quoted equally saying: “We've been looking for innovative ways to communicate amongst forward-thinking, media-savvy multicultural youth”. This looks a chip similar an endeavor to larn equally many buzz-words equally possible inward a unmarried judgement in addition to I’m non actually how the “multicultural youth” volition accept to a car companionship pretending to endure a cultural collective.

Read to a greater extent than nearly the floor here in addition to here.

The championship of this slice is taken from the Electric Moyo site. Need I order more?


Ipkat's Novel Home

We've had roughly technical difficulties amongst the blogging software that we've been using as well as so we've switched to Blogger - thus the novel look. Unfortunately though we've lost the mightiness for people to larn out comments. We're working on it, precisely until nosotros managed to course something out delight email whatever comments to theipkat@yahoo.co.uk or either Jeremy or Ilanah.

Senin, 21 Juli 2003

Elvisly Profitable

Elvis entrepreneur Sid Shaw has announced that he is looking for a fiscal partner to expand his Elvisly Yours merchandising business. Shaw’s trouble organization is built on his 1999 Court of Appeal victory against Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. At the trial Laddie J upheld the correct of every individual to telephone telephone his identify or fifty-fifty his domestic dog Elvis without fearfulness of legal reprisal. The Court of Appeal added that it could non last assumed that “only a celebrity or his successors may always marketplace position his ain character”.

At introduce Sid has granted to a greater extent than than 300 licences for the purpose of his ELVISLY YOURS merchandise score for Elvis memorabilia. “My merchandise marks give official condition to my products as well as I believe they give a licence to impress money”, the Lord's Day Telegraph Business News reports him every bit saying: “I would similar to notice a fiscal partner amongst balls, movement as well as imagination to deal me stone as well as roll, developing a worldwide Elvis business”.

Will Elvis furnish to assert the rights inwards his advert as well as likeness? Click here for recent sightings.
For Elvis-style weddings as well as religious experiences click here and here respectively
Get your bluish suede shoes here
To tickle Elvis, click here and wiggle your mouse


Sabtu, 19 Juli 2003

Parallel Packaging Inward Colouring

In Glaxo together with others 5 Dowelhurst together with others the claimants were all companies which made master pharmaceutical products together with the defendants were all parallel importers of the claimants’ products from elsewhere inwards the European Economic Area into the UK. In a complex activity involving dissimilar types of repackaging of several dissimilar merchandise mark-protected products, the claimants objected to the mode inwards which their products had been repackaged or relabelled without their consent together with sued for merchandise rate infringement. After questions concerning the lawfulness of repackaging together with relabelling had been referred to the European Court of Justice, the parties came dorsum to the High Court inwards England together with then that Laddie J could cause upwards one's remove heed the resultant of liability.

This Feb Laddie J issued guidance equally to how the resultant of liability should last dealt with. The defendants after applied to the High Court for a announcement that their packaging, used for 2 item drugs, did non infringe whatever merchandise rate rights. The claimants argued that the job of coloring mightiness supply them alongside grounds for objection together with that, for repackaging purposes, solely dark together with white livery was permissible. It was the defendants’ argument that they were entitled to job whatever packaging equally long equally it minimised collateral harm to the claimants’ merchandise marks.

On xi July Laddie J allowed the parallel traders’ application. To cause upwards one's remove heed if the packaging was prohibited, ane must regard the parallel trader’s livery carried unnecessary merchandise rate significance which would guide maintain an adverse acquit on on the claimants’ merchandise rate rights. Laddie J’s master guidance did non truly enjoin that solely packaging which did non job coloring was permissible. Nor could it last said that all colour, used inwards whatever way, had merchandise rate significance. In this case, the disputed packaging liveries were really uncomplicated together with at that topographic point was no ground to suspect they had merchandise rate significance. No objection could accordingly last taken to them.

Jumat, 18 Juli 2003

A Rubbish Story

The London Metro lists the Garbage Pail Kids every 2nd 1 of its candidates for “Ultimate Retro Toy Heaven.” However, the trading cards featuring unsavoury characters such every 2nd Varicose Wayne are unlikely to brand a comeback because inwards the US of America example of Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. v. Topps Chewing Gum Inc. they were flora to infringe Original Appalachian’s copyright in addition to merchandise rate rights inwards the Cabbage Patch Kids. Topps, the makers of the Garbage Patch Kids were likewise flora to accept tarnished the Cabbage Patch Kids merchandise mark. So much for the innocence of youth…

Cabbage information here, here and here

Things non to practise alongside cabbage here

Little-known fact: World Cabbage Day is 17 February.

Should Nations Endure Branded? [Posted Past Times Ilanah Too Jeremy]

Writing inwards Design Week (10 July 2003) here and here
.


Kool Kat Of The Calendar Month - July

Each calendar month Ipkat volition nominate a Kool Kat who has made a big touching on intellectual holding law. We begin this calendar month alongside Jacopo (or Giacomo) Aconcio, an Italian cleric who served many years every bit clerk to the Bishop of Trento, inwards northern Italy. Aconcio, who lived inwards the 16th century, was a human being of bully versatility in addition to compassion. After suffering a crisis of conscience over his religious faith he left the service of the Catholic Church in addition to moved to Switzerland, where the Reformation had taken hold. But he did non remain in that place long.

In the 1550s he emigrated to England, where he was engaged inwards assessing the fortifications of Berwick Castle, to a greater extent than or less remnants of which tin flaming even in addition to thus travel seen today. Later he moved to London where he became an inventor in addition to devised a method for the draining of Plumstead Marshes. In 1559 he wrote to Queen Elizabeth in addition to asked for a monopoly inwards an conception he had made, to halt others copying it unfairly afterward he had spent in addition to thus much fourth dimension in addition to endeavour perfecting it. Although patents had been granted inwards England since 1331 this was the begin fourth dimension anyone had asked for a patent because he was an inventor. The Queen, realising that Aconcio was an one-time human being past times that time, did non give him a patent monopoly but granted him a pension for life. Nonetheless, the thought that patents should travel given every bit rewards for conception began to attain popularity at that indicate and, past times the Statute of Monopolies inwards 1624, had function the main justification for patent grants.

Aconcio did non alive long on his pension in addition to his cease was sad. Having written a powerful tract urging tolerance of Protestant groups past times the Catholic church, in addition to vice versa, he was rejected past times both in addition to died a religious outcast. But without his petition to the Queen, the patent organisation inwards England would non own got gained its early on impetus.

On Aconcio himself click here
For sources on the Reformation click here
To discovery out most Queen Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen, click here, here or (for the Bette Davis version) here
Find out to a greater extent than most Plumstead here

Kamis, 17 Juli 2003

Uk Courts Become Familiar Amongst Us Patent Doctrine

UK fellowship Celltech obtained a patent for humanised antibodies from the USPTO. Before it was granted, Celltech licensed a U.S.A. corporation, Medimmune, to develop, make, role too sell antibodies. Medimmune, who developed a humanised antibody which it sold nether the merchandise refer SYNAGIS, claimed that since its antibody would non convey infringed Celltech’s patent it did non convey to pay licence royalties. Celltech disgreed too sued for patent infringement, relying on the doctrine of equivalents, a dominion of U.S.A. patent constabulary past times which in that place mightiness endure infringement fifty-fifty if a production or procedure vicious exterior the literal pregnant of the words of the claim when understood inwards their context.
Medimmune argued that Celltech could non invoke the doctrine of equivalents because of simply about other characteristic of U.S.A. patent law, the doctrine of prosecution history estoppel. Medimmune sought to rely on ii types of prosecution history estoppel: (i) ’amendment estoppel’, which precludes a patentee from seeking protection for plain of written report thing that was relinquished or distinguished inwards the classify of the patent application too (ii) ’argument estoppel’, holds an applicant to the USPTO saltation past times unequivocal assertions he makes almost the reach or pregnant of his claims.
The lawsuit judge, Jacob J, dismissed the infringement claim, belongings that Celltech was saltation past times declaration estoppel but non past times amendment estoppel. Both parties appealed. The Court of Appeal today dismissed Celltech’s appeal but, past times a 2-1 majority, allowed Medimmune’s cross-appeal. What is interesting hither is the fashion the United Kingdom of Great Britain too Northern Ireland of Britain too Northern Republic of Ireland courts are gradually making themselves to a greater extent than at dwelling amongst important features of U.S.A. patent constabulary doctrine.

Chinese Copyright Case

The here
Chinese copyright police line here.
Depiction of the “dao” symbol here
Learn most Chinese calligraphy here
Learn to write Chinese calligraphy here

Rabu, 16 Juli 2003

Orange Together With Grayness Non Registrable Equally A Ctm

On ix July inwards Case T-234/01 Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG v. OHIM the Court of First Instance of the European Communities (CFI) affirmed OHIM’s determination to turn down an application to register every bit a Community merchandise score a combination of ii colours, orangish in addition to grey, alongside specified Pantone™ numbers, for a make of machines in addition to tools inwards Class 7. The CFI accepted that inwards regulation colours or combinations of colours could institute a CTM to the extent that they were capable of distinguishing the goods or services of ane project from those of another, citing its before determination inwards Case T-316/00, Viking-Umwelttechnik 5 OHIM (“Green in addition to grey”).
The CFI in addition to so went on to repeat its ain formulation of the objection nether Article 7(1)(b) CTMR, “devoid of distinctive character”. Such marks are those that produce non permit the identification of the master copy of goods or services in addition to therefore produce non permit the relevant populace to repeat a positive buy sense or to avoid a negative buy sense when considering a subsequent buy for the goods or services inwards question, run across Case T-79/00 Rewe-Zentral 5 OHIM (LITE).

The CFI emphasised that Article 7(1)(b) does non distinguish betwixt unlike types of marks but confirms its asset that the perception of the relevant populace is non necessarily the same for all types of marks; inwards particular, in that place is a big divergence betwixt colouring cloth marks in addition to give-and-take marks because colouring cloth marks are non commonly used to position origin, run across the Viking case. The CFI agreed alongside the OHIM Board of Appeal that greyness is oftentimes used every bit the colouring cloth of metallic or plastic of which tools are commonly composed. When it comes to the combination of greyness in addition to orange, the score every bit represented was a pure colouring cloth combination without reference to where exactly or how exactly it would live applied to the surface of a production or its packaging, without providing a concrete instance of the “distribution” of the ii colours. The CFI also stated that the detail combination of colouring cloth would non live recognised every bit a sign because the distribution of the ii components was non given systematically on the products in addition to could live used inwards real numerous unlike arrangements, which would non permit the consumer to apprehend in addition to memorise a detail combination that would in addition to so live utilised to re-iterate in addition to repeat a buy experience, inwards an immediate in addition to certainly manner. The relevant populace would non reckon this detail colouring cloth combination every bit a sign indicating that thus-coloured products conduct maintain the same provenance of a detail enterprise, but rather would reckon it to live a unproblematic chemical element of complete of the products. Thus rejection nether Article 7(1)(b) was amply justified.

A foreign characteristic of this determination is that it made no advert of the European Court of Justice’s recent landmark determination inwards Case C-104/01 Libertel.
The Andreas Stilh determination is available in all European Union official languages except English linguistic communication in addition to Italian. This article has been prepared from a banking concern complaint past times Tibor Gold.

Branded From A Immature Age

In an article inward the New York Times reminiscent of certainly parts of Naomi Klein’s No Logo (tie-in website here), Alissa Quart (reviews of her Branded hither and here) has slammed the encroachment of brands into pretty much every expression of schoolhouse life inward the United States. The trial has been brought into focus past times the determination of certainly schoolhouse boards to ban junk foods from vending machines inward the schoolhouse grounds because of the link betwixt such foods as well as teenage obesity. Quart goes 1 further, argument that the pupils “soak up” the branding on such products. However, this is exclusively the tip of the iceberg, amongst sponsorship taking many forms, including advertising inward corridors, educational materials sponsored past times companies, plain trips to shopping centres as well as Channel One a schoolhouse telly network that shows advertising.
For example, Quart reports:

“One teenager from Texas who attends a schoolhouse sponsored past times a soda fellowship lately told me that she was non allowed to gulp other sodas inward schoolhouse as well as and thus was coerced into roofing her textbooks amongst newspaper bearing the logo as well as the icon of that build of soda.”

Should IP lawyers experience guilty? Well, at to the lowest degree a little. The branding gets into schools through sponsorship deals as well as mortal has to draw upwards those deals. Also, the tangible symbol of the build ideals that are beingness foisted on to schoolchildren is our proficient friend the merchandise score -- exactly delight experience gratis to differ…

Channel One, the US TV network for schools here.
Field Trip Factory, which sends children on plain trips to the shops of its corporate sponsors here.

Named Too Shamed

The United Kingdom of Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland of Britain as well as Northern Republic of Ireland Patent Office, concerned past times surely cases where the loser inward inter partes merchandise score opposition cases has failed to pay his part of the winner’s costs, has published a list of defaulting losing parties inward an endeavour to encourage them to pay upward without the involve for farther legal action. The Registrar doesn’t genuinely convey the ability to enforce the terms orders only tin impose safety for costs on parties engaged inward proceedings if he believes that they volition non honour whatever costs orders made against them. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 survey to investigate the extent of the unpaid costs work has besides been launched.

Selasa, 15 Juli 2003

Ifpi Names Altitude 10 Host Nations For Cd Piracy

IFPI, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), has listed the tiptop 10 markets for pirated CDs inward its novel publication, the Commercial Piracy Report 2003. In alphabetical social club they are Brazil, China, Mexico, Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand as well as the Ukraine. The criteria for inclusion inward this listing include the value of the pirate marketplace set inward each country, the amount size of the legitimate marketplace set as well as the year-on-year growth of the pirate as well as legitimate marketplace set from 2001 to 2002.
According to the report, sales of pirated CDs accept to a greater extent than than doubled since 1999, from 510 meg to to a greater extent than than ane billion copies inward 2002 alongside an estimated value of $4.6 billion inward 2002, a 7% growth over 2001. The worst offending acre is China, according to the report, where to a greater extent than than 90% of all its recordings were pirated. China’s illegal music marketplace set is said to endure worth to a greater extent than than $530 million.

To run into the amount study click here. For details of counterfeit CDs inward mainland People's Republic of China click here and here.

Stand Together With Deliver, My Precious Flower

London police pull theatre Mischon de Reya has launched TuLIP (short for “Turning Losses into Profits”). The stated aim is “recovering coin as well as lost profits straight from the counterfeiters using all the weapons available inwards the civil courts”, which the theatre claims is to a greater extent than efficient than seizing counterfeit goods as well as sending out cease as well as desist letters. Curiously, they advertise this service every bit an investment chance claiming that “For every pound invested, TuLIP aims to gain a provide of at to the lowest degree ii to three times that investment”. Certainly there’s coin to last made from IP litigation (as long every bit you’re successful!) only would anybody depict measures against counterfeiter every bit an investment? (Although it’s i manner of beating depression involvement rates…)
A beginning from the theatre rather charmingly describes the target defendants every bit “brand bandits” (quoted inwards the Times - costless registration required) which makes a modify from the green “pirate” label.

Tulip information here.

Bandits at high noon here.

Go caput to caput alongside your favourite pirate here, here or here.

Senin, 14 Juli 2003

I'm Total Class...And I've Got The T-Shirt To Test It

Today Jacob J delivered a decision partially revoking for certain ANIMAL marks. The revocation was the lawsuit of a counter-claim brought yesteryear Medici Limited when H Young (Operations) Limited, the possessor of the ANIMAL grade for for certain surfing themed items together with article of apparel challenged Medici’s utilization of ANIMALE for sedate article of apparel for to a greater extent than mature ladies.
The estimate said that partial revocation must last judged according to a fair description that would last used yesteryear the average consumer for the products inwards which the grade has been used yesteryear the proprietor (following ESB). In gild to decide this ane should assume:

“that the average consumer is told that the grade volition larn absolute protection ("the umbra") for utilization of the identical grade for whatsoever goods coming inside his description together with protection depending on confusability for a like grade or the same grade on like goods ("the penumbra"). Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot depends on the nature of the goods – are they specialist or of a to a greater extent than general, everyday nature? Has at that spot been utilization for simply ane specific item or for a hit of goods? Are the goods on the High Street? And together with then on. The whole practise consists inwards the goal of forming a value judgment every bit to the appropriate specification having reckon to the utilization which has been made.”

As a result, an endeavour to boundary the surfing company’s grade yesteryear ikon to “surf-type goods” to younger consumers was rejected because consumers would non distinguish betwixt types of clothes inwards such a way. Similarly, consumers produce non brand a distinction betwixt types of garments (e.g. jeans v. dresses) for this role together with then a claim for “clothing” without farther qualification was fine.
Certain of the other claims were narrowed however. Most interesting is the claim for boxes together with packaging containers. The estimate said that utilization of the grade on the packaging which goods bought yesteryear the merchandise grade owner’s customers does non count every bit merchandise grade utilization because at that spot is non merchandise inwards the packaging together with and then the registration for those items was removed.
The judge’s smashing fashion feel demonstrated inwards describing Medici’s article of apparel is worthy of note:

“The garments are simultaneously elegant together with casual, the form of affair that mightiness last worn at a wedding, a casual dinner political party of the oculus class, peradventure especially inwards summertime or on the promenade inwards Nice or Torquay. Much of the hit is designed to last coordinated, that is to order ane item may good larn amongst another, though of course of pedagogy many women purchase clothes which tin last used either individually amongst other garments. The garments are non really expensive.”

Visit the surfing lawyer here.

They’Re All Going On A Summertime Holiday

The European Court of Justice is on opor-garai from today (Monday fourteen July) to five September 2003. If yous desire to know near legal implications of chickens, trainers or chewing mucilage you’ll only convey to wait.

Get into the opor-garai mood here.

Catch It Spell Yous Can

The BBC that DVDs that self-destruct inside 48 hours are to endure launched side past times side calendar month past times Flexplay Technologies. The DVDs won’t produce anything every bit exciting every bit exploding. Instead they tardily plough dark 2 days later they root come upward into contact amongst air, important that they tin no longer endure read past times the Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation equipment inside the DVD player. The attraction is that they tin endure sold cheaply inwards house of rented films. However, the BBC points out that this applied scientific discipline could assay out a inexpensive source of cloth for pirates every bit they produce non accept whatever extra copy-protection compared to ordinary DVDs.

Football Association Premier League Ltd As Well As Others 5 Panini Uk Ltd

INCIDENTAL INCLUSION” COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT DECISION UPHELD

Last Fri inward Football Association Premier League Ltd as well as others v Panini Great Britain Ltd [2003] EWCA Civ 995 the Court of Appeal for England as well as Wales dismissed Panini’s appeal against a ruling that it had infringed the claimants’ artistic copyright. Panini sold unofficial football game sticker albums together amongst photos of footballers from the Premier League clubs. Almost every histrion was depicted wearing a football game shirt which featured thes logo of his lodge as well as of the Premier League. The League, acting on behalf of the clubs, had previously granted to Panini’s competition Topps the exclusive rights to purpose as well as reproduce the official squad logos inward its official Premier League sticker collection.
The League, Topps and the clubs sued Panini for infringement of artistic copyright inward their logos as well as sought an injunction. Panini denied infringement, tilt that the inclusion of the logos inward its photos was “incidental” as well as that the incidental inclusion of a copyright live on inward about other live on was non an infringement nether the Copyright, Designs as well as Patents Act 1988, department 31. The trial gauge held that the purpose of the logos inward the sticker photographs was non incidental: that give-and-take meant “casual or of secondary importance” piece the inclusion of the logos was non “incidental” since it showed that the players’ photos were current.
The Court of Appeal dismissed Panini’s appeal. In its persuasion the interrogation was non ane of what mightiness bring been inward the hear of the lensman when he took the photos only what were the circumstances inward which the photos were created. To examination whether the purpose of ane live on inward about other was incidental ane should enquire why the ane had been included inward the other, considering commercial every bit good artistic reasons. Applying that examination it was clear that the purpose was non incidental. The Court added that the sticker albums themselves were in all likelihood literary industrial plant as well as non artistic industrial plant to which the “incidental inclusion” defense strength could apply.

Minggu, 13 Juli 2003

Connell To Register Tottenham For Metallic Ornaments As Well As Badges

SUCCESSFUL SPURS OPPOSITION

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club has successfully opposed an application past times Patricia Hard O’Connell as well as Michael O’Connell to register TOTTENHAM for metallic ornaments as well as badges, flags as well as diverse items of clothing. The applicants’ sign was identical to that owned past times the football game lodge as well as the goods applied for were either identical to those for which Tottenham Hotspur owned registrations or were really similar (the football game club’s specifications of goods were dependent champaign to certainly limitations) leading to a likelihood of confusion.
The applicants argued that their registration should larn ahead on grounds of honest concurrent purpose only the Hearing Officer said that honest concurrent purpose cannot last argued inwards Section 5(1) identical marks/identical goods cases because the protection granted to the registered scope proprietor inwards such cases is absolute. However, he idea that it could last argued inwards Section 5(2) cases because a history of 3rd parties using the scope would brand confusion less likely.

Get your Spurs kit here.

Rubber Duck Flotilla Boosts Build Identity

RUBBER DUCK FLOTILLA BOOSTS BRAND IDENTITY

According to the Telegraph website, inwards 1992 some 29,000 prophylactic ducks, saltation for America, spilled into the sea when their steel container broke. After drifting inwards circles amongst many tons of other lost cargo inwards the Pacific, they eventually floated northward to the Bering Sea. It took 3 to iv years for them to inch their mode through the H2O ice packs of the Arctic Ocean earlier emerging into the Atlantic. Some of these ducks are believed to convey floated due south past times the British Isles inwards 2001, on their mode to warmer tropical waters. But most floated due south past times south-west amongst the currents in addition to are expected to brand landfall inwards Canada inside the side past times side few weeks - past times directly bleached white from their master copy yellow, only their survival a testimony to the durability of plastic.
Some of the ducks, which convey been tracked past times oceanographers studying the menses of tides in addition to currents, yet convey traces of the advert of the fellowship that made them, The First Years, across their chests. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fellowship spokesman said that the fellowship was "surprised" at the durability of the product.
For data close Soft Ducky, quack here. For an index of duck recipes, click here. If yous detect a prophylactic duck, click here.