Rabu, 17 Maret 2004

The Supply Of The Badge Of Allegiance Argument

draws your attending to a recent decision of the United Kingdom of Great Britain together with Northern Ireland of Britain together with Northern Republic of Ireland Trade Mark Registry on the registrability of football game social club names for merchandising purposes. West Ham applied to register a serial of 7 merchandise marks including the chemical ingredient WEST HAM every bit merchandise marks for a broad break of goods. The O’Conells opposed the application, arguing that the marks were geographically descriptive nether s.3(1)(c) of the Trade Marks Act 1994, they were devoid of distinctive grapheme nether s.3(1)(b) because they acted every bit badges of allegiance together with because West Ham had no intention to occupation those marks every bit merchandise marks. The O’Connells claimed that the 7 marks also could non move registered every bit a serial nether s.41(2).

The hearing officeholder allowed the opposition inward part:
The geographical beginning objection applied simply to the WEST HAM rank inward solus because s.3(1)(c) simply covers marks which consist solely of signs or indications that may serve to designate geographical origin. This was non truthful of the other marks inward the series.
WEST HAM was non geographically descriptive nether s.3(1)(c) for most of the goods together with services applied for. In its Windsurfing Chiemsee test, the ECJ had non intended to advise that the fact that it was possible to make or merchandise inward goods from a detail place should move sufficient argue for a rank to move barred from registration every bit geographically descriptive. Instead, in that place must move a reasonably foreseeable likelihood that such circumstances volition arise. Here the listing of goods was extensive together with in that place was no ground for the objection inward relation to the vast bulk of items. The simply exception was that WEST HAM was a natural together with apt term to occupation inward relation to local newspapers together with hence the objection was valid inward then far every bit it applied to the application for “newspapers” together with “printed matter”. WEST HAM was also descriptive of “books”, “photographs”, “prints” together with “pictures”, which could move almost or of the surface area concerned.
Contrary to the O’Connells’ argument, in that place was no assort Earth of objection available nether s.3(1)(b) based on the mark’s significance every bit a geographical location.
The fact that the rank could serve every bit a badge of allegiance did non inward together with of itself hateful that it was lacking inward distinctive character. However, the badge of allegiance declaration did hateful that the marks were non distinctive inward honor of the signs that referred to the football game social club rather than the surface area when they were used on items almost or relating to the social club itself e.g. calendars, magazines together with stickers. Where the marks were used on such items they would make no to a greater extent than than depict the content or dependent area thing of those goods.
The O’Connells’ declaration nether s.3(6) that West Ham was applying for the marks inward bad organized faith was rejected. There was no testify that West Ham did non intend to occupation the marks for the whole gain of goods for which it applied. Football clubs make make a broad gain of merchandise together with West Ham had made the relevant application inward its application that it had a bona fide intention to occupation the mark. The declaration that West Ham simply intended to occupation the marks amongst other distinctive elements, together with hence had no intention to brand merchandise rank occupation of the marks applied for was an endeavour to re-run the badge of allegiance claim that could non move accepted. In whatsoever event, in that place was no testify that WEST HAM would non occupation the rank on its own.
The O’Connells were partially right that the fix of marks were non a serial nether s.41(2). WEST HAM was non would move perceived every bit a geographical area, whereas the other marks would move perceived every bit the mention of a football game club. Therefore the identity of the merchandise rank had been affected. However, all of the other vi marks could institute a serial since all would move understood together with denoting the football game club, fifty-fifty those which did non include the chemical ingredient “FC” of “football club”.

is surprised to run into the “badge of allegiance” approach popping upwardly inward the novel surface area of absolute grounds for the refusal of registration. He idea that the concept had died a decease subsequently Laddie J’s unsuccessful occupation of the term inward his reference to the ECJ inward Arsenal v Reed.

West Ham here, here and here
Hammers here and here

Winds Of Change: Perestroika Together With The Russian Copyright System

Today the IPKat went to listen Dr Irina Savelieva (White together with Savelieva LLP; Deputy Chairman of the Moscow City Bar Association) verbalize on “Winds of Change: 'Perestroika' of the Russian Copyright System”. Dr Salelieva began alongside an line of piece of job organization human relationship of copyright inward Russian Federation both earlier together with during the seventy years of Communism. During that period, copyright was viewed initially inward price of social utility; the industrial plant of authors such equally Checkhov together with Turgenev together with of composers such equally Tchaikowsky together with Rimsky-Korsakov were emancipated from copyright protection together with turned over for the complimentary usage of all. Eventually the Communist dry reason relented together with reintroduced, motivated both past times the ask to enable State-funded publishers to exploit industrial plant profitably together with past times the wishing to vantage politically acceptable creators.

Dr Salelieva traced the farther evolution of copyright inward Russian Federation from accession to the Universal Copyright Convention in 1973, through the subway scheme together with copyright-free samizdat movement to the heady days of entrepreneurial 21st century Moscow. She explained how institutions such equally neighbouring rights together with collective rights management, which close Western countries took for granted, are alien to Russian legal traditions .She also reviewed the evolution of inalienable, unwaivable together with perpetual moral rights, together alongside both the practical together with the theoretical difficulties which resulted from the enforcement of such rights. After discussing the socio-political together with economical demeanour upon of piracy upon the Russian economic scheme together with social fabric, Dr Salelieva reviewed the vagaries of World Trade Organization admission policy: piece countries such equally Armenia had legal systems that were for sure less transparent than that of Russian Federation together with were at to the lowest degree equally far from TRIPs compliance, those countries had been admitted to the WTO piece Russian Federation had not. In Russia’s instance in that place was nevertheless no official prospect of an IP possessor obtaining ex parte judicial relief; nor could the Customs regime human activity ex officio. However, these deficiencies were existence addressed either past times proposed legislation or past times activity taken on the role of roughly of the judges, together with thus presumably TRIPs accession together with WTO admission are inside Russia’s grasp.

was delighted to larn that copyright is such a alive number inward Russian Federation today, where roughly 60% of income generated past times copyright exploitation is earned past times Russian rights owners.

Some perspectives inward Russian copyright issues here, here and here
Play Russian roulette here, here and here
Charlotte russe here and here
TRIPs to Russian Federation here and here

Selasa, 16 Maret 2004

Ipkat Majority Review: Vocalist In Addition To Stauder’S “The European Patent Convention”

This, the 3rd edition of Margarete Singer together with Dieter Stauder’s The European Patent Convention: a Commentary, was published inwards 2 volumes final year. Volume 1 (£130) provides an analytical together with well-sourced draw of piece of job organisation human relationship of the Convention from the Preamble to Article 89 (together amongst the relevant Implementing Regulations, Protocols together with Rules), acre Volume 2 (£135) continues inwards the same vein from Article ninety through to Article 178. Although its editors dismissively pull it every bit a “short commentary” which is “above all a commentary for practitioners”, it is neither short, weighing inwards at over 1,600 pages, nor is it entirely practice-oriented, since it is enriched past times insights which become good beyond the niceties of practice, extending to the really principles of patent protection.

The trouble of preparing a operate of this nature is a daunting one, since it is non precisely a monumental legal operate but a massive translation, this 3rd edition beingness the English linguistic communication version of the High German minute edition. Although that edition appeared every bit long agone every bit 2000, the English linguistic communication translation has been updated together with includes word of EPC 2000.

peculiarly recommends the coverage of Articles 52 to 57 on patentability together with patentable subject-matter. This is the existent nitty-gritty of patent police push clit together with a vast corpus of text has been allowed to grow approximately these provisions. Singer together with Stauder’s volume succeeds inwards explaining the import of these Articles past times concentrating firmly on the essentials, summarising the original principles of patentability without sacrificing item inwards the degree of reference to the relevant Board together with Court decisions where helpful.

Allegedly greatest inventions here , here and here

Salami-Slicing Determination To Expire The Chop?

Last Th Advocate General Francis Jacobs gave his Opinion inwards Case C-329/02 P, where Sat.1 SatellitenFernsehen GmbH appealed against the Court of First Instance's refusal to let the registration of the give-and-take score SAT.2 for a broad diverseness of services, including satellite broadcasting. The CFI ruled that SAT.2 was lacking inwards distinctive grapheme (Regulation 40/94, Art.7(1)(b)) inwards relation to the satellite broadcasting. In doing so, the CFI stated that the solid soil of Art.7(1)(b) was the request to proceed non-distinctive signs gratuitous for full general use; as to Art.7(1)(c), the CFI adopted a fell "salami-slicing" approach to registrability, ruling that since "Sat", "." as well as "2" each lacked distinctiveness inwards themselves, SAT.2 must live every bit lacking inwards distinctive character. The Advocate General has recommended that the ECJ let the appeal: the fact that a sign, or role of a sign, is non sufficiently distinctive to serve as a merchandise score is non inwards itself a argue why it should live kept gratuitous for others to use. The ECJ's before ruling on colouring marks inwards Libertel did non say that Art.7(1)(b) required that such marks should kept gratuitous for full general use, only rather that businesses should non live unduly restricted inwards damage of the availability of colours. The AG too disapproved of the salami-slicing operation: marks must live considered as a whole, non inwards molecular quantities.

is really happy amongst this Opinion, which he hopes the ECJ volition adopt. He would notwithstanding remind the applicant that, fifty-fifty if the score is registered, the aeroplane of protection which this largely descriptive score is probable to confer volition live really narrow.

Some unsavoury salami-slicing here , here as well as here
Salami-slicers here
Salamis here; chocolate salami here; intellectually stimulating salami joke here

Not Together With Thence Fast, Courtroom Of Appeal Tells Glaxo

In Glaxo Group Ltd 5 Dowelhurst Ltd together with another [2004] EWCA Civ 290, xv March, noted inwards the LexisNexis subscription-only All England Direct service, the Court of Appeal took the side of the accused parallel traders when hearing their appeal against an lodge for summary judgment against them.

Glaxo sold sure enough pharma products bearing its registered merchandise marks to diverse parties at depression prices, on the agreement that they were for role inwards Africa. The goods were diverted to a Swiss companionship which sold them on to Dowelhurst, who inwards plough imported 16 consignments of the drugs into the Britain together with sold them to hospitals. Glaxo sued for summary judgment inwards abide by of merchandise grade infringement, seeking an injunction to halt farther importation. Glaxo’s declaration was that each importation together with subsequent sale was an obvious infringement, since it was clear that none of the master copy batches of drugs had been destined for the European Economic Area (EEA). Dowelhurst argued that the drugs every bit bought had been inwards the claimant’s measure French packaging together with included the appropriate European Medicines Evaluation Agency number, indicating blessing for sale inside the EEA. Dowelhurst said that, since at that spot was nix to advise traders that the drugs were meant for Africa or weren’t to hold out sold inwards the EEA, Glaxo’s merchandise grade rights were exhausted. Peter Prescott QC held at that spot was existent prospect of successfully defending the claim inwards relation to xv out of the 16 batches, but constitute that at that spot was no prospect of a successful defense regarding the remaining batch. He thence ordered Dowelhurst to halt infringing together with awarded an draw of piece of occupation organization human relationship of profits against the inwards abide by of the unmarried batch. He also granted an injunction against Dowelhurst’s boss, whom he constitute responsible inwards police pull for the infringement. Glaxo appealed against the refusal of summary judgment inwards abide by of the xv batches together with the determination to qualify the injunction, patch the defendants cross-appealed.

The Court of Appeal dismissed Glaxo’s appeal but allowed the cross-appeals, proverb that the representative was unsuitable for summary judgment together with should transcend to a total trial on all 16 consignments. While documentary prove suggested that an ultimate finish inwards Africa was identified inwards abide by of the consignments concerned, that didn’t hateful that their buyer genuinely had to accept the goods to their ultimate destination. Since non all the details of Glaxo’s contracts of sale were known, it could nevertheless hold out shown that Glaxo knew together with consented to some of the goods going on the EEA market. Only a total trial could brand these things clear. The Court of Appeal explained that normally, when yous purchase goods, yous tin resell them. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 sale conveys the correct of onward disposal to the buyer: a buyer who buys goods inwards the EEA amongst 1 intention (i.e. to export to Africa) mightiness alter his heed together with resell inside the EEA, since they are his goods. Sellers tin alter their minds too. In the circumstances, it was manifestly that Glaxo was a long mode from showing that at that spot was no existent prospect of a successful defense inwards abide by of each of the consignments. On the acquaint information, it could non hold out said that Dowelhurst knew, or should create got known, that the goods were intended for Africa together with that was non the variety out of indicate that could hold out resolved on a summary application. Accordingly at that spot was plenty of an arguable defense for the activeness to transcend to trial, fifty-fifty for the sixteenth consignment.

notes that it’s getting a lot harder for IP owners to instruct summary judgment these days. This determination follows inwards the footsteps of the determination of the Vice-Chancellor Sir Andrew Morritt inwards Beiersdorf 5 Ramlort (blogged past times the IPKat on 16 January). This downside is counterbalanced past times the fact that it’s instruct easier to instruct interim injunctions. So, claimants, inquire yourselves: create yous genuinely take away summary judgment, or volition interim relief suffice?

What is summary judgment? Britain Civil Procedure Rules here; US explanation here
Other summary judgments here
Speedy jurist here, here and here

Senin, 15 Maret 2004

Shock Intelligence - Provision Of Data Is Presentation Of Information

On Friday Laddie J reached an Earth-shattering conclusion: “presentation of information” inwards s.1(2)(d) of the Patents Act 1977 encompasses providing information. The context was an appeal past times a would-be patentee against a determination of the Deputy Director of the Patent Office to spend upwards an application for a patent for advent calendars. The claim was for a calendar that, also every bit having the appointment on each of the doors, would select an “additional indicium” i.e. to a greater extent than or less extra data on it stating who was meant to opened upwards each of the doors to preclude disputes arising over who would operate the chocolate inwards shared advent calendars. The patentee had argued that spell “presentation of information” could hateful either the “expression of information” (requiring data to travel provided inwards a item formation e.g. Times Roman font i.e. how data is provided) or the “provision of information” (the act of communicating information), inwards the context of the Patents Act, it referred entirely to the appear of information. According to Laddie J though, the patentee’s declaration was opposite to the natural in addition to principal pregnant of the words of the act which were unambiguous in addition to clearly encompassed conveying in addition to presenting information. The lack of ambiguity hateful that at that topographic point was no remove for whatever resort to materials such every bit the French in addition to German linguistic communication versions of the European Patent Convention.

congratulates Laddie J on a common-sense decision.

Advent calendars here, here, here in addition to here

Move Over, Vokda: Russians Queue For Beckham's Gin

According to the Sunday Telegraph Former Manchester United as well as electrical current Real Madrid idol David Beckham is threatening legal activity against a Russian theatre that he claims is using his icon without permission to sell alcopops. His threat follows the appearance inwards Moscow as well as St Petersburg of hoardings as well as magazine advertisements that purpose a model closely resembling Beckham to sell cans of "Manchester Gin", a mix of gin as well as tonic. On i one-half of his body, the model is wearing a Manchester United kit, spell on the other he is dressed every bit an English linguistic communication gentleman. Beckham's administration way believes the advertisements are a passing off of Beckham's icon without authorisation. The advertizement effort has proved immensely successful. Manchester Gin has seized most 10% of the growing marketplace for ready-mixed drinks inwards Moscow as well as St Petersburg, amongst to a greater extent than than 18,000 cans beingness sold since it went on sale inwards Dec at a cost of thirty roubles, equivalent to 50p. Happyland Drinks, which produces Manchester Gin, openly admits that the model inwards the poster is intended to await similar Beckham, exactly denies whatever wrongdoing.

Any infringement of icon rights inwards Russian Federation could harm both Beckham as well as Manchester United. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 meat chemical factor of the England captain's transfer to Real Madrid final summertime was the marketing value of the player's icon rights. At Manchester United, Beckham's £70,000-a-week reward were supplemented past times a weekly payment of £20,000 for icon rights used inwards companionship merchandising. He earned a farther £10 i thou 1000 from personal endorsements as well as sponsorship deals amongst such commercial giants every bit Adidas, Pepsi, Police sunglasses, Vodafone as well as Marks & Spencer. On his motion to Real Madrid, Beckham kept his existing personal endorsement contracts, as well as instantly receives 50% of whatever revenue generated from his icon rights - estimated to convey him upwards to £750,000 a year.

is nevertheless waiting for someone to skid upwards as well as wrongfully purpose his icon inwards an advertizement campaign: it’s the solely way he’s always going to instruct rich.

Other happylands here, here and here
Football fans as well as alcohol here, here and here
Footballers as well as alcohol here, here and here