In July the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) released a report on copyright licensing in the digital age. The report details the response of the UK Government to Professor Ian Hargreaves’ recommendation of a Digital Copyright Exchange (DCE).
On June 29, the Federal Court of Appeal allowed in part Imperial Tobacco’s lawsuit against Philip Morris, holding that the appearance of Imperial Tobacco’s packaging was in and of itself a trademark. The full decision may be read here.
On May 31, the Copyright Board of Canada certified a new tariff on the use of recorded music played at events such as weddings, karaoke, and conventions. The tariff will be paid to collective Re:Sound, which represents the rights of artists and music labels.
The UK will likely be implementing new anti-piracy measures through the publication of a new code this month.
A recent report by the UK Intellectual Property Office [IPO] draws attention to trade mark cluttering. Trade mark cluttering occurs “where firms hold trade marks that are overly broad or unused raising search costs for later applicants.”
The trademark registration of “arepa”, the name used to describe a traditional Venezuelan food, has generated significant debate and concern among Toronto’s Venezuelan community. Eduardo Lee, the owner to Toronto’s Arepa Café, registered “arepa” in April of 2011. After learning of the registration, members of Toronto’s Venezuelan community have expressed their concern over the ownership […]
In July of 2008, William Kostuj filed an international patent application titled “Method Of Forming A Golf Swing And Equipment”. The UK Intellectual Property Office [IPO] has denied the application that sought to patent a means of developing a golfer’s swing style without the use of a golf club. The full decision may be read […]
On January 21, the WHO 130th WHO Executive Board (EB) adopted a resolution for agenda item 6.13 "substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products” [SFFC]. The resolution is intended to address the growing prevalence of and the health risks associated with “deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled” pharmaceuticals.
Last January, a Federal Court summary judgment held that the Aga Khan’s copyright in his literary works had been infringed by the publications of Nagib Tajdin and Alnaz Jiwa. The IPilogue drew attention to comments made in obiter stating that “it was not for a plaintiff in a copyright infringement suit to prove a lack […]
Modern concepts of art and creativity pose a challenge for traditional notions of copyright law. Last March, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled on the legality of appropriation art.