• [Guest post] Retromark Volume VIII: the last six months in trade marks

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/guest-post-retromark-volume-viii-last.html Darren Meale of Simmons & Simmons presents the eighth volume in his rundown of notable trade mark cases over the past six months. Here’s what Darren writes: Retromark Volume VIII: the last six months in trade marks  by Darren Meale As awful as this year has been, I’m constantly... Continue reading

     
  • [Guest post] Event report: Fashion Reinassance – A Unique Year in Review

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/guest-post-event-report-fashion.html The IPKat is delighted to host this guest post by Vito Spedito, who reports back from the recently held Fashion Law London event Fashion Reinassance – A Unique Year in Review. Here’s what Vito writes: Event report: Fashion Reinassance – A Unique Year in Review by Vito Spedito The... Continue reading

     
  • When a strong reputation does not guarantee distinctiveness

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/when-strong-reputation-does-not.html IPKat thanks Kat friends Jennifer Lim Wei Zhen and Claudia Borghini for the discussion below on a recent decision in Singapore regarding trademark distinctiveness. A global giant pitted against a relatively smaller company – who would win in a trademark opposition challenge? The decision in Singapore by Principal Assistant... Continue reading

     
  • Book review: Research Handbook on IP & Digital Technologies

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/book-review-research-handbook-on-ip.html Edward Elgar’s Research Handbooks in Intellectual Property Series, is edited by none other than the IPKat’s founding father Jeremy Phillips. This Research Handbook on Intellectual Property and Digital Technologies, edited by Tanya Aplin, Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London.  The handbook provides 27 chapters... Continue reading

     
  • Africa IP highlights 2020 #3: The patent and designs fields

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/africa-ip-highlights-2020-3-patents-and.html This post is the third installment in the “Africa IP Highlights 2020 series” of posts highlighting some of the key developments in IP in Africa in 2020. The first 2 posts covered copyright and trademarks. The series is the result of collaboration between myself and several IP practitioners and... Continue reading

     
  • Africa IP highlights 2020 #2: The trademarks arena

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/africa-ip-highlights-2020-2-trademarks.html Yesterday, the IPKat launched an “Africa IP Highlights 2020 series” of posts to highlight some of the key developments in IP in Africa in 2020. The first post of the series, “The copyright field” is available here. As stated in the first post on this series, the series is... Continue reading

     
  • Wednesday Whimsies

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/wednesday-whimsies.html   From a sunny South Africa (37°C), here is some katfood for your entertainment… Perfect chill weather… Webinars The University of Copenhagen’s Center for Advanced Studies in Biomedical Innovation Law is offering a webinar on 28 January 2021 on the COVID-19 crisis’s impact on pricing and regulation in the... Continue reading

     
  • Acquired distinctiveness and sub-brands – Tefal ‘red dot’ mark is denied trade mark protection by UKIPO

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/acquired-distinctiveness-and-sub-brands.html An inevitable consequence of being at home all the time is that one has to learn how to diversify their cooking repertoire – and with that comes an increasing awareness of the cookware on the market. So, when this Kat saw that the UK Intellectual Property Office turned down... Continue reading

     
  • Does the injunction gap violate implementers’ fair trial rights under the ECHR?

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/does-injunction-gap-violate.html In jurisdictions with bifurcated patent systems, infringement claims and invalidity attacks are heard in separate proceedings, before different courts. Bifurcation is often defended on the grounds that the validity of the patent can be assessed by judges with technical expertise. Germany, Hungary and Austria each have bifurcated patent systems.... Continue reading

     
  • Africa IP highlights 2020 #1: The copyright field

    http://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2020/12/africa-ip-highlights-2020-1-copyright.html Despite the challenges of 2020, the IP world has recorded many triumphs and moved forward on many issues. In Africa particularly, there were key court decisions in the IPRs and IP enforcement fields as well as significant legislative and institutional reforms. The IPKat is running a series of posts... Continue reading