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Thursday, May 8, 2008 7:51pm — GLOBAL IP STRATEGY
The team at Taylor Wessing have recently published the results of a fascinating study (the GIPI) into the ranking of various jurisdictions in relation to how they treat IP.
Some interesting findings:
- Top tier countries were the USA, UK and Germany
- Second tier was: Netherlands, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, France
- Lowest tier (tier 5): The BRIC Countries - Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
Note that the study is based on survey responses and so, I wonder whether the mapping of the lowest tier directly onto the BRIC countries is more reflective of the increasing urgency around IP issues felt by many about these major developing markets, so that any frustrations are highlighted... You can obtain a full copy of the report here, (after signing up for free).
Friday, May 2, 2008 9:00am — IP THINKTANK GLOBAL WEEK IN REVIEW
Here is IP Think Tank’s weekly selection of top intellectual property news breaking in the blogosphere and internet.
Please join the discussion by adding your comments on any of these stories, and please do let me know if you think we’ve missed something important, or if there is a source you think should be monitored.
You can separately subscribe to the IP Thinktank Global week in Review at the Subscribe page: http://duncanbucknell.com/subscribe/
Highlights this week included:
- Duty to invent? Landmark IP implications for universities: University of Western Australia v Gray: (IPRoo), (Managing Intellectual Property), (The Age),
- The latest edition of US Trade Representative’s ‘Special 301 Report’: (Ars Technica), (Ars Technica), (IAM), (Intellectual Property Watch), (Patry Copyright Blog), (Managing Intellectual Property), (Patent Docs), (IP Law360),
- Court rejects RIAA ‘making available’ theory: Atlantic v Howell: (Electronic Frontier Foundation), (Ars Technica), (Techdirt), (Patry Copyright Blog),
Global
Global - General
- World IP day!: (IP Down Under), (Spicy IP), (Ars Technica), (Patent Baristas),
- Clash over World Customs Organisation efforts on IP enforcement: (Intellectual Property Watch),
- Economics before legal solutions: (Dilanchian),
- Who is the best person to lead WIPO?: (Afro-IP),
- UN agency to address link between IP assets and financial securities: (Intellectual Property Watch),
- ‘Free’ culture: it’s not what ‘we in the west’ might imagine: (IPcentral.info),
- What’s your intellectual property strategy?: (Dilanchian),
- The three dysfunctions of a complex IP legal team: (IP Law360),
- IP litigation and WIPO: (Ezine @rticles),
- Time to nominate IP Hall of Fame inductees: (IAM),
- Product packaging and patent protection: (IP Law360),
- Understanding the value of IPRs in the context of fashion and visual arts: (Ezine @articles)
Global - Trade Marks / Domain Names / Brands
- How logos, shapes and colours are remembered: (Class 46),
- Now obsolete .su (Soviet Union) domains still going strong…?: (Class 46),
- ICANN on cost to end domain tasting: (Class 46),
- ICANN can’t – but can you?: (IP ThinkTank),
- WIPO: T-Mobile, T-online domain names to be transferred to Deutsche Telekom: (Class 46),
- UK, Germany and US top Taylor Wessing’s first IP index: (Managing Intellectual Property)
Global - Patents
- Leveraging IP to finance early-stage technology: (first part - IP finance), (second part – IP finance),
- WTO members support new disclosure requirements for patent applications relating to genetic resources and traditional knowledge: (Afro-IP),
- Types of patent searches: (ipmINDs),
- WIPO ‘Report on the international patent system’: (KEI),
- Collaboration for invention: (Dilanchian),
- Voting ends at ISO on whether to create new project committee for patent valuation: (IP finance)
Global - Copyright
- Paul Heald on the nonexistent tragedy of the intellectual commons: (43(B)log),
- Negotiating IP deals – Ray Charles’ story: (Dilanchian),
- Game piracy: (Bruce On Games)
Events
- IAM ‘IP business congress’ – 25-26 June, Amsterdam: (IP finance),
- Second Transatlantic IP summer academy – 7-18 July, Milan and Alicante: (ipsummeracedemy.eu),
- Intellectual asset management of high tech industries conference – 1-2 July, Paris (Ben Goodger will be speaking on Chinese market): (Rouse & Co International),
- EU: EC 2008 High level conference on counterfeiting and piracy – 13 May, Brussels: (IPR-Helpdesk),
- US: PLI ‘Prior art and obviousness 2008’conference – 1 July, New York: (Patent Docs),
- US: PLI ‘Fundamentals of patent prosecution 2008’ conference – 18-20 June, New York: (Patent Docs),
- US: PLI ‘Advanced patent licensing 2008’ conference – 28 May, New York & 11 June, San Francisco: (Patent Docs),
- US CAFC ‘The Federal Circuit: a National Court of Appeals: addressing new challenges’ – 15 May, Washington: (Patent Docs),
- US: Worldwide Business Research ‘PharmaBiotech IP Summit’ – 28-30 May, Philadelphia: (Patent Docs), (Orange Book Blog),
- US: ‘BIO international convention’ – 17 June, San Diego: (Patent Docs),
- US: LSI ‘Multilateral patents’ – 23 June, San Francisco: (Patent Docs),
- US: Webinar on current developments in patents featuring US Patent Commissioner – 13 May: (Patent Baristas)
Pharma & Biotech
Pharma & Biotech - General
- Question for the week: How can the IP system stimulate innovation on treatment for neglected diseases?: (Intellectual Property Watch),
- Open licensing vs monopoly controlled supply: (KEI),
- Protecting inventions involving biofuel feedstock: (IP Law360),
- Brazil: ‘Public interest’ factor in Brazil’s patenting system: (Spicy IP),
- EU: Regulation (EC) 1394/2007 on advanced medicinal products to enter into force soon, creating certification procedure regarding quality and non-clinical data: (Catch Us If You Can!!!),
- India: Mint story on patent loophole in India regarding the importation of generics: (Spicy IP),
- India: WHO lambasts Indian drug regulatory system: (Spicy IP),
- India: Minister to ensure that reduced excise duty to reflect in drug prices: (Spicy IP),
- India: SCC journal article ‘Intellectual property rights and the challenges faced by the pharmaceutical industry’: (Spicy IP),
- Poland: Trade marks for medicines: (Class 46),
- US: IPO publishes letter in opposition to proposed rule changes to biological deposits: (Patent Docs),
- US: Are biotech companies stymied in dealing with universities?: (Patent Baristas),
- US: How to avoid a permanent injunction: the lessons of Amgen v Hoffman-LaRoche: (Patent Docs),
- US: Jarvik Heart’s PTE request based on PMA shell/module submission dates flatlines; ruling on initiation of PTE ‘review period’ mirrors FDA policy for ‘fast track’ products: (FDA Law Blog)
Pharma & Biotech - Products
- Kytril (Granisetron) – Exclusivity ‘parking’ still possible under Teva ruling: (IP Law360),
- Lantus (Insulin glargine) – Aventis launches insulin drug Lantus in India: (Spicy IP),
- Lexapro (Escitalopram) – Australia: The patentability of enantiomers: Alphapharm Pty Ltd v H Lundbeck A/S: (IPRoo), (IP Down Under),
- Lipitor (Atorvastatin) – USPTO to confirm patentability of Lipitor basic patent: (SmartBrief), (IP Law360), (GenericsWeb), (TherapeuticsDaily),
- Lipitor (Atorvastatin) – USPTO refuses again to reissue one of Pfizer’s Lipitor patents: (IP Law360),
- Omnicef (Cefdinir): Looking a gift horse in the mouth – why would a company refuse a patent term extension?: Lupin v Abbott Labs: (FDA Law Blog),
- Plavix (Clopidogrel) – US: Apotex sues FDA to recover 180-day exclusivity on generic Plavix: (Orange Book Blog),
- Plavix (Clopidogrel) – US: Former Bristol-Myers Squibb executive charged over lying about Plavix deal struck with rival Apotex: (Managing Intellectual Property),
- Risperdal (Resperidone) – US: Apotex files motion to intervene in relisting of Risperdal patent case; Teva quickly files opposition: Teva Pharma USA v Leavitt: (FDA Law Blog),
- Rythmol (Propafenone) – US: Court rules Frommer can defend Par Pharmaceuticals in Rythmol patent suit despite their earlier work with Reliant Pharmaceuticals to acquire the disputed patent: (IP Law360),
- Solodyn (Minocycline) – US District Court dismisses Impa&xrsquo;s declaratory judgment complaint in ANDA case against Medicis: (Orange Book Blog),
- Tarceva (Erlotinib) – Delhi High Court restrains CIPLA from exporting generic Erlotinib to any country where Roche has a patent for the drug, only Cipla may manufacture generic Erlotinib: (Spicy IP),
- Tarceva (Erlotinib) – Roche v CIPLA: UK rejects Roche’s Tarceva as too expensive!: (Spicy IP),
- Ultracet (Tramadol) – Barr and Caraco win summary judgment that Ortho-McNeil’s formulation patent on Ultracet is invalid: (Orange Book Blog),
- Xopenex (Levosalbutamol) – US: Sepracor, Breath settle Xopenex patent fight: (IP Law360), (GenericsWeb),
Africa
- African copyright & access to knowledge (ACA2K) project launched: (Michael Geist), (Afro-IP),
- Seven reasons why Prof Odek should be the next WIPO DG: (Afro-IP),
- Angola: The possible extortionate cost of trade mark filings: (Afro-IP),
- Ghana: ‘If symptoms persist’ anti fake film launched in Ghana: (Afro-IP),
- Kenya: Is Kenya becoming a ‘Barbary Coast’ for book pirates?: (IP Kenya),
- Kenya: China blames Kenya for buying its fakes: (Afro-IP),
- South Africa: Microsoft settles with 21 infringing retailers: (Afro-IP),
- South Africa: Piracy stats unacceptably high, despite improvements: (Afro-IP)
Asia
Australia
- Duty to invent? Landmark IP implications for universities: University of Western Australia v Gray: (IPRoo), (Managing Intellectual Property), (The Age),
- Domain name transfer made easier: (Australian Trade Marks Law Blog),
- Quantum of obviousness in Australian patent laws - C Lawson: (IP Down Under),
- Separating Sony sheep from Grokster (and Kazaa) goats: Reckoning future business plans of copyright dependent technology entrepreneurs – JC Ginsburg and S Ricketson: (IP Down Under),
- The trouble with legislating exclusions from the concept of invention – D Brennan: (IP Down Under),
- IP Australia – TM Office – Change of practice and procedure notice in relation to provisional refusals and limitations of International registrations designating Australia: (IPRoo),
- Inventive step –commercial success: ITW AFC Pty Ltd v Loi and Tran Pty Ltd: (IPRoo),
- New patent database launched by federal government and IP Australia features almost 20 years’ worth of patent application records: (ZDNet Australia), (IPBiz),
- Guitarist Lindsay McDougall claims he was tricked in appearing in anti-piracy video: (Techdirt)
Benelux
- Commodore trade mark: quo vadis? – Owner of legendary trade mark declared bankrupt: (Class 46)
Brazil
Canada
- Napier receives shareholder approval for sale of IP outside North America to Freeworld: (Afro-IP), (IP finance),
- US Ambassador to Canada confirms copyright discussions at SPP: (Michael Geist),
- US Trade Representative Special 301 Report: Canada on lower level watch list: (Michael Geist),
- Public policy forum disinvites Howard Knopf from IP symposium: (Michael Geist), (Techdirt),
- Canadian Copyright Bill likely in next six weeks: (Michael Geist),
- Lawyer Weekly article by Tawfik on history of Canadian copyright law: (Michael Geist),
- Canadian documentary film makers lament rights costs: (Michael Geist),
- Canadian Federation of Students on copyright reform: (Michael Geist),
- Copyright myths: (Michael Geist), (response from Ars Technica),
- Copyright law: Two to watch (Tory government of Ottawa tabling of revised copyright bill and QuebecTorrent filesharing case): (ipblog.ca),
- Who speaks for the Liberals on copyright?: (Michael Geist),
- Copyright conferences and balance: (Michael Geist)
China
Croatia
- Croatia IP Office no longer issuing filing certificates for trade mark and design applications: (Class 46)
Denmark
- Louis Vuitton alleges trade mark and copyright infringement over Vuitton-style handbag depicted in artwork for Darfur fundraiser: (Techdirt), (Counterfeit Chic),
- Notes on the Danish IP Spring Conference: (Innovationpartners)
Europe
- Ocean Tomo opens second Europe IP auction: (Afro-IP),
- EU community patent: machine translations ante portas?: (BLOG@IP::JUR),
- Maxwell & Sweet article on coexistence agreements and the Omega case: (Class 46),
- Tchibo brand – an assessment: (Class 46),
- London Agreement enters into force 1 May: (IAM), (IPKat),
- European Data Protection Supervisor policy paper on contribution to EU research and technology: (IPR-Helpdesk),
- EU Commissioner wants copyright extension to pay session musicians: (Out-Law),
- European Commission makes proposals to fill research gaps: (Managing Intellectual Property),
- EPO places oral proceedings calendar online: (Daily Dose of IP), (Innovationpartners),
- CFI decision in dispute over ‘Sonia’ marks: Sonia Rykiel Création et Diffusion de Modeles v OHIM, Cuadrado SA: (IPKat)
Germany
- German Federal Centre of Political Education lauds IP as ‘oil of the 21st century’: (IP finance)
Greece
- Residents of Greek island of Lesbos seek to bar gay women from using the term ‘lesbian’: (IP ADR Blog), (Class 46)
India
- Indian IP: the transition from Saraswati to Lakshmi: (Spicy IP),
- Indian filmmaker complains about American piracy: (Spicy IP),
- Patents granted in China, Russia and Singapore for railway anti-collision device: (Spicy IP), (ipmINDs),
- National Knowledge Commission Vice Chairman: Bayh Dole Bill was shrouded in secrecy: (Spicy IP),
- US Trade Representative Special 301 Report: India continues to be on US priority watch list: (Spicy IP),
- ‘Mazaa’ trade mark trouble for Coca-Cola: (Spicy IP),
- Contextualising the patent regime: (Spicy IP),
- Court settles mischief of trade mark trafficking: Marc Enterprises Pvt Ltd v Five Star Electricals (India): (International Law Office)
Japan
Netherlands
- New domain name ADR mechanism for the Netherlands: (Class 46),
- District Court of The Hague finds infringement of ‘Boerengolf’ trade mark for a form of golf: (Class 46)
Portugal
Spain
Switzerland
- New York Times article on action brought against biscuit makers in Champagne, Switzerland, whose products have been sold as ‘de Champagne’ since 1930: (Class 46),
- Internet start-up Zattoo.com rebroadcasting UK television from Switzerland without stations’ permission: (Out-Law)
Vietnam
United Kingdom
- UKIPO accepts MyGP trade mark application for medical services: (IPKat),
- High Court hands down decision in dispute over competitors marks containing the word Sabatier: Rousselon Freres et Cie v Horwood Homewares Ltd: (IPKat),
- Over next three years UK Technology Strategy Board will have £1 billion to spend on accelerating business innovation: (IP finance),
- Apple threatens legal action against 11 UK e-tailers unless they stop selling iPods imported from outside UK: (Out-Law),
- UKIPO considers the Symbian effect: (IPKat),
- House of Lords propose criminalization of intentional or reckless disclosure of personal information: (Out-Law),
- Free speech trumps privacy, but only just, in Mosley case: (IPKat),
- Now academics can copy with a good conscience – ‘Joint guidelines on copyright and academic research’: (IPKat),
- Nominet rules that myspace.co.uk domain does not need to be transferred to MySpace Inc, owners of myspace.com social networking site: (IPKat),
- Critics brand Phorm a regulatory rogue, saying its targeted advertising program will bend and break law: (Out-Law)
United States
US General
- US Trade Representative’s ‘Special 301 Report’: (Ars Technica), (Ars Technica), (IAM), (Intellectual Property Watch), (Patry Copyright Blog), (Managing Intellectual Property), (Patent Docs), (IP Law360),
- IP financing – Bergelt takes on new role at OIN but Paradox Capital keeps on trucking: (IAM), (IAM)
- David Freeland, CIO at USPTO, leaving: (IPBiz)
US Patent Reform
US Patents
- CAFC Judge Linn expresses ‘disappointment’ and ‘concern’ over current state of patent system in In re Ruening: (Patent Prospector), (Patently-O), (Peter Zura's 271 Patent Blog), (Hal Wegner)
- New series codes for utility/plant and provisional applications: (Patent Librarian’s Notebook),
- KSR retrospective: (PLI),
- Is the enablement bar too high for patents to meet?: (IP Law360), (Patent Prospector),
- US Supreme Court petition challenges constitutionality of BPAI judge appointments: Translogic v Dudas: (California Biotech Law Blog), (Techdirt), (Patent Prospector), (IP Directions), (IPBiz), (Patent Baristas), (Hal Wegner),
- USPTO news: Patent Office announces common application format: (Patent Docs), (IP Updates),
- USPTO announces EPO patent prosecution highway: (Daily Dose of IP), (PLI), (Managing Intellectual Property), (Patent Docs), (IP Law360),
- USPTO enters patent prosecution highway with Australia: (PLI),
- USPTO first action interview pilot program: (PLI),
- First non-final rejection by USPTO in ‘peer to patent’ program: (IPBiz), (Securing Innovation),
- New study on claim construction reversal rates: (Peter Zura's 271 Patent Blog),
- How would a National Innovation Fund work?: (Techdirt),
- Every patent affects two different markets: (Patent Prospector),
- PowerOasis, Inc et al v T-Mobile USA, Inc ruling resolves unsettled priority issue: (IP Law360),
- Patent Office receives hate mail over proposed patent changes: (Patent Baristas),
- Will US FTC jump into standards-setting dispute that could affect country’s conversion to digital television?: (IP Law360),
- Hal Wegner’s top ten patent cases – May developments: (Hal Wegner),
- Patently unfair: Biomedical Patent Management Corporation v California Dept of Health Services: (National Review)
US Copyright
- New Orphaned Works Act would limit copyright liability: (Ars Technica), (Techdirt),
- Is copyright law killing the documentary?: (Techdirt),
- University of Florida professor admits plagiarism: (IPBiz),
- House Judiciary Committee approval of Pro-IP Bill: (Public Knowledge), (Ars Technica), (IP Law360), (Techdirt),
- Discussion notes: ‘Who owns this image?: Art, access and the public domain after Bridgeman v Corel’: (43(B)log), (43(B)log),
- Progress and Freedom Foundation’s Thomas Sydor attacks Lessig’s book ‘Free culture’ linking narrowed copyright to Soviet dictatorship: (Ars Technica), (Lessig),
- Is non-extraterritoriality a question of subject matter jurisdiction?: (Patry Copyright Blog),
- Accused plagiarist Pukas gets reprimand: (IPBiz)
US Trademarks
- USPTO updates Trademark Electronic Search System: (Daily Dose of IP),
- NY Times article on brand values in economic downturn: (43(B)log)
US – Companies / Entities
- Al Minor & Assoc – memorizing information, including specifically client lists, constitutes trade secret misappropriation: Al Minor & Assoc, Inc v Martin: (Intellectual Property Law Blog), (Patently-O),
- Apple – Apple’s rise in sales accompanied by increase in patent infringement lawsuits: (Philip Brooks),
- Apple – Henry Milan files patent suit against Apple over iPod connector: (IP Law360),
- Barbie – Barbie, Bratz copyright dispute far from over: (IP Law360),
- Baxter – Baxter brings another patent suit against Fresenius over dialysis machine: (IP Law360),
- Bilski – En banc oral arguments, including amici arguments, for Ex parte Bilski to be held 8 May: (Patently-O), (IP Law360),
- College Entrance Examination Board – CEEB and Karen Dillard’s College Prep LP settle copyright suit over SAT exam: (IP Law360),
- Dorman – Federal-Mogul sues Dorman over automotive patent: (IP Law360),
- Durotech – Durotech counterclaims dismisses in patent dispute with GED Integrated Solutions: (IP Law360),
- eBay – VoIP company Net2Phone accuses eBay of patent infringement two months after eBay sued Net2Phone for patent infringement: (IP Law360),
- Edge Specialists – Edge Specialists and Edge Capture launch patent suit against Lehman Brothers over trading technology: (IP Law360),
- Genender – Federal Circuit controls patent DJ jurisdiction: Genender Int’l, Inc v Skagen Designs, Ltd: (Chicago IP Litigation Blog),
- Green Bay Packers – Long running patent case against Green Bay Packers, OfficeMax and other stayed again while USPTO conducts second reexamination of patent in question: Global Patent Holdings LLC v Green Bay Packers: (IP Law360), (Peter Zura's 271 Patent Blog), (Techdirt),
- Kodak – Kodak won’t get damages in patent dispute with Agfa, despite infringement: (IP Law360),
- Litecubes – Territorial limits of copyright and patent infringement via sale: Litecubes v Northern Light Productions: (Patently-O), (Patent Prospector), (Hal Wegner),
- Mass Engineered – Mass Engineered adds defendants, Bretford and CSAV, in patent infringement suit over multiscreen display units: (IP Law360),
- McDonalds – McDonalds opposes US application to register McSweet as trade mark for pickled garnishes: (IPKat),
- Medtronics – Spectranetics, Medtronic drop catheter patent suit: (IP Law360),
- Mesa – Mesa Air Group and Hawaiian Airlines settle trade secrets case for $52.5 million: (IP Law360),
- N-Data – AAI, others support FTC action against N-Data: (IP Law360),
- National Products – Subject matter jurisdiction - Court ‘traverse[s] uncharted territory between Supreme Court’s decision in Medimmune v Genentech and Federal Circuit’s decision in Monsanto Co v Bayer Bioscience’: National Products v Gamber-Johnson: (Washington State Patent Law Blog),
- Ono – Yoko Ono sues makers of documentary ‘Expelled’ for unauthorized use of John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’: (Techdirt),
- Orion Bancorp of Florida – Orion Bancorp wins domain name of competitor Orion Residential Finance , and court order that if Orion Residential ever buys keyword advertising on the internet, it must pay for a ‘negative keyword’ that prevents the ads from appearing in conjunction with the word ‘orion’: (Ars Technica),
- Pequignot – Washington DC patent attorney Matthew Pequignot files lawsuits against Solo Cup and Gillette and P&G alleging they falsely marked their products regarding patent status: (Patently-O),
- Rambus – CAFC grants Rambus final victory in semiconductor patent dispute with Samsung: (IP Law360 ), (Patent Prospector), (Hal Wegner),
- RIAA – Tanya Anderson drops racketeering charges against RIAA: (Techdirt),
- RIAA – RIAA takes action against Project Playlist, a search engine that turns up third party music links: (Ars Technica),
- RIAA – Court rejects RIAA ‘making available’ theory: Atlantic v Howell: (Electronic Frontier Foundation), (Ars Technica), (Techdirt), (Patry Copyright Blog),
- RIAA – Colleges and universities see significant increase in copyright infringement notices received from RIAA: (Ars Technica),
- Rowling – JK Rowling and Warner Bros copyright infringement case against RDR Books over online Harry Potter lexicon – discussion and opinion: (Spicy IP),
- SanDisk - SanDisk drops flash memory patent claims against Acer: (IP Law360),
- Speas – CAFC rejects patent on invention to overcome second law of thermodynamics: In re Speas: (Patently-O),
- T-Mobile – T-Mobile settles with Ronald A Katz over patents for interactive voice applications: (IP Law360),
- Tyco – Court quashes Applied Medical Corp’s bid for new trial, upholding jury verdict of non-infringement in Tyco International’s favour: (IP Law360),
- Unigen – Unigen launches patent infringement and false advertising suit against Perrigo over dietary supplements: (IP Law360),
- Universal – Judge dismisses EEF’s DMCA-abuse lawsuit against Universal Music their action over video of baby dancing to Prince posted on YouTube: (Techdirt),
- Universal – Universal argues that EEF suit against them over dancing toddler runs afoul of anti-SLAPP law: (Ars Technica),
- Universal Studios – NBC reporter, Arthur Kent, sues makers of the film ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’ for unauthorized use of copyright footage: (IP Law360),
- University of Georgia – Court rejects individual professors’ claims of sovereign immunity in copyright case National Association of Boards of Pharmacy v Board of Regents of University System of Gerogia: (Patry Copyright Blog),
- Whirlpool – LG Electronics files suit against Whirlpool Corp, claiming infringement of three patents covering refrigerator components; Whirlpool counterclaims infringement of its patents: (IP Law360), (IP Law360),
- Whirlpool – Whirlpool sues De’Longhi over mixer shape trade mark: (IP Law360),
- Wisconsin Cheese Group – TTAB decision: Delay defeats trade mark infringement claim: Wisconsin Cheese Croup v V & V Supremo Foods: (43(B)log),
- Yahoo – District Court tells Yahoo, AOL, RealNetworks they owe millions in royalties to songwriters for online music streaming: (Techdirt), (Ars Technica), (IP Law360),
- Yahoo – Bascom Global Internet Service files patent suit against Yahoo, AOL over parental controls: (IP Law360)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:00pm — IP ON THE NET
There's been a lot of talk lately about domain tasting - which some describe as a cynical use (to test the market potential of the domain name) of the 4-5 day grace period in which a domain name purchaser can reverse the transaction without cost.
There are quite a few other examples of ways that the current domain name registration system can be stretched to do things it wasn't intended to - sometimes illegally. Here are some others, please add your own:
- Domain Kiting - repeatedly deleting and immediately re-registering the domain name during the grace period so as to keep the registration indefinitely without having to pay for it;
- Frontrunning - where a domain name registrar uses inside information to register domain names which are of interest to particular people or groups of people;
- Cybersquatting - registering a domain name which resembles another's brand so as to profit from visitors looking for the brand;
- Domain hijacking - tricking the registrar into transferring the domain name - ie stealing it.
ICANN and the UDRP (Universal Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy) are key parts of the domain name terrain. Understand them so that you can better protect and make the most of your domain names.
Monday, April 28, 2008 1:00pm — IP THINKTANK GLOBAL WEEK IN REVIEW
Here is IP Think Tank’s weekly selection of top intellectual property news breaking in the blogosphere and internet.
(Please accept our apologies that it is a little late this week.)
Please join the discussion by adding your comments on any of these stories, and please do let me know if you think we’ve missed something important, or if there is a source you think should be monitored.
You can separately subscribe to the IP Thinktank Global week in Review at the Subscribe page: http://duncanbucknell.com/subscribe/
Highlights this week included:
- CAFC vacates FTC’s decision that Rambus breached antitrust duty by violating JEDEC patent disclosure rules and orders new trial: (Philip Brooks), (Techdirt), (Ars Technica), (IP Law360), (Peter Zura's 271 Patent Blog), (Hal Wegner), (IPBiz), (IP Law360),
- UK Court of Appeal rules on whether prior art not in the same design field should be taken into account in registered Community design case: Green Lane Products Ltd v PMS International Group Plc & Ors: (IPKat), (Catch Us If You Can!!!),
- US CAFC throws out jury patent infringement verdict, raises potentially invalidating prior art: Finisar v DirecTV: (Patent Prospector), (Hal Wegner), (EDTexweblog.com), (Peter Zura's 271 Patent Blog), (IP Law360), (Patently-O), (Patently-O),
Global
Global - General
- Further resolution needed to keep IP issues in WTO negotiations: (Intellectual Property Watch),
- Mobile phone manufacturers seek to control rising IP costs: (Intellectual Property Watch),
- Managing trade secrets for legal security: (Securing Innovation),
- World IP Day 2008 – A message from DG Kamil Idris: (WIPO),
- World IP Day 2008 – Celebrating innovation: (WIPO),
- ((red)) and the ownership of IP: (IP ADR Blog),
- The first 5 things (to consider when developing IP strategy for a new product): (IP ThinkTank),
- WIPO candidates address civil society concerns on access, transparency: (Intellectual Property Watch),
- Nobel prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz explains how IP rights are part of the globalization problem: (Techdirt),
- Do real world laws apply in virtual worlds?: (Techdirt),
- A day in the life of an IP blog – WIPO magazine article about the blogging life of Jeremy Phillips: (Patent Baristas)
Global - Trade Marks / Domain Names / Brands
Global - Patents
Global - Copyright
Events
- Australia: Open access and research conference – 24-25 September, Brisbane: (IP:KCE)
- Germany: Indo-German conference on IP law – 12-15 May, Germany: (IPR-Helpdesk),
- Switzerland: Workshop for mediators in IP disputes – 26-27 May, Geneva: (IPR-Helpdesk),
- UK: Royal Society of Chemistry: Chinese IP law symposium – 19 May, London: (IPITevents),
- US: Creative Commons: ‘Who owns this image?: Art, access and the public domain after Bridgeman v Corel’ – 29 April, New York City: (creativecommons.org), (Public Knowledge)
- US: ACI ‘Paragraph IV disputes’ conference – 30 April – 1 May, New York City: (Orange Book Blog)
Pharma & Biotech
Pharma & Biotech - General
- Canada: Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) departs from its guidelines in determining price in recent decision: (Gowlings),
- Canada: Canada remains cost competitive leader for business investment, especially for R&D sector: (Gowlings),
- Canada: PMPRB issues Notice of Hearing against Apotex concerning allegations of failure to file requisite information relating to patented medicine: (Gowlings),
- Canada: New bill allows government to monitor drugs after they have been approved: (Gowlings),
- Canada: The future of vaccines: (Gowlings),
- India: Parallel imports: Bangladesh as new business opportunity for Indian generics?: (Spicy IP),
- US: Who’s to blame for rising drug prices?: (Patent Docs),
- US: Supreme Court declines to hear final Nucleonics’ appeal in gene-silencing patent dispute with Benitec Australia: (IP Law360), (Therapeutics Daily),
- US: 505(b)(2) drug approvals rock - Interaction of patents and exclusivity of drugs approved by FDA under section 505(b)(2): (Patent Baristas),
- US: StemCells’ patents survive reexam – StemCells and Neuralstem differ on extent of changes: (Patent Docs),
- US: StemCells announces issuance of human neural stem cell patent: (Patent Docs),
- US: Perrigo CEO: Health care industry can depend on generics to decrease costs: (GenericsWeb),
- US: PTO issues revised written description guidelines, further muddying waters: (Holman's Biotech IP Blog),
- US: Lonza, Northwest end patent wrangle over gene expression technology: (IP Law360)
Pharma & Biotech - Products
- Aerius (Desloratadine) – Canada: Court grants Pharmascience’s motion to strike Sepracor’s Notice of Appearance: Schering-Plough v Pharmascience: (Gowlings),
- Altace (Ramipril) – Canada: Court dismisses application for order of prohibition based on non-infringement: Sanofi v Riva: (Gowlings),
- Altace (Ramipril) – Canada: Court denies relief from implied undertaking to use information learned on discovery of Schering and Sanofi in one proceeding in another proceeding involving a different party, with the exception of one set of documents: Sanofi-Aventis et al v Apotex: (Gowlings),
- Androgel (Testosterone) – US FTC turns to federal court to get executives to comply with subpoenas as part of investigation into whether Par Pharmaceutical, Paddlock Laboratories and others restrained trade for marketing generic Androgel: (IP Law360),
- Astelin and Optivar (Azelastine) – US: Meda settles litigation brought against Apotex to protect markets for Optivar and Astelin: (IP Law360), (GenericsWeb),
- Coversyl (Perindopril) – Australia: Perindopril polymorph opposition dismissed: Les Laboratoires Servier v Apotex Pty Ltd: (IPRoo),
- Coversyl (Perindopril) – Canada: Court quashes 6 subpoenas, lets final one stand on limited basis, subpoenas related to inventorship, conspiracy and claim correction: Les Laboratoires Servier v Apotex: (Gowlings),
- Depakote (Divalproex) – US: CAFC grants FDA’s motion for summary affirmance in generic Depakote litigations: Nu-Pharm v FDA et al: (FDA Law Blog)
- Human growth hormone and insulin: US: Supreme Court overturns punitive damage award against Genentech in City of Hope National Medical Center patent case: (California Biotech Law Blog), (IP Law360),
- Lipitor (Atorvastatin) – Canada: Court grants appeal and issues order of prohibition: Pfizer v Ranbaxy: (Gowlings),
- Losec (Omeprazole) – Canada: Court dismisses impeachment proceeding as moot: AB Hassle v Apotex: (Gowlings),
- Metadate (Methylphenidate) – US: UCB launches patent infringement lawsuit against KV Pharmaceutical over generic Metadate: (IP Law360),
- Monistat (Miconazole) – US: Johnson & Johnson subsidiary files patent suit against Perrigo over Monistat ANDA: (IP Law360),
- Nexium – US: AstraZeneca shares up 7% after settling Ranbaxy patent suit: (IP finance),
- Norvasc (Amlodipine) – Canada: Federal Court upholds Pfizer’s Norvasc patent in suit to prevent Pharmascience from releasing generic version: (IP Law360), (Therapeutics Daily),
- Pantoloc (Pantoprazole) – Canada: Application for prohibition dismissed on grounds that allegation of non-infringement not justified: Solvay Pharma Inc and Altana Pharma AG v Apotex Inc: (Gowlings),
- Pantoloc (Pantoprazole) – Canada: Application for prohibition dismissed on grounds that patent not eligible for listing: Nycomed v Novopharm: (Gowlings),
- Pantoloc (Pantoprazole) – Canada: Court grants motion to dismiss proceedings in relation to first patent but finds second patent eligible for listing so should proceeds to hearing on the merits: Nycomed GmbH and Nycomed Canada Inc v Minister of Health and Genpharm Inc: (Gowlings),
- Plavix (Clopidogrel) – US: Former Bristol-Myers Squibb VP indicted for lying about Plavix patent deal: (SmartBrief), (IPBiz), (IP Law360), (GenericsWeb),
- Pravachol (Pravastatin) – US: Bristol-Myers, Watson settle Pravastatin patent suit: (IP Law360),
- Prevacid (Lansoprazole) – US: District Court upholds validity of Takeda’s Prevacid patents, rejecting Teva’s obviousness arguments: (Orange Book Blog),
- Tarceva (Erlotinib) – India: Ongoing patent dispute between Roche and CIPLA: (Spicy IP), (Interview with Roche’s MD – Spicy IP),
- Tarceva (Erlotinib) – India: CIPLA accused of promoting Erlotinib for ailments for which it had not been approved: (Spicy IP),
- Ultracet (Tramadol) – US: Caraco Pharma Labs wins summary judgment against Ortho-McNeil in patent case over generic Ultracet: (SmartBrief), (IP Law360), (GenericsWeb),
- Viread (Tenofovir) – Brazil declares Tenofovir to be of public interest, may issue compulsory licence: (Intellectual Property Watch), (GenericsWeb),
- Volini (Complete Pain relief) - India: Court says deceptive similarity injures proprietary rights in trade mark infringement case Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited v Universal Twin Labs: (International Law Office),
- Yasmin (Drospirenone) – US: Bayer sues Watson Pharma and Novartis to prevent generic version of Yasmin: (IP Law360), (GenericsWeb)
Africa
- WIPO DG applicant Otieno-Odek receives African Union backing: (Afro-IP),
- Kenya: Water hyacinth commercialization conference, patent and one stone to kill two birds: (IP Kenya),
- Kenya: Government seeking trade mark protection for ‘grown under the sun’ for Kenyan products: (Afro-IP),
- Kenya: Still sleeping on its IPRs: (Afro-IP),
- Kenya: 80% of trade marks counterfeited: (Afro-IP),
- Namibia: Passing off appeal decision in Gonschorek & Ors v Asmus & Anor: (Afro-IP),
- São Tomé and Príncipe: More on São Tomé and Príncipe’s accession to the PCT: (Afro-IP), (WIPO),
- South Africa: High Court sets aside search and seizure warrant in respect of alleged counterfeit CROCS shoes: Moresport P/L v Commissioner for SA Revenue Services & Ors: (Afro-IP)
- Uganda: Update on Uganda’s efforts to become TRIPS compliant: (Afro-IP)
Australia
- Entitlement, inventorship and employment: University of Western Australia v Gray: (IP Down Under), (IP finance),
- Cadbury doesn’t own colour purple in Australia: Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd: (IP Law360)
Austria
- Austrian domain name registry publishes special report on origin and emergence of .at domain: (Class 46)
Bangladesh
Brazil
Canada
- Implementation of CIRA’s new .ca WHOIS policy: (Canadian Trademark Blog),
- Canadian Association of Broadcasters seeks new copyright exception: (Michael Geist),
- Government of Alberta announces economic measures for tech companies: (ipblog.ca),
- Where do the Liberals stand on copyright?: (Michael Geist)
China
- The law and new tech in China: (China Hearsay),
- China’s free-for-all in IP is becoming past tense: (Patent Prospector),
- Student wins short film competition about respecting copyright: (China Hearsay),
- Litigation is up in China, but not yet making lawyers rich: (IAM)
Czech Republic
Denmark
- Louis Vuitton alleges trade mark and copyright infringement over Vuitton-style handbag depicted in artwork : (Innovationpartners)
Europe
- CFI further clarifies dilution in Citigroup Inc v OHIM: (Catch Us If You Can!!!),
- Ferrero fends off Ferro CTM: Ferrero Deutschland v OHIM, Cornu SA Fontain: (Class 46),
- File-sharing should not be a crime says European Parliament: (Out-Law),
- Distribution of a copyright work requires transfer of ownership, rules ECJ: Peek & Cloppenburg KG v Cassina SpA: (Out-Law), (Catch Us If You Can!!!),
- ‘Three strikes and you’re out’ policy strikes out: (Michael Geist),
- EC commissions survey on IPR enforcement in third countries: (IPR-Helpdesk), (Michael Geist),
- IBM said to face EU scrutiny on mainframe business: (IP Law360),
- EC publishes Regulation 355/208 regarding electronic communication in CPVO proceedings: (IPKat),
- EU Competitiveness Council to meet 29-30 May to discuss progress on technical issues relating to Community patents: (IPKat),
- Community patent breakthrough, but still a long way to go: (IAM)
France
- French patent attorneys: an endangered species? – potential merger of French Bar with IP attorney profession: (IPKat),
- Freedom of speech finally prevails over trade mark rights in Greenpeace parody case: (Class 46)
Germany
- Leberkäse trade mark application for miniature scale model of product rejected: (Class 46)
Hong Kong
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