Ben
Lehman

IP Strategist

Eiffel tower, Paris, France

The Eiffel tower is one of the most recognised and truly inspiring structures in the world. Some say it's Paris, but it's more likely the simple exponential curves in the base and spire. Most things come down to numbers in the end.

photo credit: stevenvanwel

2010 IP Hall of Fame inductees announced

by Duncan Bucknell

In case you missed it, the 2010 inductees have been announced. Here's the release from IAM Magazine:

Five prominent figures from the global intellectual property community have been selected for induction into the IP Hall of Fame for 2010. This follows a selection process that involved IP professionals from around the world and culminated in a final vote by members of the IP Hall of Fame Academy.

The individuals to be inducted are:

• Thomas Blanco-White: An eminent barrister and former head of the largest IP chambers in the UK. He was the author of books and textbooks that earned him an international reputation as one of the greatest thinkers and writers about IP of his generation. Blanco-White died in 2006 at the age of 90.

• Donald Dunner: Leading IP lawyer and partner at US law firm Finnegan. Instrumental in the establishment of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, he has argued more cases before the court than any other litigator.

• Paul Michel: Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. As a judge on the court for the last 20 years, Michel has helped shape the landscape of patent law in the US and has handed down some of the court's most important judgments.

• Jochen Pagenberg: Co-founder and senior member of German IP firm Bardehle Pagenberg. He is an adviser to the German Federal Ministry of Justice, as well as president of the European Patent Lawyers Association and chairman of the special committee on European patent litigation of the AIPPI.

• Ruud Peters: CEO of Philips IP & Standards and one of the world's most prominent chief IP officers. He has successfully made intellectual property a major boardroom issue and delivered significant value to the company by demonstrating how IP can be used as a corporate asset.

The IP Hall of Fame was created in 2006 by IAM magazine as a not-for-profit exercise that focuses on individuals, from areas such as business, politics, finance, the law, academia, the arts and science and technology, who have played a major role in the creation of today's IP system. Previous inductees include former US presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, the great French author Victor Hugo and inventor Thomas Edison, as well as more current names such as Marshall Phelps formerly head of IP at both IBM and Microsoft, Dolores Hanna, the first female president of the International Trademark Association and British judge Lord Justice Robin Jacob.

Inductees into the IP Hall of Fame are selected for the outstanding contribution they have made to the development of IP law and practice, so helping to establish IP as one of the key business assets of the 21st century. The final decision as to who should be inducted lies with the IP Hall of Fame Academy, comprising a mixture of previous IP Hall of Fame inductees and invited thought-leaders from the global intellectual property community. They vote on nominations received from IP professionals based in countries across the world.

Reaction from inductees:

I am honoured to have been selected as an inductee into the IAM IP Hall of Fame. My fellow and past inductees represent a who’s who of contributors to the law of intellectual property. I am flattered to have been selected to join them. - Donald Dunner

I know or knew recent inductees, including Judge Pauline Newman, Director Francis Gurry, Ms Dolores Hanna and Sir Hugh Laddie. Donald Dunner is a leading member of my Litigation Advisory Group. Being selected to stand in their company is an honour and pleasure, for I admire and respect their contributions to intellectual property law. - Paul Michel

I am surprised and delighted to be inducted into the IP Hall of Fame, and I feel of course very honoured being part of such a distinguished group of fellow inductees. It was also an honour for me when I was elected last November president of the European Patent Lawyers Association, but that will involve a lot of work. With the IP Hall of Fame, one can just lean back and enjoy. - Jochen Pagenberg

I am very honoured by the decision of the Academy to elect me into the IP Hall of Fame. More than anything, it is a wonderful recognition of the creativity and hard work of our team at Philips over the last decade. Together, we have transformed IP in our company into a valuable business asset and an indispensable tool to support the growth, competitiveness and profitability of our business. - Ruud Peters

Thursday, February 4, 2010 — GLOBAL IP STRATEGY, PHARMA, BIOTECH & CHEM IP STRATEGY, IP WARS, IP ON THE NET

THE China IP litigation resource? and its free

by Duncan Bucknell

Another great podcast in the can tonight. On the call were Neil Wilcof, Nick Redfearn and of course Jeremy Philips.

Nick reminded me about an incredible resource that the team at Rouse have been building up - free for everyone to use. (I'd first learnt about it back in October when speaking at a conference in Shanghai.)

It's a database (and associated analytics) of published Chinese IP decisions. There are 7500 already in there and another 2000 are going in as you read this.

Check it out and let me know what you think - http://www.ciela.cn

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 — IP ON THE NET, STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF IP, IP WARS, PHARMA, BIOTECH & CHEM IP STRATEGY, GLOBAL IP STRATEGY

Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada) Celebrates 45 Years

by Duncan Bucknell

Happy to pass this on from LES (USA & Canada) - a great network.

Alexandria, VA, January 19, 2010—The Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada) Inc., is celebrating 45 years of leadership in the business of intellectual property (IP) and licensing with the kick-off of a multi-faceted membership awareness campaign designed to recruit new members and encourage membership renewal through exciting programs and incentives.

In honor of its 45th Anniversary, LES is offering members who join before March 31, 2010 a $45 discount on their first year’s dues, a $25 gift card and complimentary attendance at a local LES chapter event. Join now by downloading the membership application at www.lesusacanada.org/45anniversary and emailing to membership@les.org or faxing to 703.836.3107. (Enter promo code LESPR45).
LES is the leading association for professionals involved in the transfer, use, development, manufacture and marketing of IP. It’s unique among professional group because it draws IP leaders from an array of business backgrounds and from across industry sectors. This diversity provides members with highly valuable business connections and world-class professional development opportunities.

“LES is a welcoming community that empowers, connects and celebrates IP professionals,” said Paul Roberts, Vice President for LES Membership. “Whether you’re a veteran or brand new to the field, LES has the reach, global perspective and resources to provide the tools IP professionals need to survive and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.”

In addition to the advantages provided by its diverse membership in terms of deal making, information sharing and problem solving, LES offers its members unparalleled professional education programs, including the LES Professional Development Series (PDS), and the Certified Licensing Professional Program (CLP).

Through LES, members not only develop lifelong professional and personal relationships, but also build valuable professional networks through LES meetings and Industry Sector Groups, local chapter events, online social media networks and global membership directory. They also receive first-class publications and resources, such as les Nouvelles, the leading international technology transfer and licensing journal of LES International, eNews bulletins, Viewpoints bi-monthly newsletter and original benchmark industry data on deal terms, royalty rates and other aspects of IP business.

In 2010, LES members will enjoy an expanded lineup of new programs designed to further enhance their LES experience.
•    Linking Entrepreneurship and Technology Commercialization: IP for Entrepreneurs & Universities: In keeping with its 2010 theme of “Deals, Deals & More Deals,” the LES (USA & Canada) Spring Meeting will focus on deals in the entrepreneurial and university spaces, known to be hotbeds for innovation and technology advancement. The meeting will be held in Boston, MA, May 18-21.
•    Around the World with LES: A global series of networking and educational events to be held On April 26th spanning five continents, in conjunction with WIPO’s World IP Day.
•    LES Monthly Webinar Series: In addition to the eNews and expanded use of social networking vehicles to keep members informed, LES will also host monthly webinars for members who want to learn more about IP issues and mechanics in the convenience of their offices. Internal negotiations are often as difficult as negotiating with parties across the table. This will be the focus of February’s webinar, Internal Negotiations: “We have met the enemy and they are us!”

For more information on these and other LES events, please visit www.lesusacanada.org and JOIN NOW by downloading the membership application at www.lesusacanada.org/45anniversary and emailing to membership@les.org or faxing to 703.836.3107. (Enter promo code LESPR45.)

Thursday, January 28, 2010 — IP ON THE NET, STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF IP, GLOBAL IP STRATEGY

IP and the planet - save your logo looks good

by Duncan Bucknell

These logo's don't themselves need saving, but the animals they depict often do.

Corporates the world over rely on images and words associated with the natural world for their brands. There's LaCoste, Puma, Peugeot, Jaguar, Maaf, and Esso to name a few. It's not unusual for these to be endangered or threatened species.

As they mention on their site, 'the principle of Save Your Logo is simple - Save Your Logo creates an opportunity for companies represented by a plant or animal in their logo to contribute to the conservation of that species'.

Strategically, this is a great move because of the kudos and good feelings that will be generated around the brand. From an intellectual property strategy perspective it also makes a great deal of sense. You get to push the geographical and sensibility boundaries around your brand and therefore increase its value as well as its enforceability. Not that that's the best reason to be participating in this.

The best reason is simple - because you get a really clever way of giving back to the global community.

Lacoste and Maaf have already signed up.

Who's next?

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 — IP ON THE NET, STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF IP, IP WARS, PHARMA, BIOTECH & CHEM IP STRATEGY, GLOBAL IP STRATEGY

A little bit of background on Duncan

by Yvette Crachi

Oxford's Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice recently published an 'in person' piece on Duncan.

So, if you ever wanted to know his answers to any of the following, now's your chance:

How did you first become interested in IP?
Who were your formative influences in IP?
What was the first IP-related task you had to undertake?
Who or what is the IP owner's worst enemy?
Who in IP today do you most admire?
If you could not have been involved in IP, what would you have liked to be?
What is your favourite song/book/film?
What's your favourite meal ...?
... and with whom would you most want to eat it?
What brand most closely reflects your personal ethos?
What three words best describe you?
If a genie offered you three wishes, what would they be?

Here's the link for those who can't see the embedded version above: http://jiplp.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/extract/4/11/843

Do let us know what you think.