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 us know if you think we’ve missed something important, or if there is a source you think should be monitored.
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Highlights this week included:
Chamber of Commerce urges IP reform (Patent Baristas) (Patently-O)
Global
Global – General
Latest round of ACTA negotiations wrap up (Michael Geist)
Year’s end thoughts on IP monetisation (IPEG)
The paradox of accounting innovation (IP Frontline)
Global – Trade Marks / Brands
Corporate logos – do they suffer as we do? (IPKat)
Global – Patents
WIPO ponders role of patent in limiting climate change (Ars Technica)
Managing patent costs in an economic downturn (Kenyon & Kenyon)
FreePatentsOnline.com launches citepatents.com allowing bloggers, journalists to easily reference patent information and provide free patent search box for adding to websites (Patent Circle)
Global – Copyright
Creative Commons recognised ‘for raising collective intelligence’ (Creative Commons)
Argentina
Enforcement of IP rights in Argentina (IP Frontline)
Australia
Parallel importers welcome in Australia: Polo/Lauren company LP v Ziliani Holdings Pty Ltd (Australian Trade Marks Law Blog)
China
China mulls national security scrutiny for patent applications (Philip Brooks’ Patent Infringement Updates)
Second discussion of draft amendment to China’s Patent Law to be held 22 to 27 December (Managing Intellectual Property)
Europe
No ACTA deal yet as EU Parliament seeks narrower scope, more transparency (Intellectual Property Watch)
82% of IP practitioners favour rapid implementation of European Community patent (Managing Intellectual Property)
Court of First Instance, consolidating four appeals, annuls decisions of Board of Appeal and awards costs to Budvar in proceedings over BUD appellation: Budějovický Budvar, národní podnik v Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market, Anheuser-Busch, Inc (Managing Intellectual Property)
Applications for geographical indication status: PAN DE CRUZ CUIDAD REAL for Spanish bread, and BATATA DOCE DE ALJEZUR for Portuguese Aljezur sweet potato (Class 46)
France
French court declares moral rights have expired in Les Miserables 123 years after Hugo’s death (Excess Copyright)
Chocolate bearing counterfeit Ferrero trade mark seized (Class 46)
Ghana
Ghana regulator complains of fake toothpaste smuggling (Afro-IP)
India
Confederation of Indian Industry releases manual ‘Technological Solutions: A Primer for Combating Counterfeiting & Piracy’ (Spicy IP)
Phonographic Performance Limited and Christmas collections: transparency and the right to information (Spicy IP)
Italy
Interbrand study: Italy’s 10 most valuable global brands (Class 46)
Jamaica
Shirley Burke declared author and copyright owner of ‘Hooligans’ lyrics (International Law Office)
Kenya
End of the road for Anti-Counterfeit Bill (Afro-IP)
Mexico
Patent litigation in Mexico (IP Frontline)
Morocco
Morocco ties climate change to IP rights (Afro-IP)
Poland
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha challenges validity of Madera’s registered SHARP figurative mark (Class 46)
Polish Patent Office allows registration of SWEETLIPS figurative mark despite earlier SWEETKIDS mark for confectionary (Class 46)
Cross-border reputation: Tiffany & Broadway v Polish Patent Office, Tiffany & Co (Class 46)
Singapore
Copyright laws eased for film, media studies (ContentAgenda)
South Africa
South African Music Rights Organisation’s Christmas bonus (Afro-IP)
United Kingdom
IPO consultation on copyright reform (Laurence Kaye on Digital Media Law)
John Steel, drummer in 60s band The Animals wins right to register trade mark for the band name despite opposition from singer Eric Burdon (Out-Law)
Are performers a special case? – Prof Amanda J Harcourt on copyright extension (IPKat)
Government asks European Commission for permission to extend denial of royalties to dead artists’ estates (Out-Law)
IPO launches ‘Patent Pit’ game on its website (IPKat)
Is IPO ignoring Symbian ruling on software patents? (Techdirt)
Assigning a mark without the business: a question of deception? (Class 46)
Trading Standards officers uses new inspection powers granted under Copyright, Designs and Patent Act (Out-Law)
United States
US General
IP legislation to watch in 2009 (Law360)
IP cases to follow in 2009 (Law360)
US Trade Representative issues statement on Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ContentAgenda)
Does the Federal Circuit need a fresh viewpoint? (Inventive Step)
US Patent Reform
CAFC: PTO control over own proceedings, patent reform: Hyatt v Dudas (Hal Wegner)
When considering PTO reform, look to KIPO for clues (Peter Zura’s 271 Patent Blog)
Chamber of Commerce urges IP reform (Patent Baristas) (Patently-O)
The message to Barack Obama is clear: the USPTO needs new blood and a strong reform agenda (IAM)
US Patents
Patent Prosecution Highway pilot with Canadian Intellectual Property Office is extended (Patent Docs)
Examples of how to respond to takings of official notice – part II (Patentably Defined)
Patent case filing stats – October 2008 (PATracer)
US Patents – Decisions
Post Microsoft v AT&T: 271(f) extra territorial infringement still applies to process claims: Cardiac Pacemakers v St Jude Medical (not precedential) (Patently-O) (Patent Prospector) (Law360)
CAFC affirms (not) ‘obvious to try’ jury instructions: Dr Peter Renthrop v Spectranetics (Patently-O) (Patent Prospector)
CAFC: Contributory infringement; active inducement: Ricoh Co v Quanta Computer, Inc (Hal Wegner)
CAFC reverses and remands Appeals Board’s rejection based on anticipation: In Gary Edward Wheeler (Patent Prospector)
CAFC bars declaratory judgment action against non-US patentee: Avocent Huntsville Corp v Aten International Co, Ltd (IP Spotlight) (Promote the Progress)
CAFC affirms District Court’s claim construction: Respironics v Invacare (Promote the Progress)
US Trademarks
PTO publishes summary of rule changes effective 16 January 2009 (TTABlog)
Bending territoriality for fame: a US perspective (article by Ann Gilson LaLonde) (Class 46)
ENERGY STAR fridge deal a victory for consumers (Green Patent Blog)
US Trade Marks – Decisions
Irked TTAB reverses PTO’s stubborn refusal to register STEELBUILDING.COM: In re Steelbuilding.com, Inc (not precedential) (TTABlog)
Despite fame of RE/MAX, TTAB finds no likelihood of confusion with SAVEMAX REALTY: RE/MAX International Inc. v. Somraj Singh, (not precedential) (TTABlog)
US Trade Marks – Lawsuits and strategic steps
DJ David Guetta – DJ David Guetta sues over use of name on compilation album cover: Payday Records, Ultra Records v Thrive Records (The Trademark Blog)
Stanford University – Stanford University sues Sir Allen Stanford, patron of West Indian cricket, for trade mark infringement (IPKat)