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Humour editor pays damages on Ten years of stolen jokes
Judy Brown, a humour editor who published thousands of jokes from top comedians like Ray Leno and Rita Rudner has settled a copyright infringement case with damages expected to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Brown was accused of colle...US movie studios sue Chinese online cinema
20th Century Fox, Columbia, Disney, Paramount and Universal are suing Jeboo.com China’s largest provider of online movie content and Eastday Bar, a Internet Café chain for breaching copyright law. The Shanghai court hearing the case h...- In an operation in Wales involving police, officials from the Intellectual Property office and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), three people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a national Internet-based music and film piracy rin...
US calls for head of WIPO to answer allegations or resign
The United States has called for the head of the WIPO to publicly answer allegations of dishonest conduct or to see him resign. The WIPO Secretariat rejected charges by diplomats regarding an official report produced, that Mr Idris misled the agen...Ethics group searches Google for copyright infringement
A US ethics group has urged Congress to scrutinise Google's copyright control after finding hundreds of evidently pirated movies available online on the Internet Search leaders website. The non-profit group, which says it has no financial ties to ...Swansea intellectual property expert to lead UN project
A Welsh project on IP protection has been so successful that the United Nations has invited Andrew Beale, the man behind the project to help them advise small businesses across the world. Andrew Beale, a legal expert at Swansea University’s ...- Prince is launching legal action against Google Inc. owners of the popular YouTube, for copyright infringement in an effort to end unauthorised use of his music and performances. A statement released on his behalf, said: 'Prince believes that as a...
- In early September, Las Vegas resident David Dominic Scali was charged with impersonating an intellectual property lawyer for the purposes of illegally procuring domain names. Proceedings were conducted in a Los Angeles Federal Court, and Scali agree...
Authorities move against domain holder
Brussels-based EURid (the European Registry of Internet Domain Names) has suspended approximately 10,000 .eu domain names registered by a single owner because of doubts over the owner’s eligibility as an EU resident. EURid’s eligibilit...White House keeps heat on Bill clause
HR 1908 – also known as the US Patent Reform Bill – passed a full House of Representatives vote on 7 September, maintaining its impressive pace through the legislature. Yet despite its momentum, the Bill continues to attract controversy, ...OIC hails WIPO development trend
Underlining its commitment to development, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) held a ‘retreat’ for Geneva-based representatives of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on 5 September, which took an in-depth lo...- Hollywood, Florida will be alive with the electricity of the domain industry on October 9-13, as domain conference, TRAFFIC East 2007, throws open its doors for financiers and insiders. Hosted by the World Association of Domain Name Developers (WADND...
Sports firm throws promotion curve ball
Washington State’s Baden Sports has launched lawsuits against USA Basketball and the sport’s global governor, Federation International de Basketball (FIBA), over the alleged promotion of infringing products. Baden argues that the US baske...Goods brand challenges check mate
Burberry, whose distinctive check has adorned the garments and luggage of countless celebrities, has launched an infringement suit against rival goods firm, London Fog. The tartan titan alleges that a forthcoming trenchcoat range from the rival brand...Third time lucky for China TM reform
China is exploring possible amendments and revisions to its Trademark Law for the third time since 1983, in a bid to reduce cycles of trademark registration and rights vindication. Zhou Bohua, the chief of the State Administration for Industry and...Studio cites Dirty tricks over ‘Baby’ line
It emerged this week that the Hollywood studio, Lionsgate, has launched proceedings against a range of firms that have allegedly used a line from the 1987 hit film, Dirty Dancing, for promotional purposes. Rights to the movie – originally produ...JPO aims to tidy its license registry
It emerged over the weekend that the Japan Patent Office (JPO) is preparing to sharpen up its service by improving its system of registering license agreements. Currently a much under-used facility of Japan’s IP framework, the system provides l...US backs Thai camcording crackdown
The US Embassy in Thailand has lent its weight to an IP campaign in the Far East territory, backing the launch of an anti-piracy film trailer. The short clip, created by Thailand’s Motion Picture Association (MPA), will be tacked onto screening...- Despite reports indicating an upsurge of patent filing in North East Asia, the United States trade department is continuing to urge China to comply with IP best-practice. In its latest move, of 13 August, the department asked the World Trade Organisa...
Asian filing stats show promise
A 4.7% hike in worldwide patent filing, spurred on by the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), has been stimulated by increased activity in Asia. This finding comes from the 2007 Patent Report by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), which...- A Global Brand Protection Summit held at Amsterdam’s Radisson Hotel from 25-26 September will be the centrepiece of IP events planned for late 2007 by Legal IQ. Titled ‘Exploiting Your Intellectual Assets by Adopting Cutting-Edge Brand Pr...
Universal refutes copyright allegations
Media giant NBC Universal has reacted angrily to criticisms from the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), alleging that it has placed unreasonably harsh copyright notices on its products. Included in a complaint to the US Federal ...Patent offices make dual filing top priority
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced at the end of July that they have launched a new system for the electronic exchange of priority documents. Both offices are determined to make priority docu...Web chiefs’ consultation takes off
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has launched its long-touted plan to draw ideas for the future of domain name registration from the marketplace itself. Earlier this year, ICANN decided that the growing number of domain...- The citizens of Springfield avoided a hijack last week after the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) ruled that a satirical podcaster had registered a domain for thesimpsonsmovie.com in bad faith. New Yorker Keith Malley had registered th...
- Aiming to meet terms set out in the Geneva Act of The Hague Agreement on the international registration of industrial designs, the European Commission has amended two Regulations concerned with registrations and fees. The amendments will assist the a...
Massive counterfeit ring smashed
It was announced on 24 July that pirated Microsoft and Symantec software – estimated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to be worth approximately $500 million – has been seized in a raid in the southern province of Guangdong in ...US bill looks unstoppable – yet worries persist
The US Patent Reform Bill’s juggernaut progress through the legislature has shown no sign of slowing, with developments in the House and Senate adding extra grease to its wheels. On 18 July, the Bill passed a long-awaited House reading at full ...- In Moscow on 17 July, the Russian patent office, Rospatent, and the European Patent Office (EPO) held a conference marking the first step in a joint campaign to promote the use of patent information. The two bodies are hoping to stimulate competition...
Philippines’ IP police net billions
The National Committee for Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) in the Philippines has announced that its member agencies have confiscated nearly four billion Pesos (approximately £42million) worth of counterfeited items since the committee&rsq...Applicants prepare for .Asia explosion
The Hong-Kong-based registry operator DotAsia Organisation is currently inviting applicants to submit proposals for the acquisition of websites with the ‘.asia’ suffix. Through its Pioneer Domains Program, the first phase of applicant...Future book to attack patent system
Two academics are poised to unleash a major critique of patents. Set for a 2008 printing, Do Patents Work? by James Bessen and Michael J Meurer contrasts the abstract elements of patenting with the more rigid laws of real estate, drawing sharp distin...MEPs review EU software patent status
A round-table discussion between EU politicians has turned the spotlight back onto the European software patent debate, with MEPs taking over from vested interests for the first time to offer their thoughts on the subject. Details of the conference, ...- The Formula One Group (FOG) has failed in its bid to trademark the term ‘F1’ in Britain. Applications for the mark – regarded as the given abbreviation for the racing sport's name – have been filed by the Group's commercial ri...
EPO aims for well-informed patent system
Stakeholders from academia and industry are set to speak at Patent Information on Innovations: a conference to be staged in Moscow on 17 July by the European Patent Office (EPO) in association with the Russian Patent Office. In the words of EPO me...Water company loses its bottle
A mineral water bottling company has been barred from using a name similar to that of a world famous Scotch whisky. This week the Delhi High Court determined that the ‘WAT 69’ brand of water produced by SM Enterprises was too similar t...British IP given permanent home
With former Chancellor Gordon Brown firmly entrenched as the new British Prime Minister, details have emerged over the last week about the new UK Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) that he has established. Responding to recomme...City law transforms piracy drive
A tooled-up New York moviegoer has become the first person to be charged under a new, citywide anti-piracy law introduced by media baron and Mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Kalidou Diallo was arrested in the Bronx-based American Theatre on 2 July during an...World’s second largest mp3 site closes
Despite its consistent status as the second largest retailer of music downloads for iTunes, the Russian music site, Allofmp3.com, was closed down this week. According to various web watchers, the closure was ordered by the Russian government in respo...Geography holds key to China’s IP
On 2 July, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) reported that a conference held in Beijing from 26 to 28 June highlighted the importance of country-of-origin signs to the development of the Chinese economy. The annual Symposium on Geog...- Malaysia’s minister for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs has urged his country to become the regional centre for intellectual property innovation and legislation. Shafie Apdal says the country can strengthen the commercialisation of its IP b...
IP chiefs greenlight new Highway
The 2 July opening of a patent highway between the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) was hailed as a bold step by the leaders of both institutions on launch day. Recommended by the Gowers Review of UK IP in Dec...Book orgs join to provide for orphans
A Joint Steering Group formed by the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) and the International Publishers’ Association (IPA) has composed a five-point plan to guide the publishing industry on the use of orphan works. A consi...Canada unveils new Olympic trademark legislation
Canada’s innovative Bill C-47 comes into force this month, giving the Vancouver Organising Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games unprecedented legal powers to protect its trademarks in the run up to the event. Domestic and inte...ICANN to fine-tune registrar relations
At the 29th International Public Meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), held this week in San Juan, Puerto Rico, discussion ranged around the body’s regulatory approach to the 900 registrars it works with. T...Big Business speaks out on patent reform
Legal representatives from three of America’s biggest blue-chips met in Washington at the weekend to discuss issues surrounding the soon-to-be updated US patent laws. Lawyers from Microsoft Corp, Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Johnson & Johns...Search engine swept up in Spy game
A federal magistrate’s order passed in a US copyright infringement case has inflamed advocates of online freedom. Ruling on Columbia Pictures Industries v Bunnell, in which the film studio is suing the defendant’s TorrentSpy website, the ...China urged to value own brands
A partner from one of the world’s most renowned IP law firms spoke at the first International Trademark Forum in Beijing on 20 June, arguing that greater brand awareness in China would improve the country’s economy. Kevin Smith, trademark...Grease monkeys’ music may cost more than peanuts
The Scotsman reported on 21 June that car repairs service, Kwik Fit, is embroiled in a legal challenge from the Performing Rights Society (PRS), on the grounds that constant radio play in many of its UK garages is creating a tide of copyright infring...Medical tools org calls for surgery on Bill
On 19 June, the Medical Devices Manufacturers Association (MDMA) issued a press release and letter challenging key aspects of the US Patent Reform Bill, currently awaiting a House reading at full Committee level. The body, backed in its letter by 200...Telecom giant stands guard against piracy
On 19 June, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) hailed a recent announcement from AT&T that it will act to keep pirated content off its networks. IFPI chief, John Kennedy, said: ‘I am delighted that AT&T has...USPTO reveals plan to prevent plot-loss
On the weekend of 16 June, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released an extraordinary announcement in response to an applicant who has filed for a handful of so-called ‘movie-plot patents’. With four film plots submit...Tourist guide has Olympic mountain to climb
A humble guidebook has run afoul of the American branch of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the grounds of trademark infringement. Titled Best of the Olympic Peninsula 2007: Vital Information to ‘DO THE LOOP’ Around Washington...USPTO book campaign hits Middle East
It was reported on 14 June that The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has looked to the Middle East to launch a new book campaign designed to spread awareness of IP issues. Intellectual Property Rights and You is a series of guides th...Buying button still a pressing issue
Virginian firm, MercExchange has renewed its attack on a key feature of eBay’s buying service, alleging ongoing patent infringement. The company asked this week for an injunction to be placed on the popular auction site’s Buy-It-Now butto...Everyone’s joining the mobile phone game
In a strategically timed announcement, prior to Apple’s launch of its music playing iPhone in America this month, Sony Ericsson has filed a patent that could enable the PlayStation Portable (PSP) to be adapted to mobile phones. Their plans to...UK and Japan to open ideas Highway
July will see the opening of a long-awaited Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) between the UK Intellectual Property office (UKIPO) and the Japan patent Office (JPO). Designed to speed up dual filing arrangements between the two countries and enhance th...Congress to lay battle plans against IP crime
On 13 and 14 June, the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in Brussels, Belgium, will play host to the IP Crime Congress 2007 – a packed programme of events designed to bring insiders from a range of industry sectors up to speed on the latest measures fo...- Head of technology, Olswang Why IP – what drew you into the field? Jeremy Phillips. He taught me IP, as well as contract law and consumer law, and supervised my dissertation, which aimed to computerise the law of mistake and misrepresentati...
UK-IPO encourage tomorrow’s young inventors
This week saw the launch of the UK-IPO’s ‘Cracking Ideas’ project aimed at primary school children (aged between 9 and 11) and featuring the famous animated plasticine characters, Wallace and Gromit. The educational website, w...Brainchild roadshow pulls up at USPTO
The winner, runners-up and commended entries of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and History Channel-led Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge have arrived at their spiritual home, following a brief tour. Between mid-March and late...UKIPO hails solo innovation surge
The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has welcomed a trend in patent applications from January to March this year which saw 30% of filings come from individual inventors. UKIPO citied the popularity of TV shows such as BBC2’s Dragons' Den...EC stats reveal ’06 copycat boost
On 31 May, the European Commission released details of the anti-counterfeiting seizures it conducted throughout 2006, with the figures indicating a groundswell of trafficking in illegal goods. Perhaps the most alarming revelation is that 250 million ...US-Indian relations stretched over yoga IP
Two Indian government departments have launched action against the US in an attempt to turn around the superpower’s prolific granting of yoga-themed IP Rights. Of particular concern are patents issued for practical aspects of the exercise, such...Tycoon brand plan rattles Natives
Martha Stewart, the homemaking entrepreneur and presenter of her own US Apprentice series, has stirred yet more controversy with her attempt to trademark the name of her New York State neighbourhood, Katonah. As IP Review Online reported back in Janu...Tomorrow’s patent holders THINK ahead
On 25 May, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) announced the winners of its THINK kit competition, which took in 300 entries from UK schools on the theme ‘Hobby to Enterprise’. Students were encouraged to develop product ideas fro...Patents take centre-stage at conference
On 24 May, the London Wall offices of DLA Piper welcomed visitors from various UK law firms for its Third Annual Patent Law Seminar. Speaking at the event were Richard Taylor, George Godar, John McKinlay, Bonella Ramsay and Neville Cordell, who cover...YouTube throws shapes after copyright storm
The choreographer behind the popular 1976 dance, the Electric Slide, has retracted takedown demands he issued to the online video-sharing portal, YouTube, following a legal challenge. True to its aim of providing viewers with a steady stream of amusi...Auction house hammers copycats
London-based auctioner Sotheby’s has won an infringement suit against a group of Hong Kong firms in a ruling passed on 22 May. The businesses had been operating as shell companies for a Chinese parent firm that used the same font employed in th...US registry aims to beat Web shortage
In a move that will create ripples across the entire domains market, the leading registry of the United States has made an urgent call for a full-scale migration to a new Internet Protocol. The non-profit American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)...Firms highlight EU-UK patent conflict
Five UK-based technological SMEs are confronting the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) over inconsistencies between British and European law. The firms – Astron Clinica, Cyan Holdings, Inrotis Technologies, Software 2000 and Surf Kitchen ...Small Tech still nervous on US patent reform
Patent law in the United States gained a higher profile on 16 May as the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property voted to send the long-touted Patent Reform Bill to full Committee stage. Only Republ...UK copyright term ‘should be extended’, say MPs
A Parliamentary committee from the UK Department of Culture, Media and Sport has argued that performers must be allowed to keep copyright on their works for at least 70 years, as opposed to the current 50. The committee published its recommendation i...Inventor builds glowing legacy with wood process
On 15 May, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) unveiled Michael Sykes as the winner of this year’s Modern Marvels Invent Now Challenge, held in partnership with America’s National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation and th...UK Court backs payouts after patent failure
Patent failure should not trigger the recall of damages won in infringement suits, according to the UK Court of Appeal. Details published since 10 May on Unilin Beheer BV v Berry Floor NV show that an award granted in litigation must still be paid if...Web chiefs seek help on new digital districts
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) announced on 10 May that a series of new generic top level domains (gTLDs) are likely to arrive next summer – and it wants the online community to help design them. Following on fr...Knock-off park riffs on Disney theme
A state-run Beijing theme park planner has built an entire resort that rips off the worldwide attractions of Disney. Reports carried in several Far East news sources from 6 to 10 May indicate a massive, unlicensed use of trademarked characters and lo...Clinton Foundation backs Thai patent policy
The government of Thailand has attracted an unlikely supporter for its recent decision to issue government-use compulsory licenses on drugs made by American firms – former US President, Bill Clinton. Thai health minister, Mongkol Na Songkhla, a...Pre-exit Web chief views crystal ball
Vint Cerf – outgoing chairman of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) – has addressed the coming end of his tenure in a video interview that peers into the organisation’s future. In the recording, released...Trader made to go public as IP thief
Reports emerged on 3 May that an online software trader has been forced to advertise that he is a counterfeiter, following a lawsuit brought by Microsoft. In January, MA Jabarkhail of Grimsby, England, was convicted of selling fake Microsoft goods on...Store owner shellshocked over turtle art suit
The owner of a Pittsburgh video store is facing prosecution over the choice of décor for his building. 20 year-old Milton Barr, proprietor of independent outlet, MIB Ninja Entertainment, has run into trouble for advertising the store with a di...Web masters’ code clears communication channels
Software developers and Web designers no longer have to teach their applications or sites about the ever-changing world of top level domains (TLDs). As an increasing number of specialist TLDs have hit the market, older websites and web-streamed softw...- ‘Big Technology’ infringement suits could be harder to bring following a US Supreme Court ruling of 30 April. A verdict on KSR International Co v Teleflex Inc – previously reported on IP Review Online – had been hotly anticipa...
Music industry continues to plug Copyright Gap
On 30 April, in a continuation of the debate over performers’ rights in the music industry, Labour MP Michael Connarty called on the British Government to lobby the European Union for an extension of the sound recording copyright term. At pre...Directive vote rebuffs interest groups
The Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) gave its verdict this week on the European Parliament’s decision to accept the second Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED2). As IP Review Online reported on 23 ...Fireworks across the ideas industry on World IP Day
Celebrations marking World IP Day broke out across the globe on 26 April, with national IP offices launching a range of practical and ceremonial initiatives. The rebranded and revitalised UK office unveiled the title for its Wallace and Gromit-fronte...Supermarkets breed superbrands
British retailers are biting the hand that once fed them, shifting their emphasis from stocking major brands to creating and pushing their own. Their efforts are giving the likes of Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson a run for their money...WIPO chief hails global scope of IP
Ahead of tomorrow’s World Intellectual Property Day, dubbed ‘Encouraging Creativity’, WIPO director Dr Kamil Idris released an upbeat message on 24 April outlining his vision of how IP contributes to the lives of everyday people. Hi...Jeans firm: rival brand against our Religion
Fashionable denim dealer True Religion has launched a trademark suit against the in-store jeans brand sold by branches of Sam’s Club, the warehouse merchandise division of a leading US retail chain. With style signatures that develop from the p...Coalition urges fresh words for IP vote
On 19 April, a coalition of European information groups sprung up to challenge the wording of the Second Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive (IPRED2), ahead of a vote on its latest draft on Wednesday. If passed in its current form, the...US law change bid gains strong backing
Vermont’s Democrat Senator, Patrick Leahy, introduced his Patent Reform Bill into both US Houses on 18 April. Aiming to clear up outdated areas of current legislation, the Bill proposes a switch to first-to-file, plus limitations on the sums of...New research group to probe US patent plans
A new policy institute announced its presence among the power-brokers of Washington DC on 17 April. Set up and managed by a group of inventors, the Center for Patent Policy (CPP) is a think-tank with one simple mission statement: ‘To study how ...Software patents blamed for Windows price
The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) took the eve of American Tax Day to criticise software patents for contributing to the US tax burden. On 16 April, the pressure group said that the number of patent lawsuits launched against the Windows operatin...FFII meeting to comb EU patent landscape
Following recent intense debate over European patent harmonisation (click here for previous coverage), the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) has scheduled a special conference for 15 and 16 May in which the issue will be put und...Utah marks caught in legal web
According to its current plans, the US state of Utah will impose a new registration system from 30 June that will enable IP holders to obtain digital ‘trademarks’ for their brands. In a groundbreaking move, they will be used to prevent co...New bank TLD to leave phishers high and dry?
Online security specialist, F-Secure, has this week called on the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to introduce a new Top Level Domain (TLD) for financial institutions. The firm has proposed that creating a ‘.bank&rsq...Canadian students to graduate in IP
Over 3,000 students at Carleton University in Ottawa are to be schooled in the ways of intellectual property in an effort to spread awareness. It is hoped that the programme, led by the Carleton Graduate Students’ Association, will arm learners...World IP Day ‘Encouraging Creativity’ draws near
The world’s major IP institutions have been revealing their plans for what are sure to be significant events for World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April. Heralding the busy programme, entitled Encouraging Creativity, WIPO director Dr Kamil ...EC announcement heats up SME debate
Days after the US House of Representatives became a centre of criticism over the effects of US patent law on small businesses (click here for IP Review Online’s coverage), a similar scenario has arisen in the heart of European legislature. A 4 ...Crunch time for Apple over EC claims
One day after a watershed announcement in which EMI agreed to remove digital rights management (DRM) locks from its songs sold on Apple’s iTunes, Apple itself received a European Commission (EC) Statement of Objections over restrictive trading....- California resident Joseph Lewis Aguirre has raised eyebrows in the Orange County area by trademarking 15 local place names, it emerged on 2 April. Particularly worried are the owners of local firms, who fear that Aguirre will use his array of rights...
Small firms speak out on US patent law
On 29 March, the US small business community took the floor of the House to criticise what it regards as restrictive patent laws. Set up to examine all aspects of US law in relation to smaller enterprises, the House Small Businesses Committee dedicat...WIPO Symposium pledges to educate
On 28 March, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) unveiled the fruit of its International Symposium on Intellectual Property Academies, which took place last week in Rio de Janeiro. Delegates agreed to establish a global network of IP ...ICANN: New site online - and new sites on-side
This week, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) launched a reformatted website that will help its users and associates to keep better track of its policies, procedures and decisions. The new site is part of a series of init...Singapore honours namesake Treaty
On 27 March, Singapore became the first country to ratify a World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) trademark treaty that, last year, was named in the nation’s honour. Adopted by WIPO on 27 March 2006, the Singapore Treaty on the Law of...EC strikes at Irish patent proviso
The European Commission has stirred controversy by asking the Irish government to cancel a fundamental proviso in its IP law, it emerged over the weekend. Taking issue with what it sees as a discriminatory clause in Irish patent law, the Commission a...Tech giants bond in patent pact
In a move that will be warmly received by the world’s IT community, Microsoft and Fuji Xerox unveiled a cross-licensing deal on 22 March, in which the firms will have access to each other’s patents for future and existing innovations. The...BREIN battles Euro web pirates
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) announced on 21 March that Dutch anti-piracy group, BREIN, has successfully triggered the take-down of illegal peer-to-peer (p2p) site, dsb-tracker.org. Its operator chose to remove the...ICANN to debate 'Whois' issues
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is poised to hold discussions next week on the future of ‘Whois’ records – data revealing the owners of domain names. Set to proceed at ICANN’s 28th Interna...- In a dramatic finale to news previously reported on IP Review Online (click here and here), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has withdrawn Accreditation from the failing domains firm, RegisterFly, for prolonged systemic...
Tech orgs unite to preserve patent procedure
The three bodies behind the World Standards Co-operation initiative (WSC) have harmonised their policies on the inclusion of patented technology in standards. The move was announced in a 19 March joint press release from the International Electrotech...- It was announced on 15 March that trademark filings made under the international Marid system rose over 2006 to 36,471 – 8.6% up on 2005. The increase has been welcomed by WIPO as a ringing endorsement of its worldwide activities. Assistant dir...
US author reframes copyright debate
Bestselling American author, Jonathan Lethem, has revealed the unusual terms of a film option deal he has planned for his new novel, You Don’t Love Me Yet, which was published in the US on 13 March. Under the conditions of the deal, he will not...Study reveals online trouble spots
It emerged on 14 March that a detailed study of 265 top-level domains (TLDs) has shown that 4.1% of all websites can expose users’ terminals to a range of risks. These risks are typified by the most prevalent strains of ‘malware’ &n...IP Review columnist takes on Gowers
Law firm Burges Salmon LLP hosted a wide-ranging IP conference on 13 March at which partner and noted IP Review columnist, Jeremy Dickerson, gave his trenchant opinions on the Gowers Review of UK Intellectual Property. Still making waves long after i...Earth stands still for Google opponent
A technology firm’s patent dispute with Google over its Google Earth feature ended on 7 March with a victory for the search giant. The outcome marks the end of nearly three years of legal wrangling, which began in May 2004 when Skyline Software...USPTO learns a few ‘Wiki’ ways
It emerged on 6 March that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will this summer pilot a Wikipedia-like, web-based peer review system for software patent submissions. From May, the office will post applications online and open them u...Group delivers golden rules for IP security
News broke on 5 March that the US-based Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) – in association with information management firm, Reconnex – has revealed its Four Rules for Intellectual Property Leakage Protection. These bold assessments were se...Web’s weaver takes open message to Congress
It was reported on 2 March that Tim Berners-Lee – founding father of the World Wide Web – took the previous day to explain to US Congress his views on open software systems in relation to the internet. His position echoes that of many rec...Secrecy vs security on the conference circuit
A US firm has been prevented from revealing the dangers of RFID chip-cloning to businesses, after a technology firm alleged that two of its patents had been infringed by the demonstration equipment. RFID (radio-frequency identification) is a growing ...RegisterFly fallout chills ICANN relations
Troubled web services firm, RegisterFly, may lose ICANN accreditation in the wake of internal wrangling which locked two million domains, it emerged on 27 February. As previously reported on IP Review Online, the knock-on effects of a lawsuit launche...G stands for ‘grind’ on Google’s foreign mail trail
It emerged on 27 February that Google is facing a tough battle in its latest effort to protect its brand from dilution. The search giant, which runs the convenient, free-access email service, Gmail.com, has encountered a brick wall in the shape of Ch...BitTorrent goes legit: a retail revolution?
The online file-sharing community and its critics are anxiously awaiting the results of an experiment that began on 26 February, as the San Fransisco-based software firm, BitTorrent, made its first foray into legal file sales. Television programs and...Senator whips up support for IP bill
An IP whirlwind is blowing through US politics as Democrat Senator, Evan Bayh, aims to build a full head of steam behind his Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement bill. Stopping off at Fort Wayne in his Indiana jurisdiction on Thursday 22 February...Copycat blunder wrecks Indian report
News broke on 22 February that a patent law report commissioned by the Indian government from a five-member expert panel has been rendered null and void by its own leader, as parts of it may have been plagiarised. Spearheaded by Dr RA Mashelkar, the ...US Forum speaks out on ’06 web standoffs
Internet-linked litigation is growing, with the US National Arbitration Forum (NAF) reporting a 21% rise in its resolutions of domain name disputes from 2005 to 2006. With 1,658 cases handled last year, the Forum chalked up its biggest ever series of...- It was reported on 20 February that the US International Trade Commission (ITC) is becoming an ever greater force in the resolution of US patent disputes. As a consequence of globalisation and telecom improvements, US patent suits surged between 1997...
Marks event to deliver the goods
A Law Society-accredited seminar on consumer goods branding will be held by the Intellectual Property Institute on Thursday 15 March. Hosted by the McDermott Will and Emery law firm in their 7 Bishopsgate, London headquarters, the seminar will addres...Domains panic blamed on partnership strife
The future looks bleak for two million domain names after the apparent systemic failure of a noted registrar, it emerged today (19 February). All URLs controlled by RegisterFly.com, an ICANN-backed entity, have been locked down pending the resolution...Execs in rethink on tune locks
Results of a new survey indicate that digital rights management (DRM) technologies are no longer considered key to the economic health of the music business. Significantly, the news points out that many voices on the number-crunching side of the reco...Second Life repays mark parody in kind
Linden Lab has taken an unusual stance on a website that parodies its popular online community, Second Life, it was revealed on 14 February. The parody site, entitled Get A First Life (slogan: ‘Your world. Sorry about that.’), satirises S...New US bill targets patent law pros
It emerged on 13 February that the US House of Representatives has approved a bill that will test the effectiveness of diverting patent cases to the most capable judges on the circuit, enabling those without specialist knowledge to breathe a huge sig...Lords shut door on Macrossan bid
An appeal case that may have changed software patent laws in the UK has been turned down by the House of Lords, lawyers Marks & Clerk announced last week. Acting on behalf of Australian programmer, Neal Macrossan, the firm had sought to overturn ...Marks petition leaves bear with sore head
News broke on 9 February that, in the latest round of a long-running dispute, the Stephen Slesinger film company has petitioned the USPTO to cancel Disney IP holdings related to children’s favourite, Winnie The Pooh. The Slesinger firm grew ...Asian filing record proves treaty works
Last year, North-East Asian countries filed a record 145,000 patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) revealed on 8 February. The news will be seen as a vindication of the PCT&...- The mobile-Internet domains administrator, dotMobi, announced on 6 February that it has introduced new technical support measures, which will be overseen by a special Head of Department. James Pearce has been hired as Vice President of Technology,...
Conference stresses global IP needs
A Delhi summit has drawn attention to the state of IP in the developing world, with an Indian minister raising concerns that, without a concerted effort, laws in evolving economies could be tailored to suit external competitors. At the meeting &ndash...Beatles’ last push nets Apple license
A tale of bickering twins came to an end on 5 February, as the Beatles-founded record company Apple Corps, and computer giant Apple Inc, announced the conclusion of their lengthy trademark dispute. For 25 years, each firm had accused the other of con...McCreevy: EU patent ‘stuck in mud’
EU internal market commissioner, Charlie McCreevy, has vowed to have ‘one last go’ at establishing the EU patent this year, despite using a 1 February press conference to bemoan member states’ attitudes to the idea. According to...eBay draws sword against virtual weapons
eBay spokesman, Hani Durzy, has this week explained the auction site’s decision to ban the sale of virtual wares acquired in Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs). A busy trend on the site had seen online roleplaying veterans, particularly o...News honey brands nickname for host of ventures
It emerged this week that CNBC business anchor, Maria Bartiromo – an iconic figure in US financial circles – has trademarked her own nickname for several goods classes, including comics, films and clothing. An application for ‘Money...- In a release coinciding with the 30 January start of its Third Global Congress, ‘Shared Challenges, Common Goals’, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) announced that the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, will receive i...
IP theft deals $2bn worldwide blow, report shows
One day ahead of Geneva's WIPO-sponsored Third Global Congress, ‘Shared Challenges, Common Goals’, the counterfeit-watching Gieschen Consultancy has revealed some disturbing statistics on the global economic damage caused by IP crime in 2...Uh-oh: YouTube messes with Murdoch
It emerged on 26 January that Rupert Murdoch’s Fox network has subpoenaed the online video service, YouTube, for personal details of a user who uploaded swathes of Fox content – some of which before it has even been broadcast. ‘E...Whisky sour: body to appeal ‘Glen’ ruling
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is to contest a decision of 24 January by the Canadian Trade Marks Opposition Board that fails to endorse special protection for the word ‘Glen’ as a unique feature of Scotch whiskies. Instead, the ruli...- The London IP office of global lawyers, Simmons & Simmons, released details this week of two recent victories at the UK Court of Appeal. Acting for Conor Medsystems Inc, Simmons partner, Rowan Freeland, learned on 16 January that he and his as...
Creative greats to imagine copyright future
Delegates from a range of creative industries will gather in Brussels’ Sheraton Hotel from 30 to 31 May to discuss the future of copyright, it was revealed on 23 January. Hosted by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Com...Lifestyle guru sows place brand fears
Homemaking queen and entrepreneur, Martha Stewart, has angered residents of her New York State hometown with a plan to trademark its name for use on her new furniture line, it emerged on 22 January. Many of Stewart’s neighbours are concerned wi...Euro survey points to a sharing future
Details released on 18 January of a wide-ranging IP survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) indicate that IP in European firms will become increasingly mobile and fluid, with third parties playing greater roles in R&D assistance...US anti-piracy group names new chief
NBC Universal’s executive vice president and general counsel, Rick Cotton, is the new chairman of the US Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP), it was announced on 17 January. Cotton takes over from Gillette’s Paul Fox, who r...Google filing heralds ad revolution
News broke on 17 January that a patent filing made by Google in late December has accelerated the search engine’s drive into cutting-edge, real-world advertising. The technology it is seeking to patent will link the stock databases of retailers...Communications chief rejects Web control
News emerging this week of a 12 January press conference in Geneva indicates that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will retain control of the world’s domains. Hamadoun Toure, the new director-general of the UN-bas...Coca-Cola trade secrets trial begins
The jury is being selected today, Tuesday 16 January, for Coca-Cola’s trade secret trial against a former employee, Joya Willams, who has been charged with the intention of leaking confidential documents and samples of products to rival soft ...Cisco sues Apple over iPhone trademark infringement
It has been common knowledge for some time in the IP world that that Apple has been seeking a trademark for its new iPhone since 2001. However, their decision to go ahead and release the iPhone without legal rights to the name surprised trademark law...IBM plans ‘Inventor’s Forum’ to speed up US patent process
The move towards patent reform in the US gathered strength this week, as IBM, the nation’s biggest patent holder, announced on 11 January that it will develop an online ‘Inventor’s Forum’ designed to improve patent quality. ...Italian turnaround on patent fees
The end of this week will see a reversal of the Italian government’s stance on patent fees, exactly one year after it abolished them. On 15 December, after much political debate, the Italian Senate approved the heavily amended budget that in...Battling brewers form historic trade alliance
The beginning of this week saw an important distribution deal between rival brewers Anheuser-Busch and Budejovicky Budvar, heralding a thaw in the century-long dispute over who owns the rights to the Budweiser trademark, and shocking industry o...Taiwan quake caused the loss of 10,000 Internet domains
The China International Network Information Center (CNNIC) announced on Friday 5 January that about 10,000 .com Internet domain names were lost as a result of the disruption caused by the 26 December earthquake in Taiwan. The quake, which was meas...Plasticine power enlisted for schools campaign
The UK Patent Office has turned to a pair of unlikely heroes to help out with its new initiative to spread IP awareness among the nation’s primary schools: Wallace and Gromit, the reigning superstars of plasticine animation. Renowned for a host...Web starts New Year with cosmopolitan drive
Two developments in domain name registration reveal that Web providers are learning how to adapt to the geographical and linguistic needs of the Internet’s many users. On 3 January, the Massachusetts-based domains registrar, EnCirca, announc...New York’s Harvard Club to host major IP event
On 16-17 January, IncreMental Advantage – the New Jersey-based knowledge-economy think tank – will present its comprehensive conference, ‘Managing IP for Maximizing Returns’, at the Harvard Club in New York. The conference wil...Financial patents: triumphs or tripwires?
A proliferation of financial patents in the US last year has led industry experts to question whether the rights are being exercised in good faith or simply for litigious purposes. By the end of 2006, 238 US patents had been issued in the financial s...YouTube offers JASRAC an olive branch
It was announced on 20 December that delegates from the online video portal, YouTube, have offered to meet representatives from several Japanese media firms concerned about the site’s history of infringement. YouTube executives are planning to ...Christmas cheer for revellers as Hangover ‘cure’ patented
Specialist nutrition firm, Dietblends Inc, announced with astute seasonal timing on 20 December that it had finally received a US patent for its Xo3 hangover treatment. The firm has always believed that preventative medicine is the key to quashing ha...- An IP expert at commercial lawyers, Hammonds, has indicated that the Gowers Review of UK intellectual property did not go far enough. In an 18 December press release, specialist Patricia Jones noted: ‘The Review recommends the ongoing monit...
Patent sale could grant license to sue
A DVD trading firm could corner a crucial area of Internet commerce after acquiring a patent first obtained by a low-key entrepreneur. Peerflix Inc has set 18 December as the date on which it will make changes to its business model, and speculation i...Drink domain makes pricey tipple
Sedo, the domain-brokering unit of Germany’s United Internet AG, announced on 15 December that it arranged the sale of vodka.com to Russian Standard Co earlier this month for $3 million. The deal makes the domain one of the most expensive ever ...Search giant clinches page setup patent
Google announced this week that it has won a design patent for the layout of its search results screen. US Design No. 533,561 protects the style and positioning of icons carrying advertising, news links, search results and the characteristic Google l...Dirtbike king fumes over rapper’s stunt
Biking legend ‘Evel’ Knievel filed an infringement suit against rap star, Kanye West, in a US District Court this week after West portrayed himself as a Knievel-like character in a recent pop video. The clip, which promotes West’s s...Kremlin gremlins slam online clearout
A hard-Left Russian pressure group is trying to shield an outdated Cold War domain from the wind of change, it emerged on 12 December. Pro-Kremlin youth group, Nashi, has complained that the planned deletion of the .su (Soviet Union) suffix will have...Patent Office pledges action on Gowers
The UK Patent Office has released its official response to last week’s Gowers Review of UK intellectual property. Its chief executive, Ron Marchant, has welcomed the report’s findings. ‘I look forward to the Patent Office playing...YouTube comes under attack in Japan
Last week saw YouTube come into criticism with the Japanese entertainment industry for not being proactive enough in preventing copyright infringement. A group of Japanese companies has sent a letter to YouTube chief executive Chad Hurley and chi...Nokia success against InterDigital in patent dispute
This week saw another key victory for Nokia in its continuing battle against InterDigital Technology Corporation over patents for 3G mobile telephones. In a judgement delivered on Tuesday, the Court of Appeal in London upheld an earlier judgement o...Gowers report has massive implications for the music industry
Around midday on Wednesday 6 December, the British Treasury published the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property, as part of its pre-budget report. This marks the culmination of 12 months of research by Andrew Gowers, a former editor of the Financial...dotMobi to honour best mobile sites
Mid-December marks the deadline for entries to the Webby Mobile Awards – an all-new initiative launched by dotMobi, the mobile domain names registry, to acknowledge excellence in the field of websites tailored for cellular phones and palmtop ga...TM law changes set for New Year
Before the festive season takes off and obscures the finer details of the IP universe, IP Review Online would like to take the opportunity to remind its readers of forthcoming changes to UK trademark legislation. Under the 1994 Trade Marks Act, the N...- This week, the Treasury will publish the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property – a detailed overview of IP’s economic role in the UK. According to Managing Intellectual Property, the Treasury will release the report on Wednesday, 6 Decem...
IP in Second Life not just a game
Reports have emerged that the popular Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG), Second Life, has been struck by a ‘copybot’: a rogue program that serves its creator by duplicating items of user-generated content. Second Life – an M...FT to stage innovative conference
At London’s Radisson Edwardian May Fair Hotel on 4 and 5 December, the Financial Times (FT) will hold Innovate 2006 – a symposium for discussing current trends in innovation and defining areas for fresh thinking. Processes, products and b...Supreme Court hits the gas in pedal case
On 28 November, the US Supreme Court opened proceedings in KSR International v Teleflex – a case that could rewrite the guidelines on technical obviousness, with potential repercussions for the entire US patent system. Teleflex is advocating a ...UK Patent Office warns of mail sting
On 27 November, the UK Patent Office warned rights applicants to treat with suspicion any items of unsolicited mail requesting payment for registering patent or trademark details. Unofficial firms have been sending invoices to people whose IP applica...Orange seeks banana for love and TM dispute
A Canadian director whose educational short film led to a trademark spat with one of the world’s biggest clothing companies has finally won her case, it emerged on 24 November. Michelle Messina began her legal battle six years ago after the pop...Sound and vision giants team up on Blitz
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) heralded the gift-giving season this week with the launch of a two-month Holiday Blitz – a series of initiatives designed to combat and in...Fake Nikes sprint into record haul
One million pairs of counterfeit Nike shoes have been impounded during a sustained enforcement action in Hamburg harbour, the firm’s lawyers, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, announced in a 22 November press release. Throughout the operation, whic...New Jordan office aims for clean-up
The Customs Department of Jordan has launched a new Intellectual Property Division to handle the country’s IP affairs, it was announced on Tuesday. It will be backed by the full range of existing Customs sections as it attempts to enforce IP le...Shoe corp to hunt firms wearing its ‘skins’
New York-based apparel manufacturer, Skins Inc, announced on 20 November that the USPTO had approved a patent application for its cornerstone design – a novel take on the structure of footwear that has had industry-watchers buzzing for months. ...China breaks .cn language deadlock
On 17 November, Liu Zhijiang, a director with the China Internet Network Information Centre (CNNIC) revealed that the organisation has co-operated with Microsoft to ensure that the software giant’s new IE7 Internet browser will support Chinese-...Brave new IT patents: One granted, one filed
Two exciting software IP announcements emerged on Thursday. PCTEL said that the USPTO had granted a patent to its Roaming Client tool, which allows users to veer between different wi-fi and cellular networks while maintaining voice and data calls. An...Israel reports heavy losses in fraud plague
Israeli companies were deprived of $500 million revenue in 2005 by piracy, the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce announced this week. In the sector-based league of losses, media suffered badly, with filmmaking missing out on $38 million and ...- In a move that has impressed open-source advocates, the Californian software firm, Sun Microsystems, released the code for its flexible Java system on Monday under General Public License (GPL). Users are now free to develop new software out of the co...
China to showcase patent progress
China’s National Seminar on Patent Technology ended on Monday, with an announcement that licenses had been granted to a series of patent exhibition and trade centres – news that may help to placate some of China’s harshest IP critic...Jeans mark transit verdict rolls in
On Thursday 9 November, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) delivered its ruling in case C-281/05, Montex Holdings v Diesel SpA – a judgement that IPR Online flagged up early last week. The case had prolonged a clash between the two firms over ...UK Lords could tilt software patent laws
In a major development to a story previously reported on IPR Online, Australian software producer, Neal Macrossan, announced this week that he is seeking appeal proceedings at the House of Lords over a UK Court of Appeal rejection of his attempt to p...Mandelson blasts China's record on broadcast fees
EU Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, launched an attack on Chinese broadcasters on Wednesday for failing to pay royalties to European rights holders. His speech, which followed a Tuesday meeting with China’s commerce minister, Bo Xilai, also...eSpeed says trading tech not derivative
Chicago software firm, Trading Technologies (TT), has been dealt a blow by a US District Court in its long battle to prove infringement of its derivatives trading software. On Monday, the Northern Illinois-based Court rejected TT’s attempts to ...- India’s National Internet Exchange announced on 5 November that registrations for its ‘.in’ domain had doubled in the space of just one year, reaching 200,000. Signalling a bold technological stride for the emerging superpower, the ...
ECJ to make two marks this week
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) is preparing to hear one trademark case and rule in another over the next few days, in order to clarify key legal clauses. Case one (C-17/06), set for hearing on Tuesday 7 November, examines 5(1) of the Trade Ma...Forgent compresses JPEG disputes
Forgent, the patent-holdings giant, announced this week that it has accepted US$8 million damages from over 40 software and technology firms for illegal use of a JPEG system it owns the rights to. While the settlement marks the end of a long series o...Sunrise reveals new Hong Kong domains
In October, Hong Kong’s domain registry launched a brand new series of Internationalised Domain Names (IDNs) in the .hk country-code Top Level Domain (ccTLD). The seven new domain-types, covering categories such as businesses, charities and gov...- How did one of the world’s most famous online retailers chart its way to global dominance? Johnny Acton looks behind the scenes at amazon.com Amazon.com is one of the best-known online retailers in the world. A pioneer of Internet commerce, ...
Global fraud haul hits $700m by mid-2006
A major report on global IP fraud for the first half of 2006 has revealed devastating insights into the links between counterfeiting and organised crime. The paper, compiled by the Calgary-based Gieschen Consultancy from BASCAP’s Daily Counterf...900,000th mark registered under WIPO
A Chinese manufacturer of porcelain ornaments and other household goods has registered the 900,000th trademark issued under the Madrid system, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) announced this week. The organisation also commented th...Coming to America – the CPA Webinar series
Get up to speed with IP management without leaving your desk with CPA's series of Webinars. These web-based seminars allow you to log on to a reservoir of expertise and find out everything you should know about the latest software solutions for handl...- IP Australia in collaboration with Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources and the Attorney General’s Department announced the launch of its Trading Ideas symposium today. In a ...
UK Court dashes software hopes
On 27 October, the UK Court of Appeal turned down a plea from Australian programmer, Neal Macrossan, to allow his software system, UKCorporator – an online means of gathering company formation documents – to be patented. The case, which i...- Roderick Dadak, partner, and Dr Thomas Hays, consultant, at law firm Lewis Silkin LLP, ask what the recent Da Vinci Code judgement means for copyright law Dan Brown’s million-selling The Da Vinci Code (DVC) didn’t just start a craze am...
China's Five-Year March to Cleaner IP
In late August, the Chinese Government announced the IP provisions that it plans to establish as important parts of its current, 2006-2010 five-year plan. The State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) has outlined the measures that will come on-strea...- Attention all UK innovators! You no longer need to hide behind your drawing boards, for your lives have just been made a lot easier: the UK Patent Office’s new Regulatory Reform (Registered Designs) Order, Registered Designs Rules, and Register...
Daddy No Longer 'Diddy' in the UK
In a late September court ruling, Sean Combs – the artist formerly known as ‘Puff Daddy’ and ‘P Diddy’ – was disallowed from using his latest, even shorter, stage-name, ‘Diddy’, in the UK. The David-and...- Following a USPTO decision on 3 August not to renew the Havana Club rum mark jointly owned by the Cuban government and Pernod Ricard, Bacardi USA has swiftly claimed it. It can now add a touch of authenticity to its popular rum brand. Bacardi spokesw...
