Consumer Goods
South Pacific cousins part ways over patents
While they are harmonious on cultural matters, Australia and New Zealand have their differences on issues of patentability, says Brett Lunn of FB Rice & Co...  »
Google AdWords: a fair balance?
Internet tags and keywords have revolutionised advertising, but taken brand owners by surprise. Andrew Clay of Hammonds LLP assesses the issues at stake and looks at the effects of a recent European A....  »
Are general counsel the managers of the future?
General counsel must prove that they are adding value to their companies as legal affairs and long-term strategies combine, a Nabarro survey shows...  »
Barrier to discovery?
Is the US Stored Communications Act fit for purpose? Matt Packer unpicks the Crispin v Audigier case to find out how the Act is influencing e-discovery from social networks...  »
Counterfeit World Cup goods dent South African economy
A glut of fake-branded World Cup merchandise released in the run-up to the football tournament has had damaging effects on South Africa’s indigenous clothing industry, according to the International....  »
The own goal of ambush marketing
Thinking of using the World Cup to promote your own products, services, or even an event? Think again, says Matt Packer. The unauthorised use of World Cup marks constitutes IP infringement, and FIFA i....  »
Trademark infringement: too close for comfort?
How do you protect a trademark from infringement in a non-Romanic script? And what are the perils of soundalikes? Richard Brass sets out the benefits of a human touch...  »
INTA 2010: 'With fame comes parody'
J Scott Evans, senior legal director of Global Brand and Trademarks at Yahoo! Inc, warns brand owners against pursuing actions against light-hearted spoofs...  »
Sony’s universal games controller: the killer application?
Eyebrows were raised in the gaming community earlier this year over Sony’s patent application for a universal games controller. Matt Packer asks how such a device could be accepted in a notoriously ....  »
The value of streamlined portfolios
Like all forms of property, the value of patents fluctuates in line with trends, technologies and the march of time – yet accurate valuation is a crucial business advantage. Matt Packer highlights t....  »