Eplit appoints Leythem Wall as new president
“On 15 May 2020 at its Annual Meeting, the European Patent Litigators Association (EPLIT) appointed Leythem Wall as its new President for the 2020-2022 term. EPLIT is an association for European patent attorneys, whose objectives are for promoting their participation in user friendly, fair, efficient and cost …
moreAmazon is not infringing Coty trade marks by storing infringing perfumes on behalf of a third party
Trade mark law - Amazon is not infringing Coty trade marks by storing infringing perfumes on behalf of a third party without being aware of that infringement: the Court has already pointed out that ‘using’ involves active behaviour and direct or indirect control of the act constituting the use, in order for the …
moreThe hiring out of motor vehicles equipped with radio receivers does not constitute a communication to the public
Copyright - The hiring out of motor vehicles equipped with radio receivers does not constitute a communication to the public: in the case of the supply of a radio receiver forming an integral part of a hired motor vehicle, which makes it possible to receive, without any additional intervention by the leasing company, …
moreCaroline Pigott joins HGF Edinburgh team
"Caroline Pigott has joined the HGF Scottish team. She is dual qualified as a Scottish IP Solicitor and a Chartered Trade Mark Attorney and will be based in Edinburgh. Caroline will be looking to boost the firm’s trade mark presence in the region. Caroline’s appointment follows another year of exceptional …
moreHGF announces 2 new Partners
"HGF Ltd is delighted to announce that from the 1st of May 2020, Dr Jamie Thomson based in the Edinburgh office and Dr Nienke Lubben based in the York office have been promoted to Partner, increasing the Partner group to 63 Partners.
Paul Sanderson, CEO commented, “It is my pleasure to announce that Jamie and …
moreGeneral Court did not err in law in finding that an economic link existed between Gugler France and Gugler GmbH (which precluded a likelihood of confusion)
Trade mark law - The General Court did not err in law in finding that on the date on which the application for registration of the contested Gugler Community trade mark was filed, an economic link existed between Gugler France and Gugler GmbH (which precluded the finding of a likelihood of confusion): in CJEU …
morePreliminary questions: can a trade mark proprietor oppose the further commercialization of trade mark products repaired by a non-licensed person on the basis of a collective trade mark and arcitle 13(2) CTMR?
Case C-133/20: European Pallet Association v PHZ. Preliminary questions Hoge Raad – Netherlands.
Via gov.co.uk. Preliminary questions: “1.
(a) Does successful recourse to Article 13(2) of the CTM Regulation require that the further commercialisation of the branded products concerned adversely affect or …
morePreliminary questions: Can unregistered Community designs in individual parts of a product arise as a result of disclosure of an overall image of a product?
Case: C-123/20: Ferrari. Preliminary questions Bundesgerichtshof – Germany.
Design Law. Gov.co.uk: “The following questions are referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union for a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of Article 11(1) and the first sentence of Article 11(2), as well as of Article …
moreA-G CJEU: e-mail addresses, telephone numbers and IP addresses are not covered by the concept of “names and addresses” as set out in article 8(2)(a) of the Enforcement Directive
Litigation - Case C-264/19: Constantin Film Verleih v Youtube and Google. Opinion A-G Saugmandsgaard Øe.
The dispute concerns the refusal by YouTube and Google to provide certain information required by Constantin Film Verleih with regard to users who have placed several films online in breach of Constantin …
moreCJEU clarifies criteria governing whether settlement agreements between holder of a pharmaceutical patent and generic manufacturers are contrary to EU competition law
Competition law - Article 101 TFEU. To assess whether a manufacturer of generic medicines that is not present in the market is a potential competitor of a manufacturer of originator medicines when the agreement at issue has the effect of temporarily keeping an undertaking outside a market first it must be determined …
moreUS Supreme Court: States cannot be sued for copyright infringement
PetaPixel: “Earlier today, the Supreme Court of the United States dealt a major blow to photographers’ copyright protections when it declared that states cannot be sued for copyright infringement because they have “sovereign immunity.”
The opinion came down as part of a writ of certiorari regarding the …
moreIsrael has allowed use of generic version of patent-protected drug in Israel to treat COVID-19
New York Times: “Israel approved the licensing of a generic version of an HIV drug to treat patients infected with the coronavirus on Thursday, despite doubts about its effectiveness in trials.
The anti-viral drug Kaletra, produced by AbbVie Inc, could be a possible treatment for COVID-19, Israel's Health …
moreBundesverfassungsgericht: Act of Approval to the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court is void
Press release Bundesverfassungsgericht: "The Act of Approval to the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court (“the Act of Approval”) to confer sovereign powers on the Unified Patent Court is void. In its outcome, it amends the Constitution in substantive terms, though it has not been approved by the Bundestag with the …
moreIPKat: "German constitutional court upholds complaint against UPC Agreement and implementing act"
Léon Dijkman, IPKat: "This morning, the German constitutional court issued a 86-page decision in which it upholds the constitutional complaint against the German ratification of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court [decision here]. According to the Court, the German act by which it was to accede to the UPC …
moreNick Manley joins HGF as a Partner
Press release: "HGF are pleased to announce further expansion with the arrival of Nick Manley who joins the HGF Manchester office as a Partner on March 17th, 2020.
Nick advises clients of all types, including start-up companies, universities, SMEs and large multinational organisations. Nick has particular …
moreThe General Court was not entitled to reject an opposition brought under Article 8(5) of the Union Trade Mark Regulation on the ground that there was no evidence of a reduction in the 'attractiveness' of the earlier marks
Trade Mark Law - The General Court erred in law by rejecting an opposition brought under Article 8(5) of the Union Trade Mark Regulation on the ground that there was no evidence of a reduction in the 'attractiveness' of the earlier marks: the article ensures protection for (i) detriment to the distinctive character …
more'Stairway to heaven' copyright dispute won by Led Zeppelin
NBCNews - "Led Zeppelin prevailed in a long-running copyright dispute after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a jury verdict saying the rock band's 1971 megahit "Stairway to Heaven" did not illegally borrow from Spirit's 1968 track "Taurus." "The trial and appeal process has been a long climb up the …
moreCJEU sets aside finding that the sign “Fack Ju Göhte” is contrary to accepted principles of morality
Trade mark law - CJEU Press Release: “By today’s judgment, the Court sets aside the judgment of the General Court and annuls the decision of EUIPO, both of which are broadly vitiated by the same errors. EUIPO must therefore give a fresh decision on the application for registration made by Constantin Film.
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moreUK will not be part of the UPC
IAM: "The UK will not be a member of the Unified Patent Court system, the UK government has confirmed to IAM. In an email sent this evening, a spokesperson stated: “I can confirm that the UK will not be seeking involvement in the UP/UPC system. Participating in a court that applies EU law and bound by the CJEU is …
more"HGF continues to expand with the announcement of two new Partners"
"Trade Mark Attorney and European Trade Mark Attorney will join our Manchester office and Kerry Rees a European and UK Patent Attorney will join our London office as Partners on 24th February 2020.
Kerry is a Patent Attorney with considerable experience drafting new applications, prosecuting applications in …
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