News

Week’s news headlines – Jan. 13th 2017

The web of deceit: how we can combat online IP crime
There are various avenues for brand owners to tackle the issue of online fraud in an attempt to make national and international legal regulation of internet  commerce more effective, as John Anderson of the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Groups Network describes.
http://www.trademarksandbrandsonline.com/article/the-web-of-deceit-how-can-we-combat-online-ip-crime

Asian brokers made a patent market breakthrough in 2016, signalling future growth potential
The most recent issue of IAM features our annual appraisal of the past year’s brokered patent market, put together by Kent Richardson, Erik Oliver and Michael Costa of ROL Group. Subscribers can read the full article here.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=178a0fb1-db1a-4bff-9db2-2c7968f70b50

Non-traditional trademarks: more hurdles to jump
There are at least three barriers to obtaining non-traditional trademarks in the EU, despite a revised definition of those marks, as Lenneke van Gaal of Ploum Lodder Princen explains.
http://www.worldipreview.com/article/non-traditional-trademarks-more-hurdles-to-jump

International report – Patronymic trademarks in the fashion industry: what’s in a name?
In the fashion industry it is common to use and register the name of a designer as a trademark. But what happens when a designer assigns his or her company’s IP assets, including trademarks associated with his or her own name, to a third party, and then continues using the name in new trademarks?
http://www.iam-media.com/reports/Detail.aspx?g=1d663845-bf18-459f-8de3-9f2e8836d3ce

The pitfalls of second medical use patents
It appears necessary and perhaps inevitable that further guidance from the UK Court of Appeal will be provided on the issue of second medical use patents, following the high-profile dispute between Warner-Lambert and Actavis. Geoff Hussey and Christopher Burnett of AA Thornton & Co report.
http://www.lifesciencesipreview.com/article/the-pitfalls-of-second-medical-use-patents

Patent litigation falls dramatically in 2016 as NPEs shift their focus away from the richest companies
That is the lowest volume of new cases since 2011 when the America Invents Act (AIA) came into effect and a change in joinder rules led to an immediate increase in the number of suits. According to Unified, disputes at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) saw a slight drop down to 1,723 from 1,793, although last year was still the second busiest on record.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=6fb92bce-b8f0-4cc7-a09d-14899644dc8f

Chinese companies to pay Disney $194,000 in copyright dispute
Two China-based companies have been ordered to pay Disney and Pixar RMB 1.35 million ($194,000) in a copyright infringement dispute.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/chinese-companies-to-pay-disney-194-000-in-copyright-dispute-12778

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