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Google v Oracle: a far-reaching trial of characters as much as copyright
20 April 2012
Google's battle with Oracle may have far-reaching patent implications, but the lay jury will rule by more personal criteria
CNN Transcripts: QUEST MEANS BUSINESS
16 April 2012
No compromise and no settlement, a billion-dollar patent dispute between Oracle and Google is underway in San Francisco. Oracle versus Google, jury selection's begun. It's a case that will see the chief execs of both these giants called to give evidence. Ilya Kazi is the partner of international property law firm Mathys & Squire, and joins me now. How big a case is this?
Facebook purchases IBM patent following Yahoo dispute
23 March 2012
Facebook has confirmed it has bought some of IBM's intellectual property rights. The social network would not provide further detail, but Bloomberg has reported that the deal involved 750 patents involving software, networking and other technologies.
Apple seeks change to 'essential' patent licence rules
08 February 2012
Apple has asked for more clarity over how patents deemed crucial to industry standards should be handled. The firm wrote a letter to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) in November, which has now been reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Copyright in websites and other
13 January 2012
Many businesses instruct a specialist website design company to develop a website on their behalf. What often gets forgotten is that the website design company will own the copyright in all the source code, written text, original graphic works etc, unless the business secures an assignment of that copyright.
Slippery character gets recognition!
13 January 2012
Northern Ireland has notched up its first granted Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). The unlikely product for this prestigious grant is the Lough Neagh eel! Mirroring the eel’s own arduous and epic journey, the three year application to the EU finally matured to grant on 8th September 2011.
The Battle for the Red Sole
13 January 2012
Fashion designers are artists of the catwalk and, in creating works of art, the artist has all the colours of the rainbow to choose from.
Bona Vacantia isn’t always what it’s
12 January 2012
In June 2001, Arthur Crack Limited (“ACL”) filed a European Community trade mark (“CTM”) application for the word ‘CRAIC’ in respect of a range of alcoholic beverages in classes 32 and 33, which subsequently became registered.
Soviet icon unacceptable to the
12 January 2012
The General Court of the European Union recently confirmed (in Case T-232/10) the decision of the European Community Trade Mark Office (“OHIM”) Board of Appeal that an application comprising the coat of arms of the former USSR should be refused registration as a Community trade mark on the grounds that it is inherently unacceptable.
Copyright term extended in Sound
12 January 2012
A recently passed EU directive has made significant changes to the term of copyright for fixations of performances in sound recordings and for sound recordings themselves.
Is there a use for the Swiss-type
11 January 2012
A recent High Court decision ([2011] WEHC 1831(Pat)) has considered the scope of the European “Swisstype” second medical use claim.
A change in Morality
11 January 2012
Eyebrows were raised when the German Patent and Trade Mark Office decided to allow the registration of the trade mark “FICKEN” in respect of clothing, mineral water, fruit drinks and alcoholic beverages following an appeal by the applicant.
