1. Anti-Scam Network Meeting – 19 April 2018. For more information here.
2. Carr J in Conversant v ZTE. For more information here.
3. Key elements of the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. For more information here.
patent
Brief IP news
1. EU Trade Mark reforms come into force – sound, motion, hologram and multimedia marks can now be registered. For more information here.
2. Brand Finance Nation Brands 2017. For more information here.
3. From Bartender to Inventor: How to Turn Your Day Job Into Passive Income. For more information here.
Information from Intellectual Property Center at the UNWE. More information can be found here
A lawsuit awakens – a case regarding BB-8 robot from Star Wars
WIPR reports about a lawsuit which regards the BB-8 robot from “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens”.
The US company Sphero has developed a patented technology for user-controlled, self-propelled sphere robots, which has been selling by the company since 2011.
In 2014 Sphero started negotiations with Disney and receive a license to use the character of BB-8 robot from the Star Wars series.
In 2016 the company discovered that the Canadian based toy manufacturer Spin Master had a prototype for the same toy robot that presumably used its technology. Based on this Sphero initiated a lawsuit in New York for patent infringement.
This case is interesting and indicative of the importance of intellectual property rights and their proper management. In the case at hand, we have copyrights over the original character from the movie, owned by Disney. Some trademarks and industrial designs can be added too.
On the other hand, we have a patent over the technology implemented in the end product.
Based on this bundle of rights, the relevant merchandising strategy can be very useful and profitable for the right holders giving them a serious market advantage over their competitors.
Brief IP news
1. Building Respect for IP. For more information here.
2. Visual search for EUIPO, INPI and UKIPO trademarks in TMview. For more information here.
3. U.S. top court tightens patent suit rules in a blow to ‘patent trolls’. For more information here.
Information from Intellectual Property Center at the UNWE. More information can be found here
Do you need a patent?
IP Watchdog published an interesting article about some of the reasons behind receiving a patent for an invention. They are as follow:
- The fear that others will steal it
- To generate licensing revenue (royalties)
- To prevent or reduce competition
- To maintain or acquire market share
- To enhance company valuation
- Because investors want it
- For business credibility or marketing
- For personal credibility or vanity
- For the experience
- Because someone told you that you should
- To avoid infringing someone else’s patent
Every one of them is discussed in the article. More information here.
Brief IP news
1. Laughable Moments: When Trademark Holders are Overprotective. For more information here.
2. 2017 EU Prize for Women Innovators: Commission awards four outstanding entrepreneurs. For more information here.
3. China relaxing barriers to software, business method patents with revised patent guidelines. For more information here.
Brief IP news
1. A Weak Patent System Increases Inequality, Protects Incumbent Monopolies. More information here.
2. Is 100 PERCENT WINE Confusable with CENTO PER CENTO for Wine? More information here.
3. Changes to the IP Landscape in Turkey-Industrial Designs. More information here.
Information from Intellectual Property Center at the UNWE. More information can be found here
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