tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63088103166854224602024-03-13T02:42:45.030+00:00London IP and Technology LawLondon IP and Technology LawJane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-285861574560312792023-08-24T10:11:00.008+01:002023-08-24T10:21:10.180+01:00East End Startup Initiative<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2uN1C0FGrx-nrVoYx_zKk9NzRmme3_HZ81NqADI1B_pKELAnGkR5UlVwlXBfh3wIP1hEhaZpWC1Oh8Bgle8UXB5gZ4Int6aKMxaD_ufAtO0otTVS4j4tIxx9yco1FyeEUdnAdsoWimM0J8DMpFWaDQlvlWwaJCRZpZaWRFu5GeM6DI8bspisZeOikQIw/s3008/MileEnd_Park.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3008" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2uN1C0FGrx-nrVoYx_zKk9NzRmme3_HZ81NqADI1B_pKELAnGkR5UlVwlXBfh3wIP1hEhaZpWC1Oh8Bgle8UXB5gZ4Int6aKMxaD_ufAtO0otTVS4j4tIxx9yco1FyeEUdnAdsoWimM0J8DMpFWaDQlvlWwaJCRZpZaWRFu5GeM6DI8bspisZeOikQIw/s320/MileEnd_Park.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mile End Park</span></div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Author </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Kbthompson" target="_blank">KBthomson</a> <b>Licence </b><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/" target="_blank">CC BY-SA </a><b>Source </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Borough_of_Tower_Hamlets#/media/File:MileEnd_Park.JPG" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/profile.html" style="font-size: small;" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></p><p>Unless an inventor is employed in a capacity in which he or she might reasonably be expected to devise inventions or he or she has a special obligation to further the interests of his or her employer's undertaking it is up to the inventor to exploit an invention. One way is to set up in business to make (or procure its manufacture) and sell the invention. The other is to license someone else to make and sell it. Persuading another entity to make and market something that it has not invented often requires the same sort of market research and business planning that an entrepreneur needs to carry out before he or she sets him or herself up in business.</p><p>Setting up in business requires skills and knowledge that most persons in that position do not possess and that is particularly true of those who are no longer in the first flush of youth. I was therefore particularly intrigued to read in this month's T<a href="https://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/business/business_support_and_advice/business_support_and_advice.aspx" target="_blank">ower Hamlets Council Business Support</a> newsletter of a "Start-up School for Seniors". The article referred to "a fully sponsored, eight-week eLearning course is specifically designed for aspiring entrepreneurs in Tower Hamlets." The course starts on 7 Sept 2023 and is given by Suzanne Noble who is described as an entrepreneur and Mark Elliott who is referred to as a business coach. The news item continues:<br /></p><blockquote>"Not only will you gain valuable knowledge and skills, but you'll also have the opportunity to apply for a £5000 grant once you complete the programme."</blockquote><p>The website for the course is <a href="https://www.startupschoolforseniors.com/" target="_blank">https://www.startupschoolforseniors.com/ </a><br /><br />Now I have not attended the course but I have sniffed around the Start Up School for Seniors' website and found the sort of content that I would expect on a basic business skills training programme. On the <a href="https://www.startupschoolforseniors.com/8-week-programme" target="_blank">"Essential 8 Week Group Base" cours</a>e, for example, attendees are offered teaching on business planning, marketing and branding, money matters, legal stuff and all change pivoting. Some of the resources are stored on a Google drive called "The Library of Good Things" which is accessible to the public. I have read some of those materials and they are exactly what I would expect to find,<br /><br />To give you some idea of the content, here is the summary on "Legal Stuff":<br /></p><blockquote>"We’ll discuss some of the things business owners worry about, sometimes unnecessarily. Different legal entities, protecting your intellectual property, trademarks and copyright, buying a website, public liability, and health and safety – all will become clear."</blockquote><p>I wouldn't quibble with any of that.<br /><br />The Start Up School's courses seem to be available to anyone though the incentives mentioned in the newsletter may be limited to residents of Tower Hamlets. If any of my readers takes this course I should be very interested to learn how they get on. </p><p>Although this is the first start-up school for seniors that I have found so far it should not be forgotten that there are other ways of acquiring the skills offered by the website. The British Library's Business and IP Centre and many of its affiliated regional libraries offer talks and short courses on market research, business planning, intellectual property and the like either free of charge or for a small fee. More detailed training in many of these topics is available in the nation's night schools which are about to enrol students. <br /><br />Anyone wishing to discuss this article may call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form.</a> </p><p></p><p></p>Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-8816230151194691022023-07-22T18:23:00.006+01:002023-07-22T18:25:30.003+01:00Welsh Innovation Week<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuxxar8ZHUodpY1YqOtDi26568nJnXyHtf3ATHkpWF7hxDCG0-Xtqa4f8C_6ohsMjOlF_52NF7OmTLOb0czVWx_RlbZr6xvyWd3cvZvG_8-EZWo_clig6ZLAWbFRqbRsj4_8U9GbtjMnp4OStGrvStdVNsBJJcx7-9fat1EB6aPwgoBaw_cvvT2HaGy3m/s3110/IMG_20181010_172926.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1678" data-original-width="3110" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuxxar8ZHUodpY1YqOtDi26568nJnXyHtf3ATHkpWF7hxDCG0-Xtqa4f8C_6ohsMjOlF_52NF7OmTLOb0czVWx_RlbZr6xvyWd3cvZvG_8-EZWo_clig6ZLAWbFRqbRsj4_8U9GbtjMnp4OStGrvStdVNsBJJcx7-9fat1EB6aPwgoBaw_cvvT2HaGy3m/w400-h216/IMG_20181010_172926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Although London hosts one of the world's great tech clusters it has no monopoly of innovation and enterprise. The <a href="https://www.bangor.ac.uk/clearing?utm_source=google_performance_max&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ec_clearing_2023&utm_content=ug_uk_brand_ads&gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_O2lBhCFARIsAB0E8B8K4w3sKYL1sz9Wz5ZPITT9P8PO1ekWHRnqzzK0Q1tFIvanWhOLDlQaAn9rEALw_wcB" target="_blank">University of |Bangor</a> with a growing reputation for the quality of its research opened the <a href="https://m-sparc.com/" target="_blank">Menai Science Park ("M-SParc"</a>) in 2018. M-SParc attracted some remarkable businesses which have developed products and services which have achieved wide recognition (see Emily Roberts <i><a href="https://m-sparc.com/national-awards/" target="_blank">M-SParc sweeps up at National Awards</a> </i>23 June 2023).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">M-SParc is coming to London between 9 and 14 Sept 2023 (see <i><a href="https://m-sparc.com/london/" target="_blank">Welsh Innovation 'OnTou</a>r</i>), It will hold events in the House of Lords, the Welsh government's office in London and the Foue Agency's premises in conjunction with Global Welsh on digital innovation, inward investment, business support, renewable energy and many other topics. In addition, just as it develops the mathematical and scientific skills of school and college students in Northwest Wakes it will offer a coding workshop for London kids at the London Wesch Centre and a programme on energy for the pupils of the London Welsh School.<br /><br />I have set out full details of the programme in <i><a href="https://nipcwales.blogspot.com/2023/07/m-sparc-is-coming-to-london-mae-m-sparc.html" target="_blank">M-SParc is coming to London</a> </i>for my corresponding blog <i>NIPC Wales. </i>All the events are free and most can be accessed by completing the simple form on <i>Welsh Innovation 'OnTour. </i>The only exceptions seem to be the exhibition and conference in the House of Lords which is now fully subscribed and the Global Welsh event which requires a <a href="https://connect.globalwelsh.com/events/117612/registration" target="_blank">separate registration form</a>. I have registered for the "Digital Wales" event on Tuesday 12 Aug 2023 and I will assist in any way I can.<br /><br />Anyone wishing to discuss this article maycall me on 020 7404 5252 or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact page,</a></div><p></p>Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-23703881553247861782022-07-27T10:45:00.003+01:002022-07-27T10:45:51.630+01:00London Business Hub's Investment Ready Programme<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iTwbmFmn2vfKlCMNCxRUHnp6hISuZEvBC2-tIWscTUB27eNQItZ80sCU4DfRfz6NS9nDmClzujR3AVa75Yh47C6dr8rYn-LMLG7JKb7jmIQp31W5r15rwIUOMYC_QtNImNh9LhpmpKvJXI_fVEb0cMO9i_cYsi8kyw0YoQ9CFgKF85eO1QIJawAc2A/s4388/London_from_Primrose_Hill_May_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3021" data-original-width="4388" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6iTwbmFmn2vfKlCMNCxRUHnp6hISuZEvBC2-tIWscTUB27eNQItZ80sCU4DfRfz6NS9nDmClzujR3AVa75Yh47C6dr8rYn-LMLG7JKb7jmIQp31W5r15rwIUOMYC_QtNImNh9LhpmpKvJXI_fVEb0cMO9i_cYsi8kyw0YoQ9CFgKF85eO1QIJawAc2A/s320/London_from_Primrose_Hill_May_2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Central London from Primrose Hill</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Author <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/29057345@N04" target="_blank">D</a></b><a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/29057345@N04" target="_blank">uncan from Nottingham</a> <b>Licence</b><u style="font-weight: bold;"> </u><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en" target="_blank">CC BY SA 2.0</a> <u> </u><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:London_from_Primrose_Hill_May_2013.jpg" target="_blank">Wikimedia Commons</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span></p><p>The <a href="https://www.businesshub.london/" target="_blank">London Business Hub</a> is the business support network for Greater London. It is one of 38 local growth hubs that have been established across England. It is delivered by the <a href="https://lep.london/" target="_blank">London Enterprise Action Programme</a> which is the capital's local enterprise partnership.</p><p>The Hub offers a wide range of services including assistiance with <a href="https://www.businesshub.london/resource/how-to-write-a-business-plan/" target="_blank">drawing up business plan</a>s, accessing funding, intellectual property and growth and scaling up. Its latest initiative and the reason for this article is the Hub's<a href="https://www.businesshub.london/resource/investment-ready-programme/" target="_blank"> Investment Ready Programme</a> which starts on 22 Sept 2022. This is a programme delivered by <a href="https://fundinglondon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Funding London</a> which is sponsored by the <a href="https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/" target="_blank">British Business Bank</a>.</p>According to the London Business Hub, attendees will be offered a range of group and one-to-one sessions on developing their business and seeking investment lasting up to 4 hours a week over 6 weeks. To qualify, businesses must have a minimum viable product and a strong business proposition as well as a number of other criteria. There have already been two of these programmes and testimonials from the previous cohorts appear on the <a href="https://www.businesshub.london/resource/investment-ready-programme/" target="_blank">programme's website.</a> <a href="https://airtable.com/shrTuMNZkOClB41PK" target="_blank">Applications</a> for the third cohort should be lodged by 31 Aug 2022. <div><br /></div><div>Any business that is seeking investment whether through this programme or not should have regard to the legal protection of its corporate name and logo and those of its products and services. If it has developed a new product or process it should consider how to prevent its competitors from making that product or using that service. If the business is a joint venture there should be an agreement in writing to govern their relationship. That is particularly important when they receive funding. Terms for the supply of their goods or services to customers should be drawn up as well as terms for the procurement of goods and services from their suppliers.<br /><br />Advice on those matters is available through the Hub and I can help too. For well over 20 years I have been running a pro bono IP and tech law clinic in the North of England but it can be accessed by businesses in the rest of the country including London. Anyone requiring up to 30 minutes of my time on any of those matters is welcome to contact me through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/initial-advice-and-signposting/" target="_blank">"Initial Advice and Signposting Form".</a></div>Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-19331806863458482852021-04-28T18:41:00.019+01:002021-04-30T07:22:04.717+01:00IP strategy for FinTech Start-ups and SMEs - and Other Matters<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EFxthePxDAk/YIfdu-WGwSI/AAAAAAAANGE/KRmOIOUjVbAFqVK8_K9N1wQfq3MoFcyzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s409/Boulier1.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="409" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EFxthePxDAk/YIfdu-WGwSI/AAAAAAAANGE/KRmOIOUjVbAFqVK8_K9N1wQfq3MoFcyzwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Boulier1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span></p>On Monday the <a href="https://ipaware.org/" target="_blank">Intellectual Property Awareness Network ("IPAN") </a>celebrated World Intellectual Property Day with a seminar entitled<a href="https://www.blogger.com/#" target="_blank"> IP strategy for FinTech start-ups and SMEs</a>. I was one of the speakers and I shared the platform with Alessandro Hatami, Fernando Da Cruz Vasconcellos, Xuan-Thao Nguyen and <a href="https://www.ntu.ac.uk/staff-profiles/law/janice-denoncourt" target="_blank">Janice Denoncourt</a>. <a href="https://www.amandasolloway.org.uk/" target="_blank">Amanda Solloway MP</a>, UK Minister of State for Energy and Intellectual Property sent a recorded video message as did the Dean of Nottingham Law School. Well over 100 people attended the event and I noticed some very well-known names on the attendees' list.<p>I have been following the law of what is now called FinTech even longer than I have been practising intellectual property law. Indeed, as I said in <i><a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.com/2021/04/celebrating-world-ip-day.html" target="_blank">Celebrating World IP Day</a>, </i>(26 April 2021 <i>NIPC News</i>),<i> </i>it was FinTech that led me to intellectual property. The reason for my interest is that I was legal adviser to VISA International for Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the early 1980s I discussed that time n my<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/profile.html" target="_blank"> profile</a>:</p><blockquote>"Banks were developing electronic funds transfer systems which gave rise to many new legal issues on such matters as authentication, competition, privacy, software development transactions, telecommunications regulation and trans-border data flow. I wrote a number of articles and other publications including "<i>Electronic Funds Transfer: the Emerging Legal Issues</i>" for the Law Society Gazette in 1984 and contributed sections on computer contracts, data protection and electronic banking to <i>Atkin</i> and the <i>Encyclopedia of Forms and Precedents.</i> I also addressed The International Bar Association in Vienna in 1984 and the International Chamber of Commerce conference on electronic banking in Madrid in 1986."</blockquote><p>In 1985 I answered an advertisement in Inner Temple for tenants for chancery chambers in my birthplace Manchester. I was offered a tenancy and returned to independent private practice at the English bar. However, I continued to write about <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/fintech.html" target="_blank">FinTech </a>and, occasionally, I was instructed in FinTech cases.</p><p>Prof Denoncourt invited me to contribute to Monday's webinar after I had published a case note on Judge Melissa Clarke's judgment in <i><a href="https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/IPEC/2020/3089.html" target="_blank">Communisis Plc v The Tall Group of Companies Ltd and others</a></i> [2020] EWHC 3089 (IPEC) (<i><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/2020/11/fintech-patents-communisis-plc-v-tall.html" target="_blank">Fintech Patents - Communisis Plc v The TALL Group of Companies Ltd.</a> </i>22 Nov 2020). That was an action for the infringement of a patent for a method of generating a payment/credit instrument and a counterclaim for revocation on the grounds that the invention was not patentable and lacked an inventive step. The learned judge held that the patent was invalid on both grounds and that the defendant's product did not infringe. The reason I wrote about <i>Communisis </i>is that it was about FinTech and disputes over such patents are relatively uncommon, at least in the United Kingdom.</p><p>In <i><a href="https://thefintechtimes.com/fintech-startups-ip-important/" target="_blank">Fintech Startups – is IP important?</a> </i>12 Oct 2016 <i>The FinTech Times. </i><a href="https://thefintechtimes.com/author/manisha/" target="_blank">Manisha Patent</a> noted:</p><blockquote>"It’s worth observing the “unicorns” of the fintech world when considering IP. Of the top 35 unicorns, less than 25% have filed for one or more patents. This means that the average fintech is far from IP-intensive and more centered on commodified software technology than the mythology one would want to believe."</blockquote><p>That was the case when I was at VISA during the 1980s and it remains the case now. As I observed in <i><a href="https://nipcinvention.blogspot.com/2021/02/kalifa-review-fails-to-mention-patents.html" target="_blank">Kalifa Review fails to mention Patents for FinTech Inventions</a> on 26 Feb 2021 </i>in<i> NIPC Invention, </i>the <i><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/978396/KalifaReviewofUKFintech01.pdf" target="_blank">Kalifa Review of UK Fintech</a> </i>hardly mentioned intellectual property at all and it did not discuss the difficulties of patenting FinTech inventions.</p><p>I discussed some of those difficulties in <i><a href="http://ipyorkshire.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-far-if-at-all-is-it-possible-to.html" target="_blank">How far (if at all) is it possible to protect Innovation in Financial Technology?</a> </i>in <i>IP Yorkshire </i>as long ago as 12 Aug 2014 and more recently in <i><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/2017/04/protecting-fintech-innovation.html" target="_blank">Protecting FinTech Invention</a> </i>on 27 April 2017 in <i>NIPC Law. </i>In the first of those articles I wrote:</p><blockquote>"The problem is that s.1 (2) of the Patents Act 1977 declares that<br /><blockquote>'the following (among other things) are not inventions for the purposes of this Act, that is to say, anything which consists of -<br />(a) a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical method;<br />(b) a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work or any other aesthetic creation whatsoever;<br />(c) a scheme, rule or method for performing a mental act, playing a game or doing business, or a program for a computer;<br />(d) the presentation of information......'</blockquote></blockquote>Much of the technology used in the financial services industry are computer programs and their output consists of methods of doing business and the presentation of information."<br /><br />In the second article, I added:<blockquote>"Most FinTech innovation will be software implemented. Software is difficult to patent in England and indeed the rest of Europe because of the exclusion of computer programs "as such" by s.1 (2) (c) of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/580337/patentsact1977011014.pdf" target="_blank">Patents Act 1977</a> and<a href="http://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/epc/2016/e/ar52.html" target="_blank"> art 52 (2) (c)</a> of the European Patent Convention. Moreover, patents are expensive to get and maintain and even more expensive to enforce. There must be full disclosure as to how they work. A 20-year term is likely to exceed many times the economic value of the technology."</blockquote><p>One of the grounds on which the claim in <i>Communisis </i>failed is that the invention was not patentable as a mathematical method and program for a computer. <i>Communisis</i> is therefore an object lesson as to why patents are not usually a good way of protecting FinTech innovation.</p><p>There are alternative ways of protecting such innovation. Flowcharts, specifications, screen output, source and object code, manuals and the contents of databases can be protected from unlicensed reproduction by copyright. The disclosure and use of sensitive technical or commercial invitation can be prevented by the law of confidence or the <span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #656565; font-size: 15px;">new<i> </i></span>Trade Secrets Directive (<a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016L0943&from=EN" target="_blank">Directive (EU) 2016/943 of 8 June 2016 on the protection of undisclosed know-how and business information (trade secrets) against their unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure (OJ 15.6.2016 L 157/1</a>). Goodwill accruing to a brand can be protected by the registration of the brand name or logo as a trade mark. Finally, there is first-mover advantage. </p><p>My colleagues' presentations were excellent. One important takeaway for me was the lead that China has taken over the rest of the world in FinTech. That was stressed by Prof Xuan-Thao Nguyen in her presentation but also mentioned by Alessandro Hatami in his. Prof Xuan-Thao reminded the audience that China applies for some 1.4 million patents every year and has now supplanted the USA as the main user of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (see <i><a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.com/2021/03/china-increases-its-lead-in.html" target="_blank">China Increases its Lead in International Patent Applications</a> </i>11 March 2921<i> NIPC News</i>). She also mentioned the speed with which the Chinese courts can dispose of infringement and invalidity actions. China has effectively eliminated cash for most transactions. Even beggars accept electronic payments there (see <i><a href="https://www.businesstoday.in/current/world/beggars-in-china-go-cashless-but-there-is-more-than-what-meets-the-eye/story/279773.html" target="_blank">Beggars in China go cashless, but there's more than what meets the eye </a></i>2 July 2018 Business Today).</p><p>Our moderator on Monday was <a href="https://ipaware.org/about-ipan/board-of-directors/" target="_blank">John Ogier</a> who is Chair of IPAN. He was previously Registrar of the <a href="http://ipo.guernseyregistry.com/article/3865/Intellectual-Property-Office-Home-Page" target="_blank">Guernsey Intellectual Property Office</a>. Guernsey has some curious intellectual property laws. It is one of the few jurisdictions in the world to protect image rights (see Jane Lambert <i><a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.com/2013/01/guernseys-image-rights-legislation.html" target="_blank">Guernsey's Image Rights Legislation</a> </i>2 Jan 2013<i> NIPC Law </i>and Kate Storey <i><a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.com/2013/01/guest-post-kate-storey-guernseys-image.html" target="_blank">Guest Post - Kate Storey: Guernsey's Image Rights</a> </i>8 Jan 2013<i> NIPC Law). </i>The article by Kate Storey is particularly interesting as she helped to draft the legislation when she was with Collas Crill. Guernsey also has its own patent law even though it has no facilities of its own for examinations and searches. The patents of any country that is listed in Sched. 2 to <a href="https://www.guernseylegalresources.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?documentid=57456" target="_blank">The Registered Patents and Biotechnological Inventions (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Ordinance, 2009</a> can be registered without any examination in Guernsey. As I said tn <i><a href="https://nipclaw.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/guernseys-patent-law/" target="_blank">Guernsey's Patent Law</a> </i>18 Jan 2011 <i>NIPC Law, </i>China, India, New Zealand, Russia and the USAQ are listed as well as the EPC countries but not Australia or South Korea.</p><p>The evening finished with a Q & A. I was asked what could be done to reduce the cost of enforcement. I said that a lot had already been done with the adoption of Lord Justice Arnold's proposals in 2010. These limited trials to 2 days, recoverable costs to £50,000 for trial and £25,000 for an account on inquiry and damages to £500,000. I added that for most IP claims under £10,000 that could be tried in one day there was a small claims track. <a href="https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part27#27.14" target="_blank">CPR Part 27.14 </a>limited recoverable coss to a few hundred pounds. I recommended greater use of alternative dispute resolution such as ICANN's UDRP for domain name disputes, the IPO's opinion service for disputes over the infringement and validity of patents and the Company Names and the Company Names Tribunal. </p><p>I reminded the audience that intellectual property law did not exist solely for the benefit of <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/what-are-intellectual-assets.html" target="_blank">intellectual asset </a>owners. The purpose of IP laws was to strike a fair balance between rights holders, consumers and competitors. The high cost of litigation kept patents, trade marks and designs on the register which should not be there. <br /><br />Finally, I observed that the Unified Patent Court Agreement that Mr Boris Johnson himself had ratified in his capacity as Foreign Secretary on World IP Day 2018 would have reduced the cost of patent litigation considerably but that ratification had been reserved by none other than our fellow panellist Amanda Solloway MP on 20 July 2020. I had been looking forward to asking the Minister for the reason for that volte-face (see Jane Lambert <i><a href="http://nipcexit.blogspot.com/2021/04/has-volte-face-on-unified-patent-court.html" target="_blank">Has the Volte-Face on the Unified Patent Court Agreement been worth it?</a> </i>25 April 2021 <i>NIPC Brexit). </i>Sadly, the Minister was not there to justify herself.</p><p>Anyone wishing to discuss this article or any of the topics discussed in it should call me on +44 (0)20 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form</a>.</p><div class="story_kicker" style="color: #6f6f6f; font-family: Georgia, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div>Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-66370059444798621142019-12-17T17:46:00.000+00:002019-12-17T18:02:44.597+00:00Useful Seminars at the British Library<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glxziSmr9Ls/Xfj5WWpMsQI/AAAAAAAALD4/v1DWSQ7btbYFDdThgmeHNEYhs_vFerxSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/800px-British_library_london.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="800" height="215" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glxziSmr9Ls/Xfj5WWpMsQI/AAAAAAAALD4/v1DWSQ7btbYFDdThgmeHNEYhs_vFerxSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/800px-British_library_london.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>A</b>uthor: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jack1956" target="_blank">Jack1956</a> Copyright waived by the owner</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
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If you own, manage or invest in a startup or other small business, you should check out the <a href="https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre" target="_blank">Business and Intellectual Property Centre</a> at the British Library at 86 Euston Road. If you don't know the area it is almost next door to St Pancras station and a short walk from King's Criss and Euston. It has a massive collection of business publications with access to even more online. It is open to anyone with a reader's card which can be obtained upon showing evidence of identity and residence. The Library also has <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/995887/" target="_blank">Linkedin</a> and<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BusinessandIPCentre?ref=ts" target="_blank"> Facebook groups.</a><br />
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If you are new to the Centre you could do worse than attend the free workshop on 13 Jan 2020 entitled <i><a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/introduction-to-using-the-business-and-ip-centre-13-january-2020" target="_blank">Introduction to using the Business and IP Centre.</a> </i>The seminar starts at 10:30 and continues to 13:00. atter which there will be a chance to meet the speakers, staff another attendees informally over refreshments On the same day, there is an introduction to intellectual property entitled <i><a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/can-i-protect-a-business-idea-13-january-2020" target="_blank">Can I protect a business idea</a> </i>starting at 14:00 and ending at 17:00 which is also free. If you miss either of those talks they are repeated on 27 Jan (see <i><a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/introduction-to-using-the-business-and-ip-centre-27-january-2020" target="_blank">Introduction to using the Business & IP Centre</a> </i>and<i> <a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/can-i-protect-a-business-idea-27-january-2020" target="_blank">Can I protect a business idea </a></i>27 Jan 2020).<br />
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After you have attended these introductory lectures you mat want to try some of the others. Seminars that I would attend if I lived nearer London include<br />
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<li><i><a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/how-do-i-search-registered-designs-january-2020" target="_blank">How do I search registered designs </a> </i>14 Jan 14:00 to 17:00 charge £20;</li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/how-do-i-search-patents-january-2020" target="_blank">How do I search patents</a> </i>16 Jan 10:00 to 13:30 charge £20;</li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/how-to-protect-your-ip-abroad-january-2020" target="_blank">How to protect your IP abroad </a> </i>22 Jan 10:00 to 12:30 free; and</li>
<li><i><a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/how-do-i-use-british-library-collections-for-my-business-research-january-2020" target="_blank">How do I use British Library collections for my business research?</a> </i>29 Jan 10:00 to 13:00 charge £20.</li>
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Having founded and chaired the inventors' clubs at Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield, I am delighted to see that the British Library will launch an <a href="https://www.bl.uk/events/inventors-club-january-2020" target="_blank">Inventos Club </a>on 27 Jan 2019 between 18:00 and 20:49 and I will support that in any way I can,<br />
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Anyone wishing to discuss this article or any of the issues mentioned in it should call me on 020 7404 5252 or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact page,</a></div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-65934390720094387602019-01-02T07:58:00.000+00:002019-01-02T08:01:31.368+00:00Branding - Catching Them Young<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0Gk-i9eNME/XCnuhVyfAdI/AAAAAAAAJRg/EHWIsO6DlSQgXRZraEpxpPtYNdDmOkfvwCLcBGAs/s1600/Mock_Court_at_Kidzania_Bangkok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0Gk-i9eNME/XCnuhVyfAdI/AAAAAAAAJRg/EHWIsO6DlSQgXRZraEpxpPtYNdDmOkfvwCLcBGAs/s400/Mock_Court_at_Kidzania_Bangkok.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Court Room at the Bangkok KidZania<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Author </b><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:ProjectManhattan&action=edit&redlink=1" target="_blank">ProjectManhattan</a><br /><b>Licence </b>Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Source </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KidZania" target="_blank">Wikipedia KidZania </a></span></div>
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On Friday, the son of my former ward celebrated his 8th birthday. For a birthday treat his parents and I took him to the <a href="https://kidzania.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAmafhBRDUARIsACOKERNEAPUTxJrSZZrCER01u9Rtg0czRpwmzc4naakxTMkOZot6xpdhgdsaAjNLEALw_wcB" target="_blank">London KidZania</a> which describes itself as "An Indoor City Run by Kids." Located in the <span id="goog_1324170065"></span><a href="https://uk.westfield.com/london" target="_blank">Westfield shopping centre</a><span id="goog_1324170066"></span> in Shepherds Bush it consists of 75,000 square feet of replica child size shops and offices on two floors where children aged between 4 and 14 can try their hands at all sorts of occupations.<br />
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Children and their accompanying adults pass through immigration where they are issued with wristbands. Activities are paid for with kidZos which is KidZania's private currency though food and drink have to be purchased in sterling. Activities for adults are limited to queueing with children, watching their role play, consuming refreshments and riding a bus.<br />
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Like a lot of children's attractions, KidZania is a transatlantic concept, but from Mexico rather than the United States. The first KidZania opened as <a href="https://kidzania.com/en/the-company" target="_blank"> La Ciudad de los Niños</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span>(Kids' City) in Mexico City in 1999. La Ciudad was rebranded as Kidzania in 2006 when a second children's city was opened in Monterey. The Mexican company KidZania S.A.P.I. de C.V. has registered the word <a href="https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmcase/page/Results/4/EU002968469" target="_blank">KIDZANIA</a> as an EU trade mark for a wide range of goods and services in classes 6, 16, 20, 21, 25, 41, 42 and 43 with effect from 3 Jan 2003. It also holds many other trade marks and trade mark applications relating to KidZania around the world.<br />
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The company has franchised KidZania theme parks in <a href="https://kidzania.com/en/index" target="_blank">20 countries</a>, mainly in Latin America (Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico) and Asia (India, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates). So far, there are none in the United States and only three in Europe (Lisbon, London and Moscow) bit that is about to change with planned openings in Chicago, Dallas, New York and Paris.<br />
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Activities offered at the London KidZania are branded by Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Aljazeera Media Network, the Bank of England, British Airways, Cadbury, Costa, Dorsett International, Eat Natural, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Global, H & M, Hamptons, Innocent, K-Market, Metro, Middlesex County Cricket Club, Mission Deli, Nintendo, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, Roland, Snazaroo, The Original Tour and other organizations. <a href="https://kidzania.co.uk/whats-inside/all-activities/hospital-and-ae" target="_blank">Alder Hey hospital,</a> for example, allows children to role play as baby care nurses, paramedics and even surgeons. <a href="https://kidzania.co.uk/whats-inside/all-activities/chocolate-factory" target="_blank">Cadbury</a> instructs them in chocolate making. <br />
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About the only role plays for which no provision was made in London was the law which I would have found strange as a child for I knew that I wanted to be a barrister from a very early age. However, Wikipedia reports that there is a court at the Bangkok KidZania and there are others in other cities. <br />
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The investment of some of those brand owners is impressive. <a href="https://kidzania.co.uk/whats-inside/all-activities/aviation-academy" target="_blank">British Airways</a>, for example, has contributed part of an aircraft fuselage and flight simulation equipment and many members of the KidZania staff wear British Airways uniforms. Clearly, those brand holders see marketing or other opportunities in KidZania.<br />
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Our 8 year old tried his hand at print and TV journalism with <a href="https://kidzania.co.uk/whats-inside/all-activities/newspaper" target="_blank">Metro</a> and <a href="https://kidzania.co.uk/whats-inside/all-activities/tv-studio" target="_blank">Aljazeera</a>, chocolate making with Cadbury and flight training with British Airways among other activities. There was quite a lot of queueing for one or other of his parents during which time I relaxed in Costa's coffee shops. I also watched him perform in Aljazeera's TV studio and I have a new keyring with a photo of the little boy in an airline pilot's uniform.<br />
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Anyone wishing to discuss this article or the legal protection of <a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.com/p/branding.html" target="_blank">branding</a> generally by <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/trade-marks.html" target="_blank">trade mark registration</a>, the <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/passing-off.html" target="_blank">law of passing off</a>, <a href="http://nipc-branding.blogspot.com/p/geographical-indications.html" target="_blank">geographical indications </a>or otherwise should call me on 020 7404 5252 during usual office hours or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact page</a>. I should also like to wish all my readers a very happy New Year.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-82993994539602762532018-01-15T18:02:00.000+00:002018-01-15T18:02:55.022+00:00The State of Small Business in London<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKD8VnoiVE8/Wlv9TBvhkZI/AAAAAAAAHl4/x69OBCaydUgD20yvFq4i9FbZUP8COrGjQCLcBGAs/s1600/the-state-of-small-business-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WKD8VnoiVE8/Wlv9TBvhkZI/AAAAAAAAHl4/x69OBCaydUgD20yvFq4i9FbZUP8COrGjQCLcBGAs/s1600/the-state-of-small-business-1.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
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In <i><a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/mapping-enterprise.html" target="_blank">Mapping Enterprise</a> </i>14 Jan 2018 NIPC News I reported on the research into small and medium enterprises ("SME") across the UK that Nesta and Sage have carried out and published in <i><a href="https://www.nesta.org.uk/sites/default/files/the-state-of-small-business-uk.pdf" target="_blank">The State of Small Business: Putting UK entrepreneurs on the map</a></i> their reports and on <a href="http://stateofsmallbiz.com/" target="_blank"><i>The State of Small Business </i>website</a>.<br />
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With 1,010,075 SME, London is the region with the largest number of small businesses. There are 37.6 startups for every 1,000 of the population which is more than 3 times the national average. However, London also has the biggest proportion of business failures (18.0 per 1,000 compared to 6.8 for the national average). Detailed information for each local authority appears on the <i>State of Small Business </i>website.<br />
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Glancing at selected local authorities <a href="http://stateofsmallbiz.com/city-of-london" target="_blank">the City of London</a> has 17,130 SME employing 156,145 persons of whom 41,521 are in financial services, 40,492 in professional, scientific and technical services, 18,989 in business administration and support and 16,925 in information and communication technologies. Financial services are by far the most productive sector with the greatest productivity. The City has 5 accelerators, 2 incubators and 126 flexible work spaces. <a href="http://stateofsmallbiz.com/westminster" target="_blank">Westminster</a> has 45,850 SME employing 325,857 persons in a wide range of business services.It 15 accelerators, 5 incubators and 257 flexible work spaces. By contrast, <a href="http://stateofsmallbiz.com/lewisham" target="_blank">Lewisham</a> has only 9,370 SME employing 30,803 and has no accelerators, incubators or flexible works spaces.<br />
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Anyone wishing to discuss article or SME generally should call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form.</a>Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-77901741103711638522017-09-26T15:12:00.002+01:002017-09-26T15:16:18.815+01:00Thought for Food: IP and Takeaway and Restaurant Innovation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3figqxJGYI/WcoFS1-PSUI/AAAAAAAAGxU/dMq0CtM5q8saoX8DhdiWprXzfdqXc19SwCLcBGAs/s1600/logo%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="844" height="75" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q3figqxJGYI/WcoFS1-PSUI/AAAAAAAAGxU/dMq0CtM5q8saoX8DhdiWprXzfdqXc19SwCLcBGAs/s400/logo%2B%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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What possible link could there be between IP and fast food? Lots when you think of it. <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/trade-marks.html" target="_blank">Trade Marks</a>, <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/passing-off.html" target="_blank">passing off</a>, geographical indications and of course all sorts of improvements in food preparation and distribution technology that can be patented.<br />
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That will explain why <a href="http://www.takeawayexpo.co.uk/speakers/gary-townley/" target="_blank">Gary Townley</a> of the Intellectual Property Office will be speaking and exhibiting at the <a href="http://www.takeawayexpo.co.uk/" target="_blank">Takeaway & Restaurant Innovation Expo 2017</a> that takes place at the <a href="http://www.takeawayexpo.co.uk/visit/" target="_blank">ExCel Centre</a> today and tomorrow. Gary is also presenting a course on<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/working-in-the-food-drink-sector-creating-a-brand-name-website-or-a-secret-recipe-then-you-need-to-tickets-36309028281" target="_blank"> IP for the food and drink industry </a>at Northampton Central Library on Thursday.<br />
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IP in the production, preparation, marketing and distribution is a subject of which I have had a lot of experience having been in some important cases and having advised and represented some rising stars in the industry. If you are engaged in agriculture, food preparation, distribution or catering I should be glad to talk to you. Call +44 (0)20 7404 5252 during office hours or send me me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form.</a>Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-20537257621030217192017-09-25T11:39:00.000+01:002017-09-25T11:39:55.478+01:00Mums Enterprise Roadshow - London<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6EcsUhnbR0U/Wci6cbXNbQI/AAAAAAAAGwY/ABYq9Y4LhQ01MsgqAlG1RZ6GhZ-P9NsMACLcBGAs/s320/Business_Design_Centre_exterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6EcsUhnbR0U/Wci6cbXNbQI/AAAAAAAAGwY/ABYq9Y4LhQ01MsgqAlG1RZ6GhZ-P9NsMACLcBGAs/s320/Business_Design_Centre_exterior.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Business Design Centre<br /><div style="text-align: right;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Author </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Matt Brown</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Licence </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Source </b><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Business_Design_Centre_exterior.jpg" style="background-color: white; color: #7ca19c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
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In my I<i>nventors' Club</i> blog today I mentioned the <i><a href="http://nipcinvention.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/mums-enterprise-roadshow.html" target="_blank">Mums Enterprise Roadshow </a></i>which is holding a series of "child-friendly work and business exhibitions helping mums on a mission whether that be retraining, finding flexible work, starting up or growing a business."</div>
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The first of those events is taking place at the Business Design Centre in Islington today. According to the <a href="http://www.mumsenterprise.events/london" target="_blank">event webpage, </a>there are some interesting talks and exhibition. If you happen to be in London today and have the time it would seem to be an event that is well worth attending. The Centre is very close to Angel and Highbury and Islington tube stations and is on several bus routes. Parking is not quite so easy if you come by car, but the website says there is space for 250 vehicles at the nearby Hilton.<br /><br />If any of my readers who attend the event would care to report on what they saw and did, I should be very glad to publish what they have to day.</div>
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Should you want to discuss this article or innovation in general, call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/">contact form</a>Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-36752755741127570912017-02-10T23:00:00.000+00:002017-02-10T23:24:30.679+00:00London leads Start-up and Scale-up Tables for Digital Enterprise<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NjfGEsUH9kQ/WJ46ZVfGotI/AAAAAAAAFGo/rPAXKgTmtWcS6zKiTyYaZxr-5vXFdMTnwCLcB/s1600/Europe_polar_stereographic_Caucasus_Urals_boundary.svg%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NjfGEsUH9kQ/WJ46ZVfGotI/AAAAAAAAFGo/rPAXKgTmtWcS6zKiTyYaZxr-5vXFdMTnwCLcB/s400/Europe_polar_stereographic_Caucasus_Urals_boundary.svg%2B%25281%2529.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Author <a class="" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dbachmann" target="_blank">Dbachman</a><br />Creative Commons Licence</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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The <a href="https://digitalcityindex.eu/" target="_blank">European Digital City Index (EDCi)</a> was produced by <a href="http://www.nesta.org.uk/" target="_blank">Nesta</a> as part of the <a href="http://www.europeandigitalforum.eu/" target="_blank">European Digital Forum,</a> EDCi provides information about the strengths and weaknesses of local economies in relation to the formation and growth of digital businesses.<br />
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The index applies a number of different criteria in drawing up its index which are set out in the <a href="https://digitalcityindex.eu/methodology" target="_blank">Methodology </a>section of its website. Applying those criteria, Nesta produced the following table of leading European ciies for start-ups:<br />
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<li>London</li>
<li>Stockholm</li>
<li>Amsterdam </li>
<li>Helsinki</li>
<li>Paris</li>
<li>Berlin</li>
<li>Copenhagen</li>
<li>Dublin</li>
<li>Barcelona</li>
<li>Vienna.</li>
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For scale-ups, the table was:</div>
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<ol>
<li>London</li>
<li>Stockholm</li>
<li>Paris</li>
<li>Helsinki</li>
<li>Amsterdam</li>
<li>Copenhagen</li>
<li>Berlin</li>
<li>Munich</li>
<li>Dublin</li>
<li>Vienna</li>
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Why London? ESCi explains: </div>
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"The city’s substantial financial sector is undoubtedly a major benefit: not only is London’s venture capital industry the most developed in Europe, but the presence of many financial services firms helps promote a growing number of fintech and crowdfunding startups, like <a href="https://www.seedrs.com/" target="_blank">Seedrs</a>, <a href="https://www.fundingcircle.com/uk/" target="_blank">Funding Circle</a>, <a href="https://transferwise.com/" target="_blank">Transferwise</a>, <a href="https://www.wonga.com/" target="_blank">Wonga</a> and <a href="https://www.duedil.com/" target="_blank">DueDil</a>. London is also the accelerator and coworking capital of Europe, as well as boasting a number of world-class universities. Its vibrant startup scene is supported by a strong creative cluster around ‘Silicon Roundabout’ and, despite Brexit fears, the city still attracts significant talent from all over the world."</blockquote>
Successful start-ups include <a href="https://deliveroo.co.uk/" target="_blank">Deliveroo</a>, <a href="http://www.made.com/" target="_blank">Made.com</a>, <a href="https://www.appnexus.com/en" target="_blank">AppNexus</a> and <a href="https://www.borro.com/uk">Borro</a>. <a href="http://www.shazam.com/" target="_blank">Shazam</a>, <a href="https://transferwise.com/" target="_blank">Transferwise</a>, <a href="https://www.wonga.com/" target="_blank">Wonga</a>, <a href="http://www.farfetch.com/" target="_blank">FarFetch</a>, <a href="http://www.zoopla.co.uk/" target="_blank">Zoopla</a> and <a href="http://www.lastminute.com/" target="_blank">Lastminute.com</a> are examples of successful scale-ups.<br />
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If anyone wants to discuss the legal aspects of starting a digital or any other business, call me on 020 7404 5252 or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form.</a></div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-70770468208470011102017-02-10T20:32:00.000+00:002017-02-10T20:32:43.164+00:00Business and IP Centre: Innovating for Growth <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu5H9mbCmHo/WJ1vcaNq3OI/AAAAAAAAFGI/yvPqrH8LsnQ_1hqrYHP6Ok9X2jviMJZWQCLcB/s1600/bl_logo_100.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cu5H9mbCmHo/WJ1vcaNq3OI/AAAAAAAAFGI/yvPqrH8LsnQ_1hqrYHP6Ok9X2jviMJZWQCLcB/s1600/bl_logo_100.gif" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jane Lambert</span></a><br />
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Two opportunities announced recently by the <a href="http://4-5london.blogspot.co.uk/p/business-advice.html" target="_blank">British Library Business and IP Centre</a>:<br />
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<li><b>Innovating for Growth: Scale - ups: </b>three-month small business support programme offering over £10,000 worth of specialist advice; and </li>
<li><b>Innovating for Growth:</b> Start-ups: Two-day course.</li>
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The advice that successful candidates on the scale-up programme will receive is as follows: developing a growth strategy, refining the candidate's business model, product and service innovation, creating a marketing strategy, building a brand, maximizing intellectual property and business and market intelligence.<br />
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Application date 16 March 2017.</div>
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The two-day start-up course covers business planning, finance, marketing and other practical information and introductions to the resources of the Business and IP Centre and intellectual property.<br />
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Further information on the Business and IP Centre website (see <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><a href="https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/innovating-for-growth?ns_campaign=bipc&ns_mchannel=bl_website&ns_source=carousel&ns_linkname=i4g_mar_2017&ns_fee=0?ns_campaign=bipc&ns_mchannel=bl_website&ns_source=carousel&ns_linkname=apply-10k_more_link&ns_fee=0" target="_blank">Innovating for Growth: Scale - ups</a></i>).</span></div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-34881190575401611022016-07-11T10:40:00.000+01:002016-07-11T10:40:45.193+01:00IP and Fashion: the Consequences of Brexit<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/UK_location_in_the_EU_2016.svg/180px-UK_location_in_the_EU_2016.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img adlesse_been_here="true" border="0" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/UK_location_in_the_EU_2016.svg/180px-UK_location_in_the_EU_2016.svg.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.56px; line-height: 14.784px;">UK and the remaining Member States</span><br />
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<b>Source</b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom_European_Union_membership_referendum,_2016" style="color: #888888; display: block; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
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Last month I conducted a seminar on IP and fashion for MBL Seminars in London. As the fashion industry relies on EU trade marks and registered Community designs more than most I have published on article on the effect of Brexit on the IP rights used in that industry.<br />
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In that article, <i><a href="https://4-5ip.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/ip-and-fashion-effect-of-brexit.html?showComment=1468225985877#c8643643705439672843" target="_blank">IP and Fashion: the Effect of Brexit</a> </i>10 July 2016 4-5 IP, I have referred to art 50 of the <a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:12012M/TXT&from=EN" target="_blank">Treaty of European Union</a> which provides that the EU Treaties and all legislation derived from them will cease to apply from the coming into force of the withdrawal agreement or two years after our giving notice to withdraw whichever occurs soonest. It follows that all EU legislation will fall away upon our leaving the EU but there will be a difference between legislation enacted by Parliament to give effect to EU directives and regulations made by the EU institutions.<br />
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Legislation made to give effect to EU directives such as out <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/476173/Unofficial_consolidated_version_Trade_Marks_Act_1994_as_amended.pdf" target="_blank">Trade Marks Act 1994</a> and the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/498821/Registered_Designs_Act_1949.pdf" target="_blank">Registered Designs Act 1949</a> will remain in force because they are Acts of Parliament but regulations such as the <a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1461325727753&uri=CELEX:02009R0207-20160323" target="_blank">EU Trade Mark Regulation</a> and the <a href="https://euipo.europa.eu/tunnel-web/secure/webdav/guest/document_library/contentPdfs/law_and_practice/cdr_legal_basis/62002_cv_en.pdf" target="_blank">Community Design Regulation</a> will fall away immediately. As a result EU trade marks and registered Community designs will cease to apply to the UK, unregistered Community designs will dissolve and the courts of the UK will no longer have jurisdiction in EU trade mark and Community design disputes.<br />
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That will require a thorough review of all agreements relating to those rights and in some cases renegotiation and re-drafting. Inevitably legal costs will rise appreciably though these may be offset by costs savings here and there. I shall be discussing these and other changes resulting from Brexit in a seminar in September. If in the meantime you wish to discuss any of these developments call me on 020 7404 5252 or contact me through<a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank"> this form</a>.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-77843251965109485192016-05-27T13:28:00.000+01:002016-05-27T13:31:47.025+01:00Second Course on IP and the Fashion Industry<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/OldandNewBondStreet.JPG/553px-OldandNewBondStreet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img adlesse_been_here="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/OldandNewBondStreet.JPG/553px-OldandNewBondStreet.JPG" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Author </b>Surgeonsmate</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Source </b>Wikipedia</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Creative Commons Licence</span></div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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I am running a day long course on <a href="http://www.mblseminars.com/Outline?progid=6904" target="_blank">IP and the fashion industry</a> for MBL at the <a href="http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-3107-novotel-london-tower-bridge/index.shtml" target="_blank">London Bridge Novotel</a> on 2 June 2016. It you want to attend it will set you back £480 unless you have a "smart plan" or season ticket and even then it will cost you £216 for the former and £240 for the latter. That's quite a lot of money that you or your firm would have to shell out and you will almost certainly want to know what you get for that money.<br />
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When MBL asked me to propose a synopsis for the course I looked at blogs like <i><a href="http://wigsandgowns.co.uk/" target="_blank">Wigs and Gowns</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://www.thefashionlaw.com/" target="_blank">The Fashion Law</a>, </i>courses like the ones offered in the USA by <a href="http://fashionlawinstitute.com/" target="_blank">Fordham University's Fashion Law Institute</a> and announced by the London College of Fashion earlier this year (see Katie King <i><a href="http://www.legalcheek.com/2016/01/london-college-of-fashion-unveils-first-of-its-kind-law-course/" target="_blank">London College of Fashion unveils first of its kind law course</a> </i>20 Jan 2016 Legal Cheek) and conferences like the one run by the Italian government and the WIPO at <a href="http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/prdocs/2005/wipo_ma_2005_20.html" target="_blank">Caserta</a> in 2005. I read some recent cases involving fashion and retain brands in the Fleet Streets and Reports of Patent Cases and made a keyword search of BAILII and the IPO websites. I could find no consistency of approach whatsoever.<br />
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I had more luck looking through my old opinions and pleadings and talking to some of the solicitors and patent and trade mark agents who had instructed me. It occurred to me that the starting point might be to imagine the sort of clients who would attend a course on law and the fashion industry and find out what interests them most.<br />
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The first conclusion I reached is that it is unhelpful to talk about the fashion industry. There are in fact several industries which include couturiers, Savile Row tailors, garment and textile manufacturers, importers and wholesalers, high street retailers and internet distributors. They all have different concerns and are often interested in a different IP issues.<br />
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I have structured the course around three themes:<br />
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<li>Advising the designer;</li>
<li>Advising the manufacturer; and </li>
<li>Advising the retailer.</li>
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I introduce each topic with a general summary of the law and then offer questions for discussion such as "What are the IP issues in selling on line?" and "How (if at all) does the Supreme Court's decision in <i>Trunki</i> affect textile, garment, jewellery and accessory designers?" That enables delegates to learn from each other as well as from me and I've learned from attendees too.</div>
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I have now run two courses on IP for the fashion industry for MBL. One at the Novotel where I found out what worked (see <i><a href="http://4-5london.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/ip-and-fashion-law.html" target="_blank">IP and Fashion Law</a> </i>12 Sept 2015) and what did not and another in Leeds where everything seemed to go like clockwork. My third talk at the Novotel will follow the formula that worked in Leeds. </div>
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I am looking forward to this course very much and I hope that my attendees enjoy the day too. If you want to find out more about this seminar call me on 020 7404 5252 or contact me on <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">message form.</a></div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-48444391231004766192016-03-23T16:32:00.000+00:002016-03-23T16:32:31.222+00:00You wouldn't use a wood to get out of a bunker: seeking and using IP advice<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<b>Author </b>Post406</div>
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<b>Source </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_club" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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On 23 Feb 2016 the Intellectual Property Office (<b>"IPO"</b>) updated its guidance <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/seeking-intellectual-property-advice" target="_blank">Seeking intellectual property advice</a>. In its passage on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/seeking-intellectual-property-advice#invention-promotion-companies" target="_blank">Invention Promotion Companies</a> it warns:<br />
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"Some unreliable firms promise to evaluate your invention for a fee of a few hundred pounds. They then tell you that your invention has great market potential. They may offer to promote your invention to manufacturers if you pay a fee of several thousand pounds up front. Once you have paid up, they may do little or nothing for you."</blockquote>
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"If an invention promotion firm approaches you", it urges, "take great care." Very good advice which us repeated frequently by patent offices, consumer protection organizations, inventors' clubs and IP professionals the world over.</div>
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Yet despite those warnings more and more people fall for the promises of such companies and find themselves seriously out of pocket as a result. "Why is that?" one might ask. Part of the answer is that innovation companies offer a simple solution to the question how do I get my new product or business to market without anyone else nicking my idea.</div>
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Unfortunately, protecting a new idea long enough for it to make a reasonable return for its creators is not usually a straightforward matter because the law favours competition and freedom to carry on business. The world's very first intellectual property legislation, <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Ja1/21/3/introduction" target="_blank">The Statute of Monopolies 1623</a>, was in fact a statute to abolish monopolies and restraints of trade. Parliament recognized, however, that it is expensive and risky to develop new products and processes and that businesses need some <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Ja1/21/3/section/VI" target="_blank">respite</a> from unbridled competition as an incentive to invest in new inventions.</div>
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For that reason there is no one stop intellectual property shop. You need all the professionals mentioned in the IPO's guidance to get the right legal protection for your business idea. </div>
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You need a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/seeking-intellectual-property-advice#patent-attorneys-and-trade-mark-attorneys" target="_blank">patent attorney</a> to apply on your behalf for a British or European patent for your invention in the United Kingdom and he or she should also be able to help you get one for other countries. If you have a trade name or logo that needs protecting <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/seeking-intellectual-property-advice#patent-attorneys-and-trade-mark-attorneys" target="_blank">a trade mark attorney</a> can make an application to the IPO or <a href="https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/" target="_blank">European Intellectual Property Office</a> for British or European Union trade mark. Patent and trade mark attorneys should also be able to help you get registered and registered Community designs from the IPO or EUIPO. </div>
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If you need a licence from a third party to make a product, use a process or carry on business under a franchise a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/seeking-intellectual-property-advice#solicitors" target="_blank">specialist solicitor</a> or <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/seeking-intellectual-property-advice#ip-barristers" target="_blank">barrister </a>can help you negotiate one. Such a solicitor or barrister can also draw up terms upon which others can use your invention, design or other intellectual asset. If you believe that your intellectual property right has been infringed or if you are accused of infringing someone else's rights he or she should help you resolve your dispute satisfactorily.</div>
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Each of those professionals has his or her own special skills and training for a particular job. In that way thet are rather like the woods and irons in your golf bag. There was a time when you had to instruct a solicitor or patent or trade mark attorney in order to consult a barrister but you can now instruct many of them directly under the <a href="http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/using-a-barrister/public-access/" target="_blank">Public Access scheme</a>. </div>
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Instructing a public access barrister is often a good way of finding other professionals that you may need such as patent or trade mark attorneys, solicitors or foreign lawyers. Through our work we get to know a lot of those professionals and what they can do. Although there is now plenty of overlap between our work and the work of other professionals we have a professional duty to refer a client to a solicitor. patent or trade mark attorney or other intermediary if that is in the client's best interests. As our core work is advice on difficult points of law, drafting complex legal instruments and oral and written advocacy we tend to refer patent and trade mark prosecution to patent and trade mark attorneys and litigation to solicitors. Our relationship with those other professionals is in that regard rather like the relationship that subsists between a consultant surgeon or physician and general medical practitioner. </div>
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I am often asked whether there is a duplication of effort or additional expense in instructing different professionals. Sometimes that happens where for example a litigator attempts to do work that is better left to an advocate but it should not. Indeed, it should actually save time and costs.</div>
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If you want to discuss this article or IP advice in general call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form</a>.</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-8306525935156477062015-09-12T15:56:00.001+01:002015-09-12T15:57:11.478+01:00IP and Fashion Law<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t--kLaO8RGg/VfP2q9SQZYI/AAAAAAAADJA/I2t4CTKovdw/s1600/2015%2B-%2B1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t--kLaO8RGg/VfP2q9SQZYI/AAAAAAAADJA/I2t4CTKovdw/s400/2015%2B-%2B1" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert </a>at the Blackfriars, Novotel<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
(c) Gita Mistry 2015 All rights reserved</div>
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Last Thursday I conducted a day long seminar on <i><a href="http://www.mblseminars.com/Outline?progid=6904" target="_blank">Intellectual Property and the Fashion Industry</a> </i>at the <a href="http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-7942-novotel-london-blackfriars/room.shtml" target="_blank">Blackfriars Road Novotel</a>. The above photographs shows me interacting with the audience. I had 20 attendees drawn from law firms big and small, patent and trade mark agencies and in-house legal departments. <br />
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The course covered:<br />
<ul>
<li>Basic concepts and terminology</li>
<li>Advising the designer</li>
<li>Advising the manufacturer</li>
<li>Advising the retailer</li>
<li>Dispute resolution</li>
<li>Counterfeiting and piracy</li>
<li>Developing an IP strategy, and</li>
<li>Applying what had been learned to everyday practice.</li>
</ul>
Rather than read from notes and slides I taught the course by setting typical problems such as <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The day after a royal baby makes his or her first public appearance you want to sell a similar set of baby clothes. How would you set about doing that without being sued?"</blockquote>
and<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"What provisions would you place in a contract with a supplier from Bangladesh?"</blockquote>
I got that idea from <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/ross-burrows/2a/441/22b" target="_blank">Ross Burrows</a> of <a href="http://burrowslaw.co.uk/trainingservices/index.php" target="_blank">Burrows Law</a> because that is how he taught the public access top-up and litigation courses which I took last year. He built on participants' knowledge and experience which he encouraged us to share. I decided to do the same next time I taught a CPD training course.<br />
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Preparing such courses requires a lot more work on the part of the trainer but it aids comprehension and retention. The overwhelming response of the London group was very positive according to the feedback forms.<br />
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If you missed the course in London you can catch me in Leeds on 7 Oct 2015. Quite apart from what you may learn from me on the course you can check out the exciting young designers at <a href="http://www.lambertsyard.com/" target="_blank">Lambert's Yard</a> or the <a href="http://www.textile-training.com/index.aspx" target="_blank">Textile Centre of Excellence </a>in Huddersfield. Leeds is one of the major fashion centres outside London as you can see from this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqWhY0XoDoY" target="_blank">video</a> of the recent Leodis Forum. You can book <a href="http://www.mblseminars.com/Outline?progid=6904&AddSeminarToBasket=1031319#AddedToBasket-1031319" target="_blank">on-line</a> or call MBL on 0161 793 0984. </div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-91553812371176370462015-08-12T08:54:00.004+01:002015-08-12T09:06:02.706+01:00Oppositions in the IPO's Trade Marks Registry<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/CheckmateProper.jpg/800px-CheckmateProper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/CheckmateProper.jpg/800px-CheckmateProper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checkmate<br />
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<b>Author </b>Bubba73</div>
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<b>Source </b>Wikipedia</div>
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<b>Licensed </b>under Creative Commerce Licence</div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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On Monday I discussed the different types of hearings that can take place in the Intellectual Property Office when there is an objection to an application to register a trade mark (see <i><a href="http://4-5london.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/if-examiner-says-no-ex-parte-hearings.html" target="_blank">If the examiner says "no" - ex parte hearings in the Trade Marks Registry</a> </i>10 Aug 2015 <i>London IP and Tech Law</i>). If the <i>examiner </i>(the official who considers an application) objects to it the applicant can discuss it with a senior official known as a <i>hearing officer. </i>This is called an <i>ex parte</i> proceeding because only the applicant is involved. If a third party objects to an application a hearing officer will adjudicate the dispute between the person who opposes the application (<b>"the opponent"</b>) and the applicant. Those proceedings are called <i>inter partes</i> because they are between different parties.<br />
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<b>How Opposition Proceedings arise</b><br />
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Those who might object to an application usually first learn of it when it is published in the <a href="https://www.ipo.gov.uk/t-tmj.htm" target="_blank">Trade Marks Journal</a>. Many trade mark proprietors instruct their attorneys to arrange for someone to monitor the Journal for applications for marks that are similar to their own registrations. Such monitoring is known as a "watch service". An objector may make written observations to the examiner as to whether a trade mark should be registered under s.38 (3) of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/365077/Trade_Mark_Act_1994__Unofficial_Consolidation_Book_-_412.pdf" target="_blank">Trade Marks Act 1994</a> without becoming a party to <i>inter partes</i> proceedings with all the risk and expense that entails. Before <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2007/9780110770185/contents" target="_blank">The Trade Marks (Relative Grounds) Order 2007</a> came into force, the examiner could take account of earlier registrations or other rights when deciding whether to grant an application. Now he or she can only bring the observations to the applicant's attention. If the applicant insists on proceeding the objector must oppose the application or stand aside.<br />
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<b>Grounds of Objection</b><br />
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There are two sets of grounds upon which an opponent can object to a trade mark application:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>absolute grounds </b>such as those that I discussed in Monday's article; and</li>
<li><b>relative grounds: </b>that is to say, the opponent has registered, or applied to register, a the same or similar trade mark for the same or similar goods or services in the UK, EU or a group of countries that includes the UK or EU under the <a href="http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/text.jsp?file_id=283483" target="_blank">Madrid Protocol</a> or the opponent can prevent the use of the applicant's mark by bringing an action for passing off or infringement of copyright, registered design or some other intellectual property right.</li>
</ul>
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Relative grounds of refusal are set out in s.5 of the Trade Marks Act 1993.</div>
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<b>Pre-Action Negotiations</b><br />
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Although proceedings in the IPO are generally less expensive than proceedings in the courts the Registrar expects parties to try to settle their differences amicably. Before taking proceedings, the opponent should explain his or her objection to the applicant in a <i>letter before claim </i>enclosing any relevant documentation relied upon and invite the applicant to withdraw his or her trade mark application or restrict the goods or services for which registration is sought. If the applicant does not want to do that he or she should explain why with reasons and evidence in a timely <i>letter of response</i>. Once their differences have been identified, the parties or their professional representatives may try to resolve them through direct negotiation or mediation. Both the IPO and the WIPO offer specialist mediation services as do our chambers (see <i><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2007/1976/pdfs/uksi_20071976_en.pdf" target="_blank">IP Mediation</a> </i>22 May 2015 4-5 IP). Such negotiations or mediation have to proceed with alacrity as there is usually a 2 month time limit from publication in the Journal for an opposition to be lodged though that can be extended to 3 months if the opponent files a <i>Notice of threatened opposition</i> in <a href="https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tm7a-online.htm" target="_blank">Form TM7A</a>.<br />
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<b>Starting Proceedings</b><br />
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If the parties cannot resolve their differences amicably the opponent commences proceedings by lodgung a <i>Notice of opposition and statement of grounds</i> in <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303796/tm7.pdf" target="_blank">Form TM7</a> and paying the appropriate fee. The statement of grounds are the equivalent of <i>particulars of claim</i> in civil proceedings. At one time a statement of grounds resembled <i>particulars of claim </i>and had to be settled by the opponent's counsel or attorneys. Nowadays they are reduced to a questionnaire. The amount of the fee will depend on the ground upon which the opponent opposes the application. If it is on the ground that he or she has registered the same or similar mark for the same or similar goods under s.5 (1) of (2) the fee is only £100. If he or she opposes the application on some other ground the cost of the opposition increases to £200. If the <i>Notice of opposition and statement of grounds</i> are in order the IPO sends them to the applicant in accordance with rule 17 (8) of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/361140/19850_-_TM_Law_and_Practice_-_Consolidated_Document.pdf" target="_blank">Trade Marks Rules 2008.</a><br />
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<b>Responding to the Application</b><br />
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The applicant usually has up to 2 months to respond to the opposition. If he or she wishes to do so, the applicant must file a <i>Notice of defence and counterstatement </i>in <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/361089/tm8.pdf" target="_blank">Form TM8</a>. This is like a <i>defence </i>in civil proceedings. Its purpose is to identify the issues that are in dispute. Like the <i>Notice of opposition and statement of grounds </i>the <i>Notice of defence and counterstatement </i>is reduced to a questionnaire. No fee is charged for filing Form TM8.<br />
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<b>Preliminary Indication</b><br />
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Once Form TM7 or TM8 have been filed the case will be referred to a hearing officer. If the opposition is based on an earlier registration or application to register under s.5 (1) or (2) of the Act the hearing officer may give a <i>preliminary indication </i>as to whether the application should proceed or be refused under s. 5 (1) or (2). The opponent or, as the case may be, applicant then has up to one month to decide whether to persevere with the opposition or application. If that party decides to do so, he or she must file a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/303855/tm53.pdf" target="_blank">Form TM53</a> and serve it on the other party or parties. If he or she fails to do that in time, the opposition or, as the case may be, application will be deemed to have been withdrawn.<br />
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<b>Evidence</b><br />
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If no preliminary indication is given or if a party files a Form TM53 the hearing officer will direct the parties to file the evidence upon which they rely. Usually that takes the form of written statements from each of the witnesses that a party wishes to call but it may also be in the form of a statutory declaration or affidavit. Witness statements set out the witness's testimony in numbered paragraphs and is verified by a statement of truth. If the other side wishes to cross examine that witness he or she verifies it with or without modification on affirmation or oath. The witness statement then stands as that witness's evidence in chief. If the witness wishes to refer to a document it is usual to exhibit a copy of the document to the witness statement.<br />
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<b>Further Negotiations or Mediation</b><br />
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Negotiations to settle the opposition often resume or begin once the statements of case have been exchanged and the evidence has been filed and served. There is less time pressure at this stage and the parties can request extra time for negotiations or mediation.<br />
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<b>Electing a Hearing</b><br />
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If the parties are unable to resolve their dispute either side may request a hearing or indicate that he or she is content for the hearing officer to decide the issues on the documents only. The incentive to dispense with a hearing is that the costs that the unsuccessful party will be ordered to pay under <a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140603093549/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-types/pro-tm/t-law/t-tpn/t-tpn-2000/t-tpn-22000.htm" target="_blank">Tribunal Practice Notice 2/2000</a> are very much less than the costs that would be awarded after a full hearing. If neither party asks for a hearing the parties will be allowed to file written arguments in support of their case.<br />
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<b>Skeleton Arguments</b><br />
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Shortly before the hearing the parties or their professional representatives are expected to exchange summaries of the arguments that they intend to make and references to the statutes, cases and text book passages upon which they rely and lodge copies of those documents with the hearing officer. Those summaries are known as "skeleton arguments". A party is usually allowed some latitude in amplifying, clarifying or otherwise modifying his or her skeleton once he or she is on his or her feet but he or she will not be allowed to take the other side by surprise.<br />
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<b>Conduct of the Hearing</b><br />
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Hearings take place at the IPO's offices in Newport and London. Unless a witness has to be cross-examined the hearing officer may conduct the proceedings by video link or telephone. It is not uncommon for the parties or their representatives to be in London and the hearing officer to sit in Newport. The video transmission link between London and Newport is very high quality and tantamount to being in the same room.<br />
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The hearing is opened by the opponent who makes sure that the relevant materials are before the hearing officer and the other side. He or she identifies the issues to be decided, outlines his or her case and how he or she intends to prove it and the legal submissions upon which he or she relies. The opponent then calls his or her witnesses if any. After the witness has identified his or her evidence in chief he or she is cross-examined by the other side. The opponent may re-examine the witness on any point raised in cross-examination that needs to be explained or clarified.<br />
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Once the opponent has presented his or her case the applicant calls his or her witnesses or makes his or her submissions in reply. The opponent may cross-examine the applicant's witnesses on their statements and the applicant may re-examine them. <br />
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After the applicant has presented his or her submissions the opponent may reply to them.<br />
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The hearing officer concludes the hearing by indicating that he will deliver a written decision in due course. It usually follows a couple of months after the hearing.<br />
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<b>Costs</b><br />
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The hearing officer has power to order the unsuccessful party to contribute to the successful party's costs. The principles on which he or she makes such an award are set out in TPN 2/2000 (which I mentioned above) and <a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140603093549/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-types/pro-tm/t-law/t-tpn/t-tpn-2007/t-tpn-42007.htm" target="_blank">TPN 4/2007</a>. Unless a party has conducted his or her case so unreasonably or behaved so badly that the other side has incurred costs unnecessarily the hearing officer will award costs on a fixed scale. They are never more than a fraction of the actual costs incurred. A few hundred pounds for a decision on the documents and a few thousand if there has been a contested hearing.<br />
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<b>Appeal</b><br />
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As in <i>ex parte </i>proceedings the unsuccessful party has a right of appeal either to the Appointed Person or the court. The advantage of appealing to the Appointed Person is that the costs are limited to those awarded by the hearing officer. The disadvantage is that his or her decision cannot be appealed except, perhaps, by judicial review. The costs of an unsuccessful appeal to the Chancery Division in England or Northern Ireland (Court of Session in Scotland) are higher but there is always the chance to appealing to the Court of Appeal or even the Supreme Court. Permission is not required to appeal either to the Appointed Person or court.<br />
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<b>Representation</b><br />
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Parties may represent themselves before hearing officers or they may instruct patent or trade mark attorneys, solicitor advocates or counsel. As trade mark law is complex and technical it is often to a party's advantage to instruct an attorney or specialist counsel or advocate. It is now possible and often advantageous for applicants or opponents to instruct a barrister to settle Forms TM7 or TM8, advise on evidence, settle witness statements or represent them before a hearing officer in a procedural or full hearing without also instructing an attorney or solicitor and many choose to do so. It is also possible that your attorney or solicitor may wish to instruct me or some other counsel on such matters. If you want to consult me on any of those matters call me during office hours on 020 7404 5252 or use <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">my contact form.</a><br />
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<b>Further Reading</b><br />
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If you wish to act for yourself you should familiarize yourself with the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/365077/Trade_Mark_Act_1994__Unofficial_Consolidation_Book_-_412.pdf" target="_blank">Trade Marks Act 1994,</a> the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/361140/19850_-_TM_Law_and_Practice_-_Consolidated_Document.pdf" target="_blank">Trade Marks Rules 2008</a> and the <a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140603093549/http://www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-types/pro-tm/t-law/t-tpn/t-tpn-2000.htm" target="_blank">Tribunal Practice Notices</a>. I mentioned the IPO's very helpful guidance on <i><a href="https://www.gov.uk/trade-mark-disputes-resolution-hearings" target="_blank">Trade mark disputes resolution: hearings</a> </i>on Monday and you can get further guidance in the last chapter of the <i><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/406241/Manual_of_trade_marks_practice.pdf" target="_blank">Trade Marks Manual</a>. </i>Finally, you should never forget that the 1994 Act implements an EU directive which has been interpreted and applied by the Court of Justice of the European Union and General Court and the courts of each of the EU member states. You will be able to access the directive and other legislation and some of that case law through the <a href="https://oami.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/" target="_blank">website of OHIM (Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market)</a>, the Community trade marks and designs registry.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-2171522546467401442015-08-10T15:14:00.005+01:002023-03-13T23:04:10.724+00:00If the examiner says "no" - ex parte hearings in the Trade Marks Registry<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SRNSAKjI-CnbI7UwQyR5fQVsrnbpCeoD9cy8A_BE24rgfxlOpiRQPu1swI6vDxOwbueCAAb77eejIPsFEPhwbUqpFv4TmgXPPANVYRYpmwVW9i73kKMpQIKfURz0NrWVAnEpICX0AQ3ubMEtW7YfG2_CV0Lz_VvUjYmo26HCq4Y6mX4BWE-gFuN4NQ/s500/Jane%20Lambert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SRNSAKjI-CnbI7UwQyR5fQVsrnbpCeoD9cy8A_BE24rgfxlOpiRQPu1swI6vDxOwbueCAAb77eejIPsFEPhwbUqpFv4TmgXPPANVYRYpmwVW9i73kKMpQIKfURz0NrWVAnEpICX0AQ3ubMEtW7YfG2_CV0Lz_VvUjYmo26HCq4Y6mX4BWE-gFuN4NQ/s320/Jane%20Lambert.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.com/p/profile.html" target="_blank"><br />
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According to the Intellectual Property Office's <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318346/Facts_and_Figures.pdf" target="_blank"><i>Facts and Figures </i>for 2012 and 2013</a>, the IPO received 41,524 trade mark applications in 2013 and granted 35,256 in that period. Clearly, most trade mark applications go through without any problem but there are some that do not either because the <b>examiner</b> (the IPO official who considers trade mark applications) objects to an application or a third party decides to oppose it. <br />
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<b>Hearing </b><br />
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In either case, there may be a hearing before an official representing the Head of the IPO (referred to as <b>"the Registrar" </b>rather<b> t</b>han <b>"the Comptroller"</b> in trade mark matters) who is known as a <b>"hearing officer"</b>. A hearing to consider an examiner's objection is known as an <i>ex parte </i>hearing because only the applicant for the trade mark attends the hearing. A hearing to resolve an opposition is an example of an <i>inter partes </i>hearing because both the trade mark applicant and the opponent take part. The rest of this article will be on <i>ex parte</i> hearings.<br />
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<b>Why might an examiner say "no"</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Any sign may be registered as a trade mark so long as it can be represented graphically and can distinguish goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings. Graphical representation means some form of writing whether in letters, numerals or both. Most signs that can be recognized by the senses can be represented graphically but there is one great exception. Nobody has yet found a way of expressing in writing a smell. In addition, there are some signs that are not registrable for various other reasons. For instance, a sign may be devoid of any distinctive character or it may consist of or contain a protected national or international emblem such as the royal coat of arms or Olympic rings. The grounds upon which an examiner may object to an application are sometimes called "absolute grounds of refusal" and these are set out in sections 3 and 4 of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/365077/Trade_Mark_Act_1994__Unofficial_Consolidation_Book_-_412.pdf" target="_blank">Trade Marks Act 1994.</a><br />
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<b>What happens if the examiner objects</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
If it appears to the examiner that the requirements for registration are not met, he or she has to inform the applicant and give him or her an opportunity, within such period as the examiner may specify, to make representations or to amend the application. If the applicant is represented by a trade mark attorney or other professional intermediary there is usually an exchange of correspondence which often results in a solution that meets the examiner's concern. If those concerns are not met within the prescribed time, the examiner has to refuse the application under s.37 (4).<div>
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<b>The Hearing</b></div>
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If the application is refused the applicant's only recourse is to request a hearing before a hearing officer. Although this is a judicial proceeding and governed by law it takes the form of a referral to a senior official. Often the only persons present are the applicant or his representative and the hearing officer. Such hearings can take place at the IPO's premises in Newport, by video conference or even by telephone. Applicants can also ask for a decision to be made on the basis of written representations. An applicant may represent him or herself or instruct an attorney to appear on his or her behalf. If a difficult point of law is involved the applicant may want to instruct a barrister.</div>
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<b>Appeal</b></div>
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If the applicant fails to persuade the hearing officer he or she may appeal to the High Court or a lawyer appointed by the Lord Chancellor under s.77 (1) of the Trade Marks Act 1994 known as the "Appointed Person". If the applicant appeals to the court the Registrar is entitled to appear by counsel in which case the applicant risks paying the Registrar's costs if the appeal is unsuccessful.</div>
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<b>Further Information</b></div>
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The IPO has published some very helpful guidance in <i><a href="https://www.gov.uk/trade-mark-disputes-resolution-hearings" target="_blank">Trade mark disputes resolution: hearings</a> </i>20 May 2014.</div>
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Should anyone wish to discuss this article or trade mark law in general, he or she should call me during office hours on 020 7404 5252 or send complete my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form.</a></div></div>Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-45184944516888036492015-05-26T10:59:00.000+01:002015-05-26T11:04:06.495+01:00London Technology Week, 15-21 June 2015<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RunTon7mSko" width="420"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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<a href="http://londontechnologyweek.co.uk/" target="_blank">London Technology Week</a> is a week long festival of seminars, workshops, screenings, parties, meetings and other events to celebrate London's pre-eminence as a centre of technology. The video that I have embedded above shows what happened last year. The <a href="http://londontechnologyweek.co.uk/events/" target="_blank">events page</a> shows what will happen this year. You will find some very big names such as Goldman Sachs, Bloomberg, London & Partners, Catapult Future Cities, InnovateUK and NESTA.<br />
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Intellectual property, data protection and other areas of technology law will be discussed and some of the largest law firms and patent agencies will be there. I shall be attending the festival and speaking on how to avoid and resolve IP and technology law disputes. I shall publish more details later.<br />
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If anyone wants to discuss this article, call me on 020 7404 5252 during normal office hours or get in touch through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form</a>.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-69572658303376541072014-11-14T10:38:00.000+00:002014-11-14T10:45:11.752+00:00Representation in the IPEC Small Claims Track<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Royal_courts_of_justice.jpg/220px-Royal_courts_of_justice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Royal_courts_of_justice.jpg/220px-Royal_courts_of_justice.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Royal Courts of Justice<br />
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<b>Photo </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Courts_of_Justice" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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In July 2014 the HM Courts and Tribunal Service published its <a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/courts/patents-court/patents-court-small-claims.pdf" target="_blank">Guide to the Intellectual Property </a><a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/courts/patents-court/patents-court-small-claims.pdf" target="_blank">Enterprise Court Small Claims Track </a> I have written a lot of articles and given a lot of presentations about that court and its predecessor, the Patents County Court, over the last two years and you will find links to those articles at <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/patents-county-court-new-small-claims.html" target="_blank">Patents County Court - the New Small Claims Track Rules</a> 20 Sept 2012.<br />
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In this article I will discuss the anomaly that while anyone in the world can appear at a hearing on behalf of a party in the small claims track in most causes of action only a solicitor or other authorized litigator or the party itself can file claim forms or statements of case in that track. That restriction excludes patent and trade mark attorneys who are not authorized to conduct litigation by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board (see <a href="http://ipreg.org.uk/pro/rules-and-regulations/rights-to-conduct-litigation-and-advocacy/" target="_blank">Rights to conduct Litigation and Advocacy</a>). I will also consider whether the right of lay representatives to appear as advocates before the Patents County Court continues to apply to proceedings before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (<b>"IPEC"</b>) small claims track.<br />
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<a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/section/12" target="_blank">S.12 (1)</a> of the Legal Services Act 2007 includes "the exercise of a right of audience" and "the conduct of litigation" in the list of <i>reserved legal activities. </i><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/section/13" target="_blank">S.13 (2) </a>of the same Act restricts reserved legal activities to persons who are authorized in relation to the relevant activity (<b>"authorized persons"</b>) and persons who are exempted in relation to that activity (<b>"exempt persons"</b>). It is an offence under <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/section/14" target="_blank">s.14 (1)</a> for anyone other than an authorized person or an exempt person to carry on a reserved legal activity.<br />
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Paragraph 3 (1) of<a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/schedule/2" target="_blank"> Schedule 2</a> to the Act defines a "right if audience" as "the right to appear before and address a court, including the right to call and examine witnesses". In other words the sort of work that barristers do. Paragraph 4 (1) defines "the “conduct of litigation” as<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"(a) the issuing of proceedings before any court in England and Wales,<br />
(b) the commencement, prosecution and defence of such proceedings, and<br />
(c) the performance of any ancillary functions in relation to such proceedings (such as entering appearances to actions)."</blockquote>
These are activities traditionally conducted by solicitors. Activities in relation to litigation such as drafting statements of case and conducting correspondence are not mentioned in the Schedule.<br />
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<a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2007/29/schedule/3" target="_blank">Schedule 3 </a>to the 2007 Act provides a set of rules to determine whether a person is an exempt person in relation to a reserved legal activity. Paragraph 1 (3) (b) provides that a person is an <i>exempt person </i>if "he has a right of audience before that court in relation to those proceedings granted by or under any enactment." Paragraph 2 (3) (b) makes similar provision in relation to the conduct of litigation.<br />
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<a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1990/41/section/11" target="_blank">S.11 (1)</a> of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 provides:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, by order provide that there shall be no restriction on the persons who may exercise rights of audience, or rights to conduct litigation, in relation to proceedings in a county court of such a kind as may be specified in the order."</blockquote>
The only order under that section that I have been able to find is <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1225/pdfs/uksi_19991225_en.pdf" target="_blank">The Lay Representatives (Rights of Audience) Order 1999</a> SI 1999 No. 1225. Art 3 (1) of the Order provides:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Subject to paragraph (2), any person may exercise rights of audience in proceedings dealt with as a small claim in accordance with rules of court."</blockquote>
However, paragraph (2) of the article states that:<br />
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"A lay representative may not exercise any right of audience:–<br />
(a) where his client does not attend the hearing;<br />
(b) at any stage after judgment; or<br />
(c) on any appeal brought against any decision made by the district judge in the proceedings."</blockquote>
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This is reflected by <a href="http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/rules/part27/pd_part27#3.1" target="_blank">paragraph 3.2 (1)</a> of the Practice Direction 27 - Small Claims Track:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"A party may present his own case at a hearing or a lawyer or lay representative may present it for him."</blockquote>
"Lawyer" is defined by paragraph 3.1 (1) (a) as "a barrister, a solicitor or a legal executive employed by a solicitor" but <b>not </b>a patent or trade mark attorney and a "lay representative" which would include such an attorney as "any other person".<br />
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While the Patents County Court existed there can be no doubt that lay representatives could rely on The Lay Representatives (Rights of Audience) Order 1999 to appear as advocates before the small claims track. However, it is uncertain that they can still do so before the small claims track of IPEC because s.11 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 which was the statute under which the 1999 Order was made applies only to proceedings in the county courts and IPEC is now part of the Chancery Division (see Jane Lambert <i><a href="http://ipnorthwest.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/what-does-intellectual-property.html" target="_blank">"What does the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court mean for Litigants in the North West?"</a> </i>12 Oct 2013 IP North West). Paragraph 63.27 (4) provides that Part 27 (small claims track) shall apply to claims allocated to the small claims track in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court with certain modifications none of which addresses paragraph 3.2 of the Part 27 Practice Direction.<br />
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Although the District Judge can always hear a lay representative in a specific case she does not appear to be obliged to do. Further, there appears to be no right for anyone other than a solicitor or other authorized litigator (which can nowadays include certain counsel and patent and trade mark attorneys) to file, prosecute or defend such proceedings. Should anyone wish to discuss this article or IP Litigation in general he or she should call me on 020 7404 5252 during normal office hours or message me through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form</a>.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-70590236132602406882014-11-12T11:44:00.000+00:002014-11-12T12:07:03.751+00:00Festival of Business <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/14/George_Garrard%2C_Whitbread_Brewery_in_Chiswell_Street_(1792).jpg/200px-George_Garrard%2C_Whitbread_Brewery_in_Chiswell_Street_(1792).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/14/George_Garrard%2C_Whitbread_Brewery_in_Chiswell_Street_(1792).jpg/200px-George_Garrard%2C_Whitbread_Brewery_in_Chiswell_Street_(1792).jpg" height="314" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Chiswell Street Brewery<br />
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<b>Photo </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitbread" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
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Yesterday I attended the <i><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/festival-of-business/" target="_blank">Daily Telegraph Festival of Business</a> </i>at <a href="http://www.thebrewery.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Brewery</a> in Chiswell Street. It was the third time I had attended the event. In 2011 and 2012 the event was held at <a href="http://www.manchestercentral.co.uk/" target="_blank">G-MEX</a> in Manchester which is my home town. Last year the event moved to London and I followed it down to the capital.<br />
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The format was the same as in previous years. There were four keynote speakers and two breakout sessions. Each delegate was issued with a tablet computer for the day which had to be returned at the end. These took the place of bags and bumf which I for one like to read on the way back home. They also replaced a note pad which would have been fine except that my tablet had a German keyboard which is slightly different from the QWERTY layout making it impossible to type quickly. The tablet was also the only way the audience could communicate with the chair in plenary sessions which made it very difficult to ask questions from the floor.<br />
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As I had a meeting earlier in the day I missed the first two keynote speeches and the first breakout session. According to the agenda, <a href="http://investor.legalandgeneral.com/group-board.cfm?showbio=25327" target="_blank">Nigel Wilson</a>, chief executive of the Legal and General Group, spoke about The <i>Changing Shape of the UK, </i>and<a href="http://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about/the-partnership/governing-authorities/chairman.html" target="_blank"> Sir Charlie Mayfield</a> of the John Lewis Partnership discussed <i>The Changing Workplace. </i>I was able to read Dr Wilson's slides on the tablet but not not Sir Charlie's.<br />
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I did, however, attend a wide ranging and fascinating discussion between <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Sorrell" target="_blank">Sir Martin Sorrel</a>l and <a href="https://www.capitaleconomics.com/staff/roger-bootle.html" target="_blank">Roger Bootle</a> which covered the economy, the EU and a list of what the speakers called "black swans" or potentially destabilizing events such as ISIS and the recent pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. Both seemed to think that the economic outlook for the UK was rosy despite the sluggish performance of much of the rest of Europe, Japan and many other countries. It was a view shared incidentally by most of the audience in a snap poll. I'm not so sure that that they are right. It is the view of a London audience and London has done OK over the last few years. I doubt if it would have been shared to the same extent in other parts of the country. Secondly, the strength of the recovery in the UK seems to be driven by short term factors like house prices and restocking. I don't see how the recovery can possibly be sustained if Europe is stagnant and China is slowing down. Moreover British productivity has declined n relation to our competitors. I found the optimism in the auditorium overdone almost to the point of complacency,<br />
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One of the factors that is bound to put a break on investment in this country in my humble opinion is uncertainty over our continued membership of the EU. The disruption that would be caused were we to leave would be far reaching. Take intellectual property for example. British businesses have enjoyed the benefits of uniform trade mark protection enforceable throughout the 28 member states in the British courts for 20 years and design registration for well over 15 and the European Patent Office will soon be able to grant unitary patents for nearly all the EU member states. All of that and very much more would be lost on a British exist. Sir Martin was aware of that disruption and warned of the risk to inward investment. Roger Bootle was much more equivocal. If we could get rid of anthems and the notion of ever closer union then it might be worth staying, he argued, but if (as is probable) we can't he would campaign for us to leave.<br />
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Although I was with Sir Martin on Europe he made one remark that I could not understand at all. He said that indemnities against intellectual property infringement were a major menace to businesses because it put them at the mercy of patent trolls. "Patent trolls" is a nickname for "non-practising entities" (that is to say businesses that hold patents but do not work them). They are a problem in the USA because patent specifications do not have to be published before grant and there is no possibility of recovering costs from an unsuccessful claimant but not here. In this country an NPE would probably be required to give security for costs and in any case it is possible to insure against patent infringement claims in any country.<br />
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Sir Martin classed these indemnities with late payment of bills which seemed to be an increasing problem. A poll was taken as to whether late payment was a problem for delegates in the room. On that point there was overwhelming agreement.<br />
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The second keynote speech that I attended was on technology. Tim Steiner of Ocado led the discussion and he was accompanied on the stage by Phil Jones, Managing Director, Brother UK, Kathryn Parsons, Founder and Co-CEO, <a href="http://kathryn%20parsons%2C%20founder%20and%20co-ceo%2C%20decoded/" target="_blank">Decoded</a> and Chris Poad, Director, Seller Services at Amazon UK. Referring to the <a href="https://www.globalinnovationindex.org/content.aspx?page=data-analysis" target="_blank">Global Innovation Index 2014</a>, Mr Jones said that the UK was the second most innovative nation in the world. He omitted to say that the criteria for the index is very broad and contains factors such as "institutions" and "economic sustainability" that are only remotely connected with developing new technology or that the UK ranks below not just the USA, China and Japan in the number of European patent applications or even countries of similar size such as Germany, France and South Korea but also the Netherlands with one third of our population or Switzerland with one eighth. I challenged that assertion with an intervention through my tablet but the chair chose to ignore it.<br />
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Another issue that I challenged was on the participation of women in computing. Kathryn Parsons was congratulated for being the only woman on the panel. It was inferred that she was somehow facilitating female participation in IT. In fact there was far greater female participation in the early days of computing when women programmed in object code for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LEO_(computer)" target="_blank">LEO</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Shirley" target="_blank">Dame Steve Shirley</a> established F International which was overwhelmingly female. Again. I tried to make that point through my tablet but was ignored by the moderator.<br />
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The one breakout session that I managed to attend was Financing Growth. I had originally intended to go to the Google Clinic which I had enjoyed in Manchester but I bumped into futurologist Tom Cheeswright who had given a very good talk at <i><a href="http://ipnorthwest.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/start-smart.html" target="_blank">Start Smart</a> </i>in Salford the previous Friday. He was on his way to the funding seminar so I tagged along with him. There were presentations from two business leaders who had raised funding one through some kind of bond which was offered to the company's and James Meekings of the <a href="https://www.fundingcircle.com/" target="_blank">Funding Circle</a>. The chap who had raised money by his bond issue seemed to criticize the regulatory structure in this country which prompted an intervention from me that the provisions regulating public offerings in the Companies Act 2006 and the Stock Exchange rules were there fir a reason and that there was a risk that uncontrolled public offerings might turn into a bubble like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulip_mania" target="_blank">tulips</a> and stocks in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Sea_Company" target="_blank">South Sea Company </a><br />
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Overall I enjoyed the day though perhaps not as much as in previous years. When the event was in Manchester it was held at G-MEX which is a converted mainline railway terminus with plenty of space. The Brewery is much smaller. Some would say it was more intimate. Others would call it cramped. The only way to reach <a href="http://www.thebrewery.co.uk/The-porter-tun-overview" target="_blank">The Porter Tun</a>, the main auditorium, was by means of a single staircase or a single lift and both were congested at times. Last year the main speaker was the Chancellor of the Exchequer and while there was nothing wrong with this year's keynote speakers they did not carry quite the same cachet. Another way in which the event could be improved would be by losing the tablets. They were an amusing novelty 3 years ago but now they get in the way of communication.<br />
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If anyone wants to read another account of yesterday's events and watch some videos there is a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/festival-of-business/" target="_blank"><i>Festival of Business</i> page</a> on the Daily Telegraph website.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-70806617031064697052014-10-17T17:40:00.000+01:002014-11-12T01:38:16.646+00:00Digital Business Drop-In<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.innovateuk.org/" target="_blank">Innovate UK</a>, the <a href="https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/creativektn" target="_blank">Creative Industries Knowledge Transfer Network</a> and <a href="https://ictomorrow.innovateuk.org/overview" target="_blank">IC tomorrow</a> are holding a Digital Business Drop-in session at 101 Euston Road between 12:30 and 14:30 on the 6 Nov 2014. This is described as an<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c2429; font-family: Lato, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.9999809265137px;"> "</span>informal information sharing afternoon designed to support digital companies".<br />
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Those attending the event will be able to:<br />
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<li>Learn more about the various funding and other forms of support available from the Technology Strategy Board - the UK’s largest funder of innovation</li>
<li>Meet advisers who can help them navigate the various funding available as well as make valuable business introductions</li>
<li>Introduce their own digital business to others via 5 minute showcasing presentations, and</li>
<li>Network with other businesses.</li>
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Slots for those who want to give a presentation may are given on a first come first served basis at the event, by signing up on the sheet provided on the day. There will be a projector and laptop at the venue. Presenters can bring up to 3 slides on a USB. </div>
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Those wanting to register for the event can do so through <a href="http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-business-drop-in-november-2014-tickets-13385491365?aff=eorg" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a>.</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-65377522989408652692014-09-03T06:50:00.000+01:002014-09-03T06:50:17.326+01:00Forthcoming IP Events<span id="docs-internal-guid-438dea17-3a0d-cca6-5750-34e384175bfb"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://westminster-enterprise.org.uk/2014/08/11/intellectual-property-workshop/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">IP Workshop: Create and Protect Your Business Brand</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16 Sep 2014</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.bl.uk/bipc/workevents/copyright.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introducing Copyright</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free workshop 14:00 - 16:00 at The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">30 Sep 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.eu/forms/london-ip-clinic/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intellectual Property Clinic</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free 30 minute consultation between 14:00 and 17:00 with patent counsel with the possibility of further referrals to patent and trade mark attorneys and other experts at Middlesex University, Hendon</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 Oct 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.brandlicensing.eu/brand-licensing-europe" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brand Licensing Europe 2014</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two day exhibition and seminar at Olympia</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">15 Oct 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.bl.uk/bipc/workevents/copyright.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introducing Copyright</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free 30 minute consultation between 14:00 and 16:00 with patent counsel with the possibility of further referrals to patent and trade mark attorneys and other experts at Middlesex University, Hendon</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">22 Oct 2014</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-rank-group-british-invention-show-british-innovation-technology-show-tickets-9002752475?aff=erelexporg" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Rank Group British Invention Show, British Innovation & Technology Show</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three day exhibition and seminar at Barbican Exhibition Hall 2.</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">28 Oct 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.eu/forms/london-ip-clinic/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intellectual Property Clinic</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free 30 minute consultation between 14:00 and 16:00 with patent counsel with the possibility of further referrals to patent and trade mark attorneys and other experts at Middlesex University, Hendon</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 Nov 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://www.events.ukti.gov.uk/tsb-innovate/page/index/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Innovate UK</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two day exhibition and seminar at Old Billingsgare</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">25 Nov 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.eu/forms/london-ip-clinic/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intellectual Property Clinic</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #741b47 1px; border-left: solid #741b47 1px; border-right: solid #741b47 1px; border-top: solid #741b47 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #741b47; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Free 30 minute consultation between 14:00 and 16:00 with patent counsel with the possibility of further referrals to patent and trade mark attorneys and other experts at Middlesex University, Hendon</span></div>
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Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-44575307562291878572014-08-17T10:44:00.000+01:002014-08-17T11:00:34.000+01:00London Chamber of Commerce and Industry<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/City_of_London_skyline%2C_April_2013.jpg/340px-City_of_London_skyline%2C_April_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/City_of_London_skyline%2C_April_2013.jpg/340px-City_of_London_skyline%2C_April_2013.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<b>Photo </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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The other day I received a copy of an email from our director of policy welcoming our "organization" to membership of the <a href="http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/lcc_public/home.asp" target="_blank">London Chamber of Commerce and Industry</a>. According to the Chamber's website it is the capital's largest independent networking and business support organisation representing the interests of thousands of companies, connecting over 500,000 business people every year and offering a wide range of practical and professional services.<br />
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I have spent much of the morning exploring the website, particularly<br />
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<li>the <a href="http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/lcc_public/article.asp?aid=4067" target="_blank">Events and Networking page</a> and the <a href="http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/lcc_public/article.asp?aid=62" target="_blank">Events Calendar</a>, </li>
<li>the <a href="http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/lcc_public/default.asp?id=19" target="_blank">Policy and Public Affairs page</a> and in particular the <a href="http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/lcc_public/article.asp?aid=131" target="_blank">Chamber's press releases</a>, and</li>
<li>the <a href="http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/lcc_public/article.asp?aid=4070" target="_blank">Business Advice Services page</a>.</li>
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I intend to make the most of our membership and participate in as many of those events as possible. It is a great opportunity to explain to business leaders what members of our profession can do for them (see <i><a href="http://4-5ip.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ip-servicess-from-barristers.html" target="_blank">IP Services from Barristers</a> </i>6 April 2013 4-5 <i>IP blog</i>) and the different ways they can access our services from our workshops and <i>pro bono</i> clinics to our high level representation and consultancy.<br />
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Coincidentally, I downloaded and read yesterday Eddie Copeland and Cameron Scott's report <i><a href="http://www.policyexchange.org.uk/images/publications/silicon%20cities.pdf" target="_blank">Silicon Cities </a></i>which is published by Policy Exchange. This report discusses how to support the development of tech clusters outside London and the South East of England. As I was born in Manchester and still live in the town where <i><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/lastofthesummerwine/" target="_blank">Last of the Summer Wine</a> </i>was shot<i> </i>(we actually have a real vineyard just outside by the way) that is a topic that is very dear to my heart. As I have argued <a href="http://ipnorthwest.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/creating-northern-counterweight-to.html" target="_blank">elsewhere</a> it is in the national interest to create a counterweight to London and this report suggests ways in which that can be done. But creating a counterweight does not mean creating a brake. On the contrary it means creating a partner for the capital.</div>
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I was pleased to read the Chamber's press release <i><a href="http://www.londonchamber.co.uk/lcc_public/article.asp?id=0&did=47&aid=6684&st=&oaid=-1" target="_blank">Time to give cities the powers to grow</a></i> of the 9 July 2014:</div>
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"Having long campaigned for greater financial freedom for London, today's report represents a welcome indication that Parliament understands the benefits that fiscal devolution will bring to the capital, and England's other cities and regions."</blockquote>
I made exactly the same point in a question to Nick Clegg at the Leeds International Economic Conference a few days earlier (see "<i><a href="http://ipnorthwest.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/power-performance-potential-leeds.html" target="_blank">Power. Performance. Potential. Leeds Economic Conference"</a> </i>5 July 2014 <i>IP North West</i>). The idea of a North South divide in a country the size of Britain has always been absurd to me. It is good to see that we are all beginning to sing from the same hymn sheet at last.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-64083158455761432942014-08-12T16:16:00.002+01:002014-08-13T01:44:51.981+01:00What is Fintech? Will it be an Engine for Growth or a Seven Day Wonder?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Canary_Wharf_Skyline_2%2C_London_UK_-_Oct_2012.jpg/240px-Canary_Wharf_Skyline_2%2C_London_UK_-_Oct_2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Canary_Wharf_Skyline_2%2C_London_UK_-_Oct_2012.jpg/240px-Canary_Wharf_Skyline_2%2C_London_UK_-_Oct_2012.jpg" height="273" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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Fintech is short for financial technology, that is to say payment systems, services, software and data analytics. According to<i><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/341306/Fintech_-_The_UK_s_unique_environment_for_growth.pdf" target="_blank"> Fintech The UK’s unique environment for growth</a> </i>the industry is worth £20 billion with payments technology accounting for about half those sales. The same report states that the UK and Irish Republic are the fastest growing region for fintech and that £265 million was invested in the industry in 2013.<br />
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As a result of this investment boom there has been growing interest in fintech from government and investors. In a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-on-developing-fintech" target="_blank">speech to Innovate Finance at Level 39 on 6 Aug 2014</a> the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced several new measures to encourage investment in fintech. On 2 July 2014 Santander announced that it had set up a $100 million investment fund in London. There are now all sorts of fintech enterprises which are monitored by such companies as <a href="http://www.fintechcity.com/" target="_blank">FinTechCity</a> which publishes the annual Fintech 50.<br />
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Although London is an important market for financial technology it is important to note that there were only 3 British firms in <a href="http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24437213" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">2013 FinTech 100 Rankings Released By IDC Financial Insights, American Banker, and Bank Technology News</a> compared to 10 from India and many more from the USA. On page 11 of <i><a href="http://www.accenture.com/Microsites/fsinsights/capital-markets-uk/Documents/Accenture-Global-Boom-in-Fintech-Investment.pdf" target="_blank">The Boom in Global Fintech Investment A new growth opportunity for London</a> </i>Accenture London identified the following challenges for London's fintech cluster:<br />
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<li>London's fintech industry is relatively immature;</li>
<li>there are many first more time entrepreneurs than elsewhere in the world</li>
<li>it is harder for them to raise funding than their US counterparts.</li>
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In <i><a href="http://ipyorkshire.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/how-far-if-at-all-is-it-possible-to.html" target="_blank">How far (if at all) is it possible to protect Innovation in Financial Technology?</a> </i>12 Aug 2014<i> IP Yorkshire </i>I spotted yet another difficulty, namely that it is much harder to obtain patent protection for fintech inventions than it is in China, Japan, Korea and the USA.</div>
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Interest in fintech has mushroomed and could subside just as quickly but until it does I shall be keeping an eye on the legal issues and particularly IP relating to this technology. The name fintech is new but I have followed the topic ever since the early 80s when I was legal advisor to VISA for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. I wrote one of the first articles on the subject in <i>EFTS: the Emerging Legal Issues </i>LSGaz 1984 and I contributed a section on electronic banking to Butterworths <i>Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents</i> in 1985. If there is sufficient interest in the legal issues relating to fintech I shall try to hold a workshop or seminar on the topic in chambers. In the meantime here is a reading list which I shall no doubt extend from time to time. If anybody wants to discuss this article or the law relating to fintech in general he or she can call me during office hours on 020 7404 5252 or message me through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form</a>. You can also <a href="https://twitter.com/nipclaw" target="_blank">tweet</a> me, write on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jane.lambert.587" target="_blank">wall</a> or send me a message through <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/108163459663463046885/posts" target="_blank">G+</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/nipclaw" target="_blank">Linkedin</a> or <a href="https://www.xing.com/profile/Jane_Lambert" target="_blank">Xing</a>.</div>
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<b>Further Reading</b></div>
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<b>General Introductions</b></div>
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Accenture <i><a href="http://www.accenture.com/Microsites/fsinsights/capital-markets-uk/Documents/Accenture-Global-Boom-in-Fintech-Investment.pdf" target="_blank">The Boom in Global Fintech Investment A new growth opportunity for London</a> </i>2014</div>
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FinTechCity <i>The FinTech 50 </i>(downloadable from Welcome to <a href="http://ww.fintech50watchlist.com/" target="_blank">The FinTech 50</a>)</div>
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IPC Financial Insights and others 2013<i><a href="http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS24437213" target="_blank"> FinTech 100 Rankings</a> </i>7 Nov 2013</div>
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UK Trade and Investment <i><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/341306/Fintech_-_The_UK_s_unique_environment_for_growth.pdf" target="_blank">Fintech The UK’s unique environment for growth</a></i></div>
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<b>Press Releases</b></div>
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HM Treasury <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plan-to-make-britain-global-centre-of-financial-innovation-set-out-by-government" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">"Plan to make Britain global centre of financial innovation set out by government"</a> 7 Aug 2014</div>
Santander <i><a href="http://www.santander.co.uk/uk/infodetail?p_p_id=W000_hidden_WAR_W000_hiddenportlet&p_p_lifecycle=1&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-2&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=3&_W000_hidden_WAR_W000_hiddenportlet_javax.portlet.action=EventLauncherIdContentAction&_W000_hidden_WAR_W000_hiddenportlet_base.portlet.view=ILBDInitialView&_W000_hidden_WAR_W000_hiddenportlet_cid=1324572399011&_W000_hidden_WAR_W000_hiddenportlet_tipo=SANContent" target="_blank">"Santander to launch a $100M fund for fintech companies out of London"</a> </i>2 July 2014<br />
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UKTI <i><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-leads-the-way-for-financial-technology-fintech-services-says-new-research" target="_blank">"UK leads the way for Financial Technology (fintech) services says new research"</a></i> 7 Aug 2014</div>
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<b>Speeches</b></div>
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George Osborne <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-on-developing-fintech" target="_blank">"Chancellor on developing FinTech" </a> 6 Aug 2014</div>
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<b>Intellectual Property</b></div>
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<b>Articles</b></div>
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Jane Lambert <i><a href="http://ipyorkshire.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/how-far-if-at-all-is-it-possible-to.html" target="_blank">"How far (if at all) is it possible to protect Innovation in Financial Technology?"</a> </i>12 Aug 2014<br />
Kapronasia <i><a href="http://www.kapronasia.com/Overview-of-Intellectual-Property-IP-Protection-for-Fintech-Firms-in-China/Document-Details.html?catid=1" target="_blank">"Overview of Intellectual Property (IP) Protection for Fintech Firms in China"</a> </i>20 Jan 2011</div>
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<b>Presentation</b></div>
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Wilmer Hale "<i><a href="http://www.wilmerhale.com/uploadedFiles/WilmerHale_Shared_Content/Files/PDFs/WH-FinTech-webinar-IP-6MAR13.pdf" target="_blank">What Should Financial Institutions and FinTech Companies Be Doing?" </a> </i>6 March 2013</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6308810316685422460.post-54401212636616211992014-07-16T10:42:00.000+01:002014-07-16T10:44:58.593+01:00London is Number 1 in the UK for Branding and Design<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/The_Ballet_of_Change-_Piccadilly_Circus,_London.jpg/220px-The_Ballet_of_Change-_Piccadilly_Circus,_London.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3d/The_Ballet_of_Change-_Piccadilly_Circus,_London.jpg/220px-The_Ballet_of_Change-_Piccadilly_Circus,_London.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Piccadilly Circus at Night<br />
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<b>Source </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piccadilly_Circus" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
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<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
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The Intellectual Property Office's <i><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318346/Facts_and_Figures.pdf" target="_blank">Facts and Figures 2012-2013</a> </i>were published last month and they make interesting reading. Businesses in London applies for 12,669 UK trade marks (up from 10,440 the previous year) and received 10,583 registrations (8,680 the previous year). That is more than any other region of the United Kingdom. The South East came second with 6,197 applications and 5,258 registrations and the East of England third in the number of applications (3,227) and the South West in the number of registrations (2,951).<br />
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London was also top in the number of registered design applications (1,153 compared to the South East's 1.066) but second to the South East in the number of registrations (720 in 2013 compared to the South East's 883).<br />
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London came second to the South East in the number of UK patent applications (2,588 in 2013 compared to 2.522 the previous year thereby bucking the national trend) and grants (346 in 2013). The comparable figures for South East England were 2,822 applications and 346 grants. </div>
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We can assist London artists, designers, inventors, entrepreneurs and investors with our <a href="http://4-5london.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/working-with-middlesex.html">I</a><a href="http://4-5london.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/working-with-middlesex.html">P clinics at Middlesex University</a> and our talks and publications all of which are free of charge. For our chargeable services see <a href="http://4-5ip.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/ip-servicess-from-barristers.html" target="_blank">"<i>IP Services from Barristers"</i></a> 6 Apr 2013 <i>4-5 IP. </i> If anyone wants to discuss his article or any patent, trade mark, design or other intellectual property matter he or she should call us on 020 7404 5252 or get in touch through my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form</a>. You can also <a href="https://twitter.com/nipclaw" target="_blank">tweet</a> me, write on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jane.lambert.587" target="_blank">wall</a> or send me a message through <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/108163459663463046885/posts" target="_blank">G+</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/nipclaw" target="_blank">Linkedin</a> or <a href="https://www.xing.com/profile/Jane_Lambert" target="_blank">Xing</a>.</div>
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Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0