Way more than an everyday interest in IP
The Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee (“Committee”), in an inquiry into the worldwide phenomenon known as ‘revenge porn’, made recommendations last week that acts of ‘revenge porn’ should be made a crime on Commonwealth and State levels. But ‘revenge porn’ scandals are only for the J-Laws and Kim Kardashians of the world right? Apparently not. read more…
On 9 January 2015, a US trade mark application was filed for JE SUIS CHARLIE by a trust from California. An Australian application for JESUISCHARLIE was filed on 12 January 2015 by the M&G Besser Family Trust in relation to publishing services in class 41.* The phrase references the 7 January murder of 12 people read more…
By Keely Fitzpatrick Those who thought that the world of digital currency was beyond the reach of tax and other regulatory authorities have been living in a “Dark Fantasy”. Since our article earlier this year exploring the expansion of digital currencies and the Coinye saga of January 2014 the interest in digital currencies (such as read more…
In a battle now spanning over a decade, another colour trade mark application filed by BP (this time for the shade Pantone 348C) has been rejected by Australia’s Trade Marks Office. The Hearing Officer found that while Australian consumers associate the colour green with BP, there was no convincing evidence that consumers distinguish the BP read more…
A novel WIPO program brings IP owners and researchers together to facilitate scientific research into neglected diseases, with the aim of bringing royalty-free treatments to least developed countries. 50 voluntary collaboration agreements have been signed in the 2 years of operation. read more…
Recently the US National Telecommunications & Information Administration (Department of Commerce) (“NTIA”) issued a media release announcing that the US intends to step out of its current role relating to the domain name system (“DNS”) of the Internet, resulting in a fully privatised DNS. Computers, mobile phones and other devices that connect to the Internet read more…
The explosion of interest in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has continued to expand. The latest is Coinye, inspired by rapper Kanye West. We take you through its rapid rise, evolution into a half-man-half-fish hybrid and sudden fall after Kanye West sued the developers. read more…
We investigate the District Court of Illinois decision Klinger v Conan Doyle Estate, Ltd., confirming that literary characters can be freely used without a licence where copyright has expired on early works in a series. Character elements introduced in later works which are still subject to copyright cannot be used without a licence. read more…