tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37827080352781875592024-03-21T17:12:05.327+00:00NIPC East MidlandsNIPC East Midlands: IP and Technology News from the East MidlandsJane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-77290647674480567342017-11-21T22:21:00.000+00:002017-11-21T22:27:34.660+00:00Partnering for Prosperity: A new deal for the Cambridge- Milton Keynes-Oxford Arc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeL0CQByiM1FrBKhOF0ebWHg0XLVK52PhMiSXNaQXT2Jwn-5rvwA-YFZzXn7nXSIxtDU7mHmZp8Gz6QPFh-MZIWO8gIGWAgGMdEW_229CGtsIdnRNYGT5roeLiNbbsg1meRICgJUSn-A/s320/Partnering-for-Prosperty-pdf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeL0CQByiM1FrBKhOF0ebWHg0XLVK52PhMiSXNaQXT2Jwn-5rvwA-YFZzXn7nXSIxtDU7mHmZp8Gz6QPFh-MZIWO8gIGWAgGMdEW_229CGtsIdnRNYGT5roeLiNbbsg1meRICgJUSn-A/s320/Partnering-for-Prosperty-pdf.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The <a href="https://www.nic.org.uk/" target="_blank">National Infrastructure Commission</a> is an executive agency of the Treasury. It consists of a chair, a deputy chair and 9 commissioners. It offers impartial, expert advice and recommendations to the government on <i>economic infrastructure</i> which includes energy, transport, water (drainage sewerage and flood management) and digital communications. Its objectives are to support sustainable economic growth across all regions of the UK and improve competitiveness and the quality of life,<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In March 2016 the Commission was asked to consider how to maximize the potential of a corridor running between Cambridge and Oxford via Milton Keynes "as a single, knowledge-intensive cluster that competes on a global stage, protecting the area’s high-quality environment, and securing the homes and jobs that the area needs." It delivered an <a href="https://www.nic.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Cambridge-Milton-Keynes-Oxford-interim-report.pdf" target="_blank">interim report </a>in November 2016 which identified lack of adequate and affordable housing as a major impediment to growth and recommended investment in new housing, job creation and better transport.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In its final report, <i><a href="https://www.nic.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Partnering-for-Prosperty.pdf" target="_blank">Partnering for Prosperity: A new deal for the Cambridge- Milton Keynes-Oxford Arc</a>. </i>which was published on 17 Nov 2017, the Commission urged the government to make the corridor a national priority. It proposed new road and rail links between the towns and cities in the arc and massive house building and job creation including new town development on a scale last seen in the 1950s and 1960s.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The report highlighted some of the area's strengths:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Cambridge generates 19 times more patents than the national average;</li>
<li>productivity in Milton Keynes is 25% more than the national average;</li>
<li>Northampton has more business startups per 10,000 inhabitants than any other city except London; and</li>
<li>Oxford is a leading hub for bioscience, medical tech and physical sciences.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Better road and rail links and new housing are essential to maintaining and building on those strengths.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyone wishing to discuss the legal implications of these proposals 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></div>
</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-57539765684783551252017-09-27T15:25:00.000+01:002017-09-27T15:25:49.768+01:00IP and Food <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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfKjd5_vyOhvx45riAPflFKYJ23EzHhMggN1y3JtX6SKOeT8DDF9Z9C7Ih84Y7VWEq_P9iDG-MznV1pjL2x2GdcOAH7dbVUaScCXL-bkkE28eEcKWmqXg8o4C3u3XKe7M0L_L8CQTDDk/s1600/Gary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="375" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfKjd5_vyOhvx45riAPflFKYJ23EzHhMggN1y3JtX6SKOeT8DDF9Z9C7Ih84Y7VWEq_P9iDG-MznV1pjL2x2GdcOAH7dbVUaScCXL-bkkE28eEcKWmqXg8o4C3u3XKe7M0L_L8CQTDDk/s200/Gary.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Townley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
<br />
Tomorrow, between 10:00 and 13:30, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-townley-06618b16/" target="_blank">Gary Townley</a>, business and events manager at the Intellectual Property Office will talk about <a href="http://www3.northamptonshire.gov.uk/councilservices/library-service/business-and-ip-centre/Pages/business-support-workshops-and-seminars.aspx" target="_blank">IP for the food and drink industry </a>at Northampton Central Library. You can register for the event <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">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I don't know what Gary will be talking about but there is a lot of IP connected with food and drink:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>plant breeders' rights for new grain and seed varieties (see my article on <i><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/protecting-investment-new-plant-varieties-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">Protecting Investment in New Plant Varieties</a> </i>4 May 2016 Linkedin);</li>
<li><a href="http://nipc-branding.blogspot.co.uk/p/geographical-indications.html" target="_blank">geographical indications</a> for food and agricultural products;</li>
<li>patents for new agricultural, food preparation, processing and distribution technology;</li>
<li><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/trade-marks.html" target="_blank">trade marks </a>for food and drink brands and </li>
<li><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/passing-off.html" target="_blank">passing off</a> for hotels and restaurants but not plastic lemons.</li>
</ul>
<div>
As I reported in <i><a href="http://4-5london.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/thought-for-food-ip-and-takeaway-and.html" target="_blank">Thought for Food</a></i> 26 Sept 2017 NIPC London Gary has already spent the last two days at the Takeaway & Restaurant Innovation 2017 Expo.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
IP in food production, preparation, marketing and distribution is a subject of which I do 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 involved in that sector I should be glad to talk to you. Call +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/">contact form.</a><br />Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-70296931903780850322017-09-01T14:58:00.000+01:002017-09-01T15:00:02.713+01:00First Enterprise to manage Midlands Engine Small Business Loans in the East Midlands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZE1Rf9XGHGLhyphenhyphenneiluWtbQFW75INRQIpYeMxKtX5fraB42V_nqba3gJ5M2j-W6WxdMal69g7xVqnDit-rAQR8KjnYeTmvRwjAi54kH-I_2sFfPplwDlu8rjSDRb5pELNAB5UsOxZTiI/s1600/First_enterprise.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="653" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZE1Rf9XGHGLhyphenhyphenneiluWtbQFW75INRQIpYeMxKtX5fraB42V_nqba3gJ5M2j-W6WxdMal69g7xVqnDit-rAQR8KjnYeTmvRwjAi54kH-I_2sFfPplwDlu8rjSDRb5pELNAB5UsOxZTiI/s320/First_enterprise.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
<br />
On 29 Aug 2017, I reported the launch of the <a href="http://meif.co.uk/" target="_blank">Midlands Engine Investment Fund</a> and the publication of <i><a href="http://british-business-bank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MEIF-Spotlight-ReportWEB.pdf" target="_blank">Spotlight: The Midlands Engine Investment Fund</a>. </i>On Wednesday, fund managers for small business lending were appointed in the East and West Midlands. <a href="http://www.first-enterprise.co.uk/" target="_blank">First Enterprise Business Agency</a> was appointed for the East Midlands and <a href="http://bcrs.org.uk/" target="_blank">BCRS Business Loans</a> for the West.<br />
<br />
A small business loan is one between £25,000 and £150,000. Loans of between £100,000 and £1.5 million are available through the <a href="http://c5780444.myzen.co.uk/funds-available/debt-finance/" target="_blank">Midlands Engine Debt Finance Scheme</a> which is managed by <a href="http://funds.mavencp.com/meifmavendebtfinance/" rel="" target="_blank">Maven Debt Finance.</a> Initial enquiries as to eligibility for a small business loan can be made through the enquiries form on the BCRS website.<br />
<br />
As I said in my report on the launch of the fund:<br />
<blockquote>
"Anyone seeking any kind of funding under the MEIF or any other scheme will be expected to have planned, protected and leveraged its investment in <a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/branding.html" target="_blank">branding,</a> <a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">design</a>,<a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/technology.html" target="_blank"> technology</a> and <a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/arts-and-literature.html" target="_blank">creative output</a> and that's where I come in. If you don't already have an <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/intellectual-property-strategy_18.html" target="_blank">IP strategy</a> give me a call 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>.<br />
<br />
I can help you identify your <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-are-intellectual-assets.html" target="_blank">intellectual assets</a> and suggest the best ways of protecting them having regard to your business objectives and available resources. If you already have a patent or trade mark attorney, solicitor or other professional advisers I can work with them. If not, I can put you in touch with some of my contacts and help you choose and instruct the ones you like best. I can incidentally also put you in touch with many other professionals such as product design consultants and IP insurers and introduce you to your nearest Business and IP Centre or Patent Information Unit where you can get more advice and assistance either free of charge or at a very modest cost."</blockquote>
Further information on IP strategy can be obtained on my <i><a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/intellectual-property-strategy_18.html" target="_blank">What is Intellectual Property Strategy? </a></i>resource page and further information on the Midlands Engine on my <a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-midlands-engine.html" target="_blank">Midlands Engine resource page</a>.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-11695983372504324742017-08-29T15:25:00.001+01:002017-09-01T14:36:05.986+01:00British Business Bank launches the First Tranche of the Midlands Engine Investment Fund<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV27P7fDace03CYntQOFidbgrjEx8AmmxIusH45vvxZ-kL5IO3u9SflBmXerKFxMtSEs8Rj1cLxu1NTmSVxq-3uE0tUdZP3cg2YNcZpuxWV99U0K8gCIvMy0GdUMWwuP23MIVHSeIylMoW/s400/220px-EnglandGovernmentMidlands.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV27P7fDace03CYntQOFidbgrjEx8AmmxIusH45vvxZ-kL5IO3u9SflBmXerKFxMtSEs8Rj1cLxu1NTmSVxq-3uE0tUdZP3cg2YNcZpuxWV99U0K8gCIvMy0GdUMWwuP23MIVHSeIylMoW/s400/220px-EnglandGovernmentMidlands.png" width="324" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Midlands<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.56px; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Author<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Morwen" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> </a></b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Morwen" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Morwen (Abigail Brady)</a></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10.56px; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Licence </b>Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 Unported<br /><b>Source </b>Wikipedia</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.meif.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Midlands Engine Investment Fund (<b>"MEIF"</b>)</a> is a joint initiative between the government owned <a href="http://british-business-bank.co.uk/" target="_blank">British Business Bank</a> and a number of local enterprise partnerships ("LEPs") in the East and West Midlands. The participating LEPs from the East Midlands are the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (D2N2) Greater Lincolnshire, Leicester and Leicestershire, and South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnerships. The Bank hopes to make £250 million available to small and medium enterprises ("<b>SME"</b>) in the Midlands Engine area through debt finance, small business loans, proof of concept and equity finance funds in amounts ranging from £25,000 to £2 million.<br />
<br />
Today the Bank announced the launch of its £150 million debt finance funding scheme which is the first tranche of the £250 million (see the British Business Bank's press release <a href="http://british-business-bank.co.uk/british-business-bank-launches-first-120m-tranche-midlands-engine-investment-fund/" target="_blank"><i>British Business Bank launches first £120 tranche of Midlands Engine Investment Fund</i> </a>29 Aug 2017). Also today, the Bank published <i><a href="http://british-business-bank.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/MEIF-Spotlight-ReportWEB.pdf" target="_blank">Spotlight: The Midlands Engine Investment Fund</a> </i>which surveys the Midlands Engine area economic and funding landscape.<br />
<br />
Anyone seeking any kind of funding under the MEIF or any other scheme will be expected to have planned, protected and leveraged its investment in <a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/branding.html" target="_blank">branding,</a> <a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html" target="_blank">design</a>,<a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/technology.html" target="_blank"> technology</a> and <a href="https://nipcnews.blogspot.co.uk/p/arts-and-literature.html" target="_blank">creative output</a> and that's where I come in. If you don't already have an <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/intellectual-property-strategy_18.html" target="_blank">IP strategy</a> give me a call 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>.<br />
<br />
I can help you identify your <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/what-are-intellectual-assets.html" target="_blank">intellectual assets</a> and suggest the best ways of protecting them having regard to your business objectives and available resources. If you already have a patent or trade mark attorney, solicitor or other professional advisers I can work with them. If not, I can put you in touch with some of my contacts and help you choose and instruct the ones you like best. I can incidentally also put you in touch with many other professionals such as product design consultants and IP insurers and introduce you to your nearest Business and IP Centre or Patent Information Unit where you can get more advice and assistance either free of charge or at a very modest cost.<br />
<br />
For more information on the Midlands Engine, visit my <a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-midlands-engine.html" target="_blank">Midlands Engine resource page</a>.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-77892128120838627462017-08-09T18:55:00.000+01:002017-08-09T19:55:03.591+01:00Midlands Engine Trade Missions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtpwXMxl5iQSxI7dYAnUZozEw9KkSeuhjwK-DCFeCv7fwrLvwKftb3hjT4cZpVccG3UQTQPERhgGEH-Jha8b1gWLMq-FVgcJykxyKZc0U_7sRighPa1PibSTZ2fWHMosEWOqonHNJn4Y/s320/Midlands-Engine-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="120" data-original-width="320" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtpwXMxl5iQSxI7dYAnUZozEw9KkSeuhjwK-DCFeCv7fwrLvwKftb3hjT4cZpVccG3UQTQPERhgGEH-Jha8b1gWLMq-FVgcJykxyKZc0U_7sRighPa1PibSTZ2fWHMosEWOqonHNJn4Y/s400/Midlands-Engine-Logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
<br />
Earlier today I blogged about Northern Powerhouse branded trade missions in <a href="http://ipnorthwest.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/powerhouse-trade-missions.html" target="_blank">IP Northwest </a>and <a href="http://ipyorkshire.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/trade-missions-from-yorkshire-to-china.html" target="_blank">IP Yorkshire</a>. I wondered whether there was anything similar for the <a href="https://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/p/the-midlands-engine.html" target="_blank">Midlands Engine</a>. It turns out that there is a <a href="https://www.events.trade.gov.uk/event-campaign/the-midlands-engine/" target="_blank">Midlands Engine campaign page</a> and that six trips have been arranged.<br />
<br />
The destinations are as follows:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.nynow.com/" target="_blank">NY Now show</a> in New York between 19 and 22 Aug 2017;</li>
<li><a href="http://www.trakofair.com/" target="_blank">The Trako 2017 12th international railway fair </a>at Gdansk between 26 and 29 Sept 2017;</li>
<li><a href="http://www.anuga.com/" target="_blank">Anuga 2017 food fair</a> in Cologne between 7 and 11 Oct 2017;</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ciif-expo.com/en/" target="_blank">China International Industry Fair </a>at Shanghai between 7 and 11 Nov 2017;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.arabhealthonline.com/en/Home.html" target="_blank">Arab Health 2018</a> exhibition in Dubai between 29 Jan and 1 Feb 2018; and</li>
<li><a href="https://www.expocheck.com/en/expos/7396-auto-expo-components-components-show" target="_blank">Auto Expo Components Show</a> in New Delhi between 8 and 11 Feb 2018.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Places on all those missions can be booked through the <a href="https://www.events.trade.gov.uk/event-campaign/the-midlands-engine/" target="_blank">DIT's Midlands Engine campaign page</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
If you go on any of those missions, take care not to disclose anything that you might wish to patent, register as a design or otherwise keep under wraps except in confidence (see <i><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page_5.html" target="_blank">Duty of Confidence</a>). </i>Remember that there is a year's grace period for design registration (see <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/registered-designs.html" target="_blank">R<i>egistered Designs</i> </a>and <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/registered-community-design.html" target="_blank"><i>Registered Community Designs</i></a>). Don't forget the international exhibition exception provided by s.2 (4) (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>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Make sure that any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement is to be construed and enforced in accordance with English law. We are harmonizing our trade secret law with the laws of the other EU member states by implementing the Trade Secrets Directive but we are not there yet (see<i> </i><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/the-trade-secrets-directive.html" target="_blank"><i>The Trade Secrets Directive</i></a> 7 July 2016 NIPC Law).<br />
<br />
You must also be aware of the ease with which it is possible for IPR owners to get without notice injunctions just before international exhibitions in some countries (see the penultimate paragraph of<i> <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/pre-action-correspondence-what-to-do-if.html">Pre-Action Correspondence: What to do if you get a Stroppy Letter ....... or worse</a> </i>4 Aug 2017 NIPC Law). You should also take a look at the arbitration schemes that exist in Italy and Switzerland (see my article <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2017/06/resolving-ip-disputes-at-trade-fairs.html"><i>Resolving IP Disputes at Trade Fairs</i></a><i> </i>1 June 2017).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Should anybody wish to discuss any of these matters, call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or send me a message on my <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.com/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank">contact form</a>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Further Reading</b><br />
<br />
The Midlands Engine</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-69183039547034958162017-08-05T09:51:00.004+01:002017-08-05T09:51:26.200+01:00Nottingham's FinTech Accelerator<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKlX7JLWKyZC2tC4KFVLPJkRwrtwxB0lw1EjCAWTiib9hJmCfAJ5QbZvmeLUJLCXs6xnUqIY_HGr42m6qajba4hWWt-8Uj_ifjVCnYOUm-c1idFJpx1_4nvSAFB7hAftGLsWqAj-ZWnc/s1600/cc85b521ab5b23a135a8229954472c01709c3a00.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKlX7JLWKyZC2tC4KFVLPJkRwrtwxB0lw1EjCAWTiib9hJmCfAJ5QbZvmeLUJLCXs6xnUqIY_HGr42m6qajba4hWWt-8Uj_ifjVCnYOUm-c1idFJpx1_4nvSAFB7hAftGLsWqAj-ZWnc/s320/cc85b521ab5b23a135a8229954472c01709c3a00.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Source </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
In a speech on the <a href="https://www.fca.org.uk/news/speeches/fca-regional-fintech-engagement" target="_blank">Financial Conduct Authority's regional FinTech engagement</a> which he delivered at the Leeds Digital Festival on 27 April 2017, Christopher Woolard, Executive Director of Strategy and Competition at the FCA said that although most of the initial development work on <a class="" href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/fintech-glossary.html" target="_blank">fintech</a> up to now had taken place in London there was real potential beyond London for a further wave of innovation. He singled out the Leeds-Manchester and the Edinburgh-Glasgow corridors as emerging hubs but failed to mention Nottingham which was the location for one of the first if not the first fintech accelerator outside the capital.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
On 17 May 2016, the British subsidiary of the US consumer finance company, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_One" target="_blank">Capital One</a>, in collaboration with <a href="https://lmarks.com/" target="_blank">L Marks Ltd, </a>announced the <a href="http://www.capitalonegrowthlabs.co.uk/news/" target="_blank">Capital One Growth Labs</a>. That was a 10-week accelerator programme for up to 6 early-stage start-up and high-growth companies. The successful companies were offered direct access to Capital One's software engineering department at its Nottingham head office. That provided an opportunity to refine and test their products as well as to receive close mentor support from experts from the company and the wider tech industry. While they were in Nottingham they were also offered a series of workshops and talks on branding, business development, law and marketing, At the end of the programme they were to be offered opportunities to present their products and bid for investment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Applications were sought in the following categories:</div>
<ul>
<li>Unstructured data insight</li>
<li>Security and fraud prevention</li>
<li>Money management tools</li>
<li>Enabling healthy financial habits</li>
<li>Agent technologies</li>
<li>Open category.</li>
</ul>
<div>
The open category was available to any startup with a potential offering to Capital One such as payment solutions, tracking, new lines of business or a physical/digital bridge. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Applications in writing were requested by 12 June 2016. Capital One and L Marks invited 19 businesses to Nottingham to pitch for the 6 places to a panel of Capital One's senior managers and outside experts on 6 July 2016. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In an <a href="http://www.capitalonegrowthlabs.co.uk/news/" target="_blank">announcement dated 19 July 2016,</a> Capital One said that it had chosen the following 5 companies to take part in the accelerator:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="https://blog.creditkudos.com/" target="_blank">Credit Kudos</a> </b>of London which had developed a method of credit scoring based on the customer's financial history presented by Credit Kudos's co-founder, Freddy Kelly, n <i><a href="http://www.capitalonecareers.co.uk/articles/simple-fair-accessible-credit" target="_blank">Simple Fair and Accessible Credit</a> </i>which appeared on Capital One's website on 25 Aug 2016;</li>
<li><b><a href="http://multisense.nl/" target="_blank">Multisense</a>, </b>a Dutch company which had developed a mobile authentication system using face, voice and fingerprint recognition;</li>
<li><b><a href="https://pariti.com/" target="_blank">Pariti Technologies Ltd.</a>, </b>another London business which had developed a mobile app to enable users to control their income and expenditure by connecting to all their bank and credit card accounts (see <i><a href="https://pariti.com/how-it-works" target="_blank">How Pariti works</a></i>);</li>
<li><b><a href="https://warwickanalytics.com/" target="_blank">Warwick Analytics</a>, </b>a spin-off from the Univesity of Warwick's computer science department, which had developed automated predictive analytics that can remove the 80% of time data scientists need to organise and process data prior to analysis; and</li>
<li><b><a href="http://www.wealro.com/" target="_blank">WealRo</a>, </b>a mobile app that uses AI technology and machine learning to help users to budget where savings can be made.</li>
</ul>
<div>
I have not yet found any information about what happened on the programme, whether any of the companies found investment or whether Capital One bought any of those products or invested in any of those businesses. I can report that I have visited all the finalists' websites and they all seem to be thriving. I have not found any evidence that indicates that the accelerator has been repeated or that a second cohort will be chosen. There are however other financial institutions in Nottingham and I see that the Nottingham Building Society is investing heavily in fintech (see <i><a href="http://www.fintech.finance/01-news/the-nottingham-announces-major-investment-in-new-digital-technology/" target="_blank">The Nottingham announces Major Investment in New Digital Technology</a> in Fintech Finance).</i></div>
</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
The inclusion of law in the programme of talks and workshops for the Capital One accelerator, As I said in my <a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/fintech.html" target="_blank">FinTech introduction and overview</a>, I see three potential legal issues with any fintech project:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>data protection and privacy particularly with the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation next May;</li>
<li>intellectual property; and</li>
<li>regulatory issues.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Data protection and privacy will be particularly important for all companies' products, particularly Credit Kudon which collects data on and evaluates data subjects' credit scores. As for regulation, I refer each of the British companies to the <a href="https://www.fca.org.uk/firms/regulatory-sandbox" target="_blank">FCA's regulatory sandbox</a> if an in so as they are not already aware of it.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Should anyone need amplification or clarification of any point in this article, 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>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Further Reading</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-cc81cc40-b196-292b-ab03-71a6952d46e5"><div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="93"></col><col width="93"></col><col width="291"></col><col width="125"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="background-color: #6aa84f; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Date</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #6aa84f; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #6aa84f; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Title</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #6aa84f; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Publication</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">03 Aug 2017</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jane Lambert</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/fintech.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FinTech</span></a></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NIPC Law</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">03 Aug 2017</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jane Lambert</span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/fintech-glossary.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FinTech Glossary</span></a></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 1pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 1pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NIPC Law</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #38761d;">27 Apr 2017</span></span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Jane Lambert</span></span></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="https://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/protecting-fintech-innovation.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Protecting FinTech Innovation</span></span></a></div>
</td><td style="background-color: #d9ead3; border-bottom: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-left: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-right: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; border-top: solid #ffffff 0.9907650000000001pt; padding: 5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.44; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #38761d;">NIPC Law</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</span></div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-47459573332969535082017-06-23T20:32:00.000+01:002017-06-23T21:12:55.713+01:00Brantano - IP and Insolvency<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CVV5f4gbkf3Yq3_ktreeydte0nPrWN6iZ0bPDCt0YZbKARiNOzsweBYzSftsd4vZOy0PWxvazmsiSyG8YjSkvmvcpwQqP2nfdCzb7T4slOjQa7rFuFBoS6IVGqZxPGyt2ZbeVjK2UO4/s1600/shoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="578" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CVV5f4gbkf3Yq3_ktreeydte0nPrWN6iZ0bPDCt0YZbKARiNOzsweBYzSftsd4vZOy0PWxvazmsiSyG8YjSkvmvcpwQqP2nfdCzb7T4slOjQa7rFuFBoS6IVGqZxPGyt2ZbeVjK2UO4/s320/shoe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Court Shoe<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Author <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Almighty1" target="_blank">Almighty1</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Reproduction licensed by the author</span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Source </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoe" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
<br />
An interesting headline in the East Midlands section of The Business Desk website that caught my eye was <i><a href="http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/eastmidlands/news/2003437-brantano-ip-assets-sale" target="_blank">Brantano IP assets up for sale</a> </i>22 June 2017. The article stated that:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Administrators of Brantano, the stricken Leicestershire shoe firm, are selling off the firm’s brand and intellectual property assets via Metis Partners."</blockquote>
<a href="http://metispartners.com/2017/06/15/brantano-ip-asset-sale/" target="_blank">Metis Partners </a>describes itself as "a multi-disciplinary IP firm with a proven track record in the assessment, exploitation, monetisation, valuation and sale of intellectual property assets (“IP assets”)". Part of its business is the sale of <a href="http://metispartners.com/ip-services/intellectual-property-corporate-recovery/ip-asset-sales/" target="_blank">intellectual property</a> rights of troubled businesses. The firm keeps a blog called <i>"The Musings of Metis" </i>with some interesting articles on this topic including <i><a href="http://metispartners.com/2013/08/23/insolvency-and-the-hidden-brand-benefit/" target="_blank">Insolvency and the Hidden Brand Benefit</a> </i>23 Aug 2013 and the <i><a href="http://metispartners.com/category/michelle-korman/" target="_blank">Hidden Treasure of IP After Insolvency</a> </i>28 June 2016 by Michelle Korman and <i><a href="http://metispartners.com/2017/01/31/negotiation/" target="_blank">Negotiation</a> </i>31 Jan 2015 by Morven Fraser.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
I found <a href="http://metispartners.com/2017/06/15/brantano-ip-asset-sale/" target="_blank">the following announcement</a> on Meris' website:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Tony Barrell and Mike Jervis of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Joint Administrators of Brantano Retail Limited (in Administration) (“Brantano” or the “Company”), have appointed Metis Partners to support the marketing and sale of the intellectual property (“IP”) assets relating to the Company."</blockquote>
These include:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>"Goodwill Rights in the Brantano Corporate and Product Brands</li>
<li>Rights in the Registered Trade Marks and Unregistered Trade Marks</li>
<li>Rights in Unregistered Designs</li>
<li>Website Content & Domain Name</li>
<li>Software Behind the E-commerce Website."</li>
</ul>
<div>
Anybody thinking of acquiring any of those assets must submit his or her bid by 12:00 on 30 June 2017 which does not leave much time for carrying out searches, risk analyses and asset valuations. If a bid is to be anything more than guesswork a prospective purchaser will need professional advice on the accounting, legal and marketing issues. If a bid is accepted, specialist legal and other professional advice will also be required in the negotiation and drafting of the assignments and other agreements.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyone requiring amplification or clarification of any of those points 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></div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-32061034274373690662016-04-28T15:40:00.003+01:002016-04-28T15:45:52.997+01:00Why Every Business Owner in the East Midlands Needs to Know Something about IP<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/7/79/Lincoln_imp.jpg/200px-Lincoln_imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img adlesse_been_here="true" border="0" height="347" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Lincoln_imp.jpg/200px-Lincoln_imp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">IP can make more trouble than the Lincoln imp (see <i><a href="http://www.visitlincoln.com/lincoln-cathedral/the-lincoln-imp/" target="_blank">The Legend </a></i>Visit Lincoln)</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Author </b>Hongking</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Source </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Imp" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Reproduction licensed by the author</span></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jane Lambert</span></a><br />
<br />
For the last twenty years I and countless others have been telling business owners in this region the positive case for learning about <i>intellectual property</i> (<b>"IP"</b>). There is a very powerful one. It can help businesses to establish themselves in a market by shielding them from competition. That is because the bundle of laws that we refer to as IP grants those who devise new products or processes monopolies of their inventions known as <i>patents </i>and a right to those who compose music or create games to prevent others from broadcasting, performing, publishing or otherwise exploiting their work known as <i>copyright.</i><br />
<br />
Too often my presentations in this vein are met with polite applause and the occasional question or discussion after the talk which probably explains why the UK, the country of Newton, Faraday, Watt and the first industrial revolution has trailed consistently not just Germany and France with similar populations and GDP in the number of European patent applications but even the Netherlands with one third of our population and Switzerland with an eighth.<br />
<br />
So now I am going to try a different tack. One of fear. Those same monopolies and exclusive rights that can leverage your company's investment in branding, design, technology and creative output could threaten the very existence of your company and cost you plenty?<br />
<br />
"How so?" you ask.<br />
Well those same IP laws can grant monopolies to your competitors and impose restrictions on what you can make or sell and the name or style under which you carry on business that can be infringed quite inadvertently. If you are found to have infringed someone's IP right you could be injuncted (ordered by the court to do or refrain from doing something on pain of imprisonment for disobedience) and made to pay damages (compensation) or account for and surrender any profits that you have made from your wrongdoing and contribute substantially to the other side's legal fees and other costs. Some IP infringements are also criminal offences so in an extreme case you could be prosecuted and even fined or sent to prison if convicted.<br />
<br />
"I understand that I could get into trouble if I copied someone's product or brand name," you say, "but all our research work, design and branding is done in-house and we are very careful not to copy anyone else's."<br />
Unfortunately, that may not be enough for a monopoly can be infringed quite unintentionally. You may import a product made quite lawfully in China or some other country which falls within the claims of a patent granted by the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/intellectual-property-office" target="_blank">Intellectual Property Office</a> in Newport or the <a href="http://www.epo.org/" target="_blank">European Patent Office</a> in Munich. If you did not know of the patent you should have done because nearly every British and European patent and patent application is published on the <a href="https://worldwide.espacenet.com/" target="_blank">Espacenet</a>, <a href="https://patents.google.com/" target="_blank">Google</a> and other patent databases and all you have to do is look.<br />
<br />
Easier said than done, of course, because patent searching is a skill that takes time to learn but there are plenty of people who will help you including <a href="mailto:bipcleeds@leeds.gov.uk" target="_blank">Ged Doonan</a> of <a href="http://www.leeds.gov.uk/bipcleeds/Pages/Patents-and-trade-mark-searching.aspx" target="_blank">Leeds Business and IP Centre</a> on 0113 247 8266. You should also keep your ear to the ground and keep abreast of the technical literature. <br />
<br />
Patents are not the only monopoly rights of which you should be aware. Businesses that register names and other words or logos as trade marks in relation to specified goods or services have the exclusive right to use their marks in relation to such goods and may sue anyone who used the same or similar sign in relation to the same or similar goods or services. The fact that you not have known of the registration is no defence. You should have made a proper search. If the registration or application would have shown up on a search you have only yourself to blame if you are injuncted and mulcted in damages and costs by the High Court.<br />
<br />
There is also a registration system for designs in the UK and across the EU. Registration gives the person who registered the design "the
exclusive right to use the design and any design which does not produce on
the informed user a different overall impression" in "making, offering, putting on the market, importing, exporting or
using of a product in which the design is incorporated or to which it is
applied" or "stocking such a product for those purposes." It is up to you to check whether the product that you make or sell falls within someone else's design registration. Again, the Leeds Business and IP Centre should be able to help.<br />
<br />
You should review the patent, trade mark or design registers regularly and preferably use a "watch service" (a service that monitors patent, trade mark and registered design applications and warns of any that may may affect their client). Yet again, Ged may be able to help.<br />
<br />
You will probably find that any legal indemnity insurance that you may have taken out specifically excludes intellectual property claims but you can get such cover from specialist brokers such as <a href="http://www.ip-insurance.com/" target="_blank">Sybaris Legal and IP</a> or <a href="http://safeguardip.com/" target="_blank">Safeguard IP</a>.<br />
<br />
There may be grounds upon which you can retaliate. Sometimes it is possible to apply for the revocation of a patent or trade mark or seek the invalidation of a trade mark or design registration either in the IPO or to counterclaim for such relief in any infringement proceedings that may be lunched against you. It is also actionable to threaten patent, trade mark or registered design infringement proceedings without justification.<br />
<br />
So where to get more information about IP? Well the IP, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and the World Intellectual Property Organization has made some useful animations which I discussed in<i><a href="http://4-5ip.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/animated-advice.html" target="_blank"> Animated Advice</a> </i>on 18 March 2016 4-5 IP. The only Business and IP Centre in the East Midlands is Northampton Central Library (see <i><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/northampton-business-and-ip-centre.html" target="_blank">Northampton Business and IP Centre</a> </i>28 July 2015 and there is nothing to stop your consulting the resources in <a href="http://www.libraryofbirmingham.com/article/businessservices/businessandipcentre" target="_blank">Birmingham</a>, <a href="http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=221,674011&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL&p_id=5745" target="_blank">Hull</a> and <a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/sheffield-business-and-ip-centre.html" target="_blank">Sheffield</a>.<br />
<br />
If you think that you may have a problem in relation to someone else's IP rights or you simply want to discuss this article, give me a ring 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> Over the next few months I hold on-line and person to person seminars on this topic around the region in conjunction with local stakeholders. If you are interested in coming do let me know.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-79743566830414025622015-12-07T07:44:00.000+00:002015-12-07T07:49:04.424+00:00The Midlands Engine<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/6/6b/EnglandGovernmentMidlands.png/250px-EnglandGovernmentMidlands.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img adlesse_been_here="true" border="0" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/EnglandGovernmentMidlands.png/250px-EnglandGovernmentMidlands.png" width="324" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Midlands<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Author </b>Morwen</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Source </b>Wikipedia</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Creative Commons Licence</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
<br />
Although <i>The Guardian</i> facetiously described the "Midlands engine" as appearing to be "a leaflet and some money" in <i><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/shortcuts/2015/dec/06/can-the-measly-midlands-engine-turn-the-region-into-a-powerhouse" target="_blank">"Can the measly Midlands Engine turn the region into a powerhouse?"</a> </i>4 Dec 2015 it offers serious opportunities for creative and innovative businesses in the region. <i> </i>Having made a devolution deal with the West Midlands local authorities on 17 Nov 2015 (see <i><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34841438" target="_blank">Elected mayor deal for West Midlands Combined Authority agreed</a> </i>BBC website) the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced substantial investment in transport and the arts in his autumn statement (see<i> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spending-review-and-autumn-statement-2015-documents/spending-review-and-autumn-statement-2015#a-devolution-revolution-1" target="_blank">Spending review and autumn statement 2015</a> </i>27 Nov 2015 and the Business Secretary and the 11 Midlands local enterprise partnerships published the <i><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/482247/midlands-engine-for-growth.pdf" target="_blank">The Midlands Engine for Growth Prospectus</a> </i>on 4 Dec 2015.<br />
<br />
The <i>Prospectus </i>indicated 5 priorities:<br />
<ul>
<li>Trade and investment</li>
<li>Transport</li>
<li>Research and innovation </li>
<li>Business support, and</li>
<li>Skills development.</li>
</ul>
<div>
On research and innovation the <i>Prospectus </i>promises:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The Midlands Engine will drive up business innovation,
improving business productivity and competitiveness. Our
universities and business will work together pan-regionally
to bring forward innovations that support our key sectors
and drive this through the supply chain. We will work with
Government to identify where opportunities exist to further
our innovation activity across the Midlands Engine."</blockquote>
The opportunities mentioned in the <i>Prospectus </i>include<br />
<ul>
<li>Manufacturing, Engineering and Transport Technologies</li>
<li>Agri-food and drink manufacturing and production</li>
<li>Healthcare</li>
<li>Energy and low carbon technologies, and</li>
<li>Creative, Digital and Design industries.</li>
</ul>
<div>
To help finance such research and innovation, the Prospectus proposes "a comprehensive
fund-of-funds:"</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"To support business growth and survival, Midlands Engine partners will develop a £180 million region-wide fund-offunds utilising the <a href="http://www.eif.org/what_we_do/resources/jeremie/index.htm?lang=-en" target="_blank">EU Joint European Resource for Micro to Medium Enterprises (JEREMIE) programme</a>. This fund will combine <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/management-of-the-european-regional-development-fund" target="_blank">ERDF funding</a> with matched lending from the <a href="http://www.eib.org/" target="_blank">European Investment Bank (EIB)</a> and legacy returns from previous programmes. This will establish a comprehensive range of sub-funds designed to support the SME growth ambitions of the region. The funds will deliver access to finance solutions on a scale and ambition that has until now been unknown in the Midlands Engine region."</blockquote>
I shall support those initiatives by providing advice on intellectual property, joint ventures, licensing and technology law through clinics. workshops and one to one consultations and representation in negotiations, mediation, the courts and Intellectual Property Office. Anyone who wishes to discuss this article or <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/chancellor-the-midlands-should-be-britains-engine-for-growth" target="_blank">the Midlands Engine</a> generally should call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or contact me through this <a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.eu/forms/contact-clerks/" target="_blank">form</a>.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-83852446493905638622015-08-31T19:59:00.000+01:002015-08-31T19:59:20.891+01:00Intellectual Property and the Footwear and Textile Industries<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/2/22/Broadway_from_the_east_-_geograph.org.uk_-_477827.jpg/170px-Broadway_from_the_east_-_geograph.org.uk_-_477827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Broadway_from_the_east_-_geograph.org.uk_-_477827.jpg/170px-Broadway_from_the_east_-_geograph.org.uk_-_477827.jpg" width="279" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nottingham Lace Market<br /><div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Author </b>Allan Murray-Rust</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Source </b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lace_Market" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
Creative Commons Licence</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
<br />
<br />
According to the <a href="http://www.emtex.org.uk/index.asp" target="_blank">East Midlands Textile Association (<b>"Emtex"</b>)</a> the East Midlands has the highest concentration of clothing and textile companies in the UK. Nottingham lace, Leicester knitwear, Northampton shoes have an enormous international reputation founded on branding, craftsmanship and design.<br />
<br />
These intellectual assets that are protected by registered trade marks, registered designs and other intellectual property laws and on the 10 Sept and 7 Oct 2915 I shall explore such legal protection in a seminar for <a href="http://www.mblseminars.com/AboutUs" target="_blank">MBL</a> entitled <i><a href="http://www.mblseminars.com/Outline?ProgID=6904&Type=Seminar&RemovePracticeArea=True&RemovePSC=True" target="_blank">Intellectual Property and the Fashion Industry</a>. </i>In this seminar I will cover the following topics:<br />
<ul>
<li>What sort of IP protection does my employer or client require for his business and where?</li>
<li>What provisions should I insert in my employer or client's licence or manufacturing agreement?</li>
<li>What should I do if I find copies or lookalikes of my products in competitors' shops?</li>
<li>What's Hot? The implementation of s.74 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 - <i>John Kaldor v Lee Ann/Specsavers vASDA/Thomas Pink v Victoria's Secrets</i></li>
<li>IP basics; terminology, intellectual assets (brands, designs, technology and works of art and literature), intellectual property (trade marks, registered designs and unregistered design rights, patents, trade marks, law of confidence and action for passing off), institutions (Intellectual Property Office, Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, European Patent Office, World Intellectual Property Organization), Sources of law (treaties and conventions (TRIPs, Paris and Berne), EU legislation, statutes), enforcement. remedies, licensing</li>
<li>Advising the designer: types of design, aesthetic design, functional design, design registration and equivalent regimes, TRIPS, Paris and Rome Conventions, Designs Directive, Community Design Regulation, Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Registered Designs Act 1949, licensing, enforcement</li>
<li>Advising the manufacturer; patents, trade marks, designs, licensing, cabbage, summary of laws in China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Thailand and Turkey</li>
<li>Advising the retailer: trade marks, passing off, searches, agreements with designers and manufacturers</li>
<li>Dispute resolution: High Court, Patent Court, IPEC (multi track and small claims), IPO examiners' opinions, appointed person</li>
<li>IP strategy: identifying appropriate rights for particular jurisdictions, selecting and instructing foreign attorneys, watch services.</li>
</ul>
<div>
My seminar in London will take place on 10 Sept 2015 and my seminar in Leeds on 7 Oct 2015. Both will start at 09:30 and end at 17:15 and will earn 6 hours CPD. The standard cost is £480 but there will discounts for season ticket and smart plan subscribers. Register <a href="http://www.mblseminars.com/Outline?progid=6904" 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-3782708035278187559.post-39915089996458359432015-07-28T12:35:00.000+01:002015-07-28T12:49:02.915+01:00Northampton Business and IP Centre <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/0/00/2009_3962573662_card_catalog.jpg/600px-2009_3962573662_card_catalog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/2009_3962573662_card_catalog.jpg/600px-2009_3962573662_card_catalog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.5600004196167px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Library card index</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;">
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In <i><a href="http://nipcinvention.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/enterprising-libraries.html" target="_blank">Enterprising Licences</a> </i>25 July 2915 NIPC Inventors Club I mentioned that Northamptonshire had received funding from the Arts Council to develop a Business & IP Centre at Northampton. I had noted that <a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/northamptonshire-central-library-joins.html" target="_blank">Northampton Central Library had joined the PatLib Network</a> on 29 Jan 2015 so I checked the County Council's website to see whether there had been any change since then.<br />
<br />
There has in fact been a <a href="http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/Environ/economic/Pages/business-support-events.aspx" target="_blank">workshop on intellectual property basics </a>on 22 July 2015. Also, intellectual property advice sessions are available on the 1st and 3rd Thursday mornings of the month at <a href="http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/Leisure/libraries/visit-your-library/ListLibraries/Pages/Northamptonshire-Central-Library.aspx" target="_blank">Northampton Central Library</a> and on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday afternoons of the month at <a href="http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/Leisure/libraries/visit-your-library/ListLibraries/Pages/Wellingborough-Library.aspx" target="_blank">Wellingborough Library</a>. Anyone wanting to book a slot at one of those sessions should email <a href="mailto:answersplus@northamptonshire.gov.uk">answersplus@northamptonshire.gov.uk</a> or call 01604 361447. <br />
<br />
There is also an organization called <a href="http://www.creativenorthants.co.uk/Aboutus.aspx" target="_blank">Creative Northamptonshire</a> which offers one-to-one advice services to businesses in the creative sector and publishes a newsletter from time to time.<br />
<br />
Although it is not connected directly to the Business and IP Centre, Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce will hold a <a href="http://www.northants-chamber.co.uk/events/business-exhibition" target="_blank">business exhibition and lunch</a> on 11 Sept 2015 at the Park Inn Northampton, Silver Street, Northampton NN1 2TA.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-57122564826108894202015-03-03T08:19:00.000+00:002015-03-03T09:02:36.177+00:00So maybe Grantham really is interested in IP 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://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2015/256(image3).png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2015/256(image3).png" height="400" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Rabbit food produced by Henry Bell of<br />
Granthan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
<br />
Last September I tried to run a seminar on IP law as part of the Gravity Fields science and arts festival. To promote the seminar I wrote <i><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/what-has-intellectual-property-got-to.html" target="_blank">What has intellectual property got to do with Grantham?</a> </i>4 Sept 2015 and an introduction to patent law as a <a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/so-whats-patent.html" target="_blank">Socratic dialogue in <i>The Beehive</i> pub</a>. Try as I might I just couldn't raise any interest in IP and I had to cancel the seminar.<br />
<br />
But a case that came before Mr Justice Arnold a few weeks ago shows that that there is at least one Grantham business that is interested in IP for it has contributed to the development of trade mark law. In <a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2015/256.html#para1" target="_blank"><i>Supreme Petfoods Ltd v Henry Bell & Co (Grantham) Ltd</i> </a>[2015] EWHC 256 (Ch) (12 Feb 2015) the Grantham pet food producer <a href="http://www.henry-bell.co.uk/" target="_blank">Henry Ball & Co.</a> successfully resisted a claim by Ipswich based <a href="http://www.supremepetfoods.com/" target="_blank">Supreme Petfoods Ltd</a>. for trade infringement and passing off. It is a very long, and unless you are a trade mark geek, difficult to follow, judgment but I have analysed it in my case note <i><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/trade-marks-and-passing-off-supreme.html" target="_blank">Trade Marks and Passing Off: Supreme Petfoods Ltd v Henry Bell & Co (Grantham) Ltd</a>. </i>28 Feb 2915 which appears in my NIPC Law blog.<br />
<br />
Basically, Supreme Petfoods objected to the packaging of Henry Ball's products because they had registered the word SUPREME as a word mark and various signs that incorporated the word SUPREME as device marks for various types of animals food. The judge characterized their claim as an attempt "to monopolise use of the word SUPREME as a trade mark for animal food." He didn't let them do it. He invalidated several of Supreme Petfoods' registrations except for small animal foods and held that Henry Ball did not infringe the trade marks that remained.<br />
<br />
This is an important case for several reasons.<br />
<br />
First, Mr Justice Arnold stressed that EU and hence UK trade mark law must be consistent with an annexe to the agreement that established the World Trade Organization called TRIPS (The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) wherever possible. That is because it is an international agreement which HM government and the governments of all the other member states of the EU signed with most of the rest of the world's governments and <i>pacta sunt servanda </i>(promises need to be kept).<br />
<br />
Secondly, the judge explored what makes a trade mark distinctive. It can be inherently distinctive simply because of its uniqueness or in the case of common English words like SUPREME it can acquire distinctiveness through making lots of sales and clever marketing. His lordship focussed on acquired distinctiveness.<br />
<br />
Thirdly, the judge laid down six conditions that must be satisfied for a claim under s.10 (1) 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> and art 9 (1) (a) of the <a href="https://oami.europa.eu/tunnel-web/secure/webdav/guest/document_library/contentPdfs/law_and_practice/ctm_legal_basis/ctmr_en.pdf" target="_blank">Community Trade Mark Regulation</a> which he claimed to have been established by a long line of cases in the Court of Justice of the European Union. Though Mr Justice Arnold made no claim as to originality in respect of this analysis I think he is way too modest because I have never seen them anywhere else. In <i><a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2015/17.html" target="_blank">Enterprise Holdings, Inc v Europcar Group UK Ltd and another</a></i> [2015] EWHC 17 (Ch) (13 Jan 2015) which he decided a month earlier he made a similar analysis of the case law for claims under s.10 (2) and (3) of the Act or arts 9 (1) (b) and (c) of the Regulation. When read together <i>Europcar </i>and <i>Supreme </i>set out almost everything you need to know about trade mark law.<br />
<br />
Fourthly, his lordship analysed in detail the last two of the six conditions for a successful suit under s.10 (1) or art 9 (1) (a), namely the use of the defendant's sign<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"(v) .... must be in relation to goods or services which are identical to those for which the trade mark is registered; and<br />
(vi) it must affect, or be liable to affect, one of the functions of the trade mark."</blockquote>
Most of Mr Justice Arnold's judgment was on those two points. He decided them in the defendant's favour at paragraph [165] because<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Henry Bell's use of the sign SUPREME would be understood by the average consumer as being purely descriptive."</blockquote>
In other words Henry Bell's packaging suggested that its food was of supreme quality and not that it came from Supreme Petfoods Ltd.<br />
<br />
Fifthly, he made a very pithy comparison of mark and sign and specified goods and goods in use at paragraph [185] before throwing out the claim under s.10 (2) and art 9 (1) (b).<br />
<br />
Sixthly, he did the same for the claim under s.10 (3) and art 9 (1) (c).<br />
<br />
So this is a great case if you are a litigation solicitor in Lincoln or commercial lawyer in Spalding and your client walks into your office with a trade mark problem. Instead of thinking of learning curves and what they will do to your profits - or worse what patent counsel will do to those profits - you should read this case with my analyses and all will become clear I promise you.<br />
<br />
Now I know this has nothing to do with intellectual property law but I am a ballet nut and the only other person I know who is crazier about ballet than me is called Michelle and she also comes from Linconshire. Your great county, oh <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowbelly_%28Lincolnshire%29" target="_blank">Yellow Bellies</a>, happens to host one of the best little dance companies in England called <a href="http://www.chantrydancecompany.org/" target="_blank">Chantry Dance Company</a> which you really should support with your patronage. Last year they ran a workshop at the Drill Hall in Lincoln. Here is the video of the show that put together with the help of two folks from Yorkshire and two from Coventry. Can you identify the dancer stage right in the second row?<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/94737571" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/94737571">'Dream Dance' workshop</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user16778377">Rae Piper</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
<br />
If you can I will buy you a pint next time we are both in <i>The Beehive</i>.
If you want to discuss Supreme Petfoods and Bell or trade mark law in general give me a ring 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>. Hasta luego amigos.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-6677713645414989452015-01-29T13:00:00.000+00:002015-01-29T13:00:37.596+00:00Northamptonshire Central Library joins the PatLib Network<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/6/60/NorthamptonshireCentralLibrary.jpg/220px-NorthamptonshireCentralLibrary.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/6/60/NorthamptonshireCentralLibrary.jpg/220px-NorthamptonshireCentralLibrary.jpg" height="400" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Northamptonshire Central Library<br /><div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Photo </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northampton" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The PatLib network is a European network of libraries providing information on patents and other intellectual property rights to their local communities. I have written extensively about the PatLib network and you will find basic information and links to my other articles in <i><a href="http://nipcinvention.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/patlib-libraries-in-uk.html" target="_blank">PatLib Libraries in the UK</a> </i>29 Jan 2015 Inventors Club blog, There are 15 PatLib libraries in the UK and <a href="http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/Leisure/libraries/visit-your-library/ListLibraries/Pages/Northamptonshire-Central-Library.aspx" target="_blank">Northamptonshire Central Library</a> is one of the latest to join the network.<br />
<br />
The Library offers a variety of <a href="http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/en/councilservices/Leisure/libraries/library-online/Pages/BandF.aspx" target="_blank">business support and IP services</a> in association with <a href="http://www.northamptonshireep.co.uk/" target="_blank">Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership</a>. These include:<br />
<ul>
<li>information on IP, copies of IPO and EPO literature</li>
<li>enquiry service by appointment</li>
<li>advice on searching</li>
<li>free public access to internet, IP information resources, databases</li>
<li>commissioned IP searches</li>
<li>bespoke training sessions</li>
<li>business information advice sessions</li>
<li>referrals to other advice/service providers</li>
<li>workshops and seminars.</li>
</ul>
<div>
More information about these and other services can be obtained from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/northamptonshireenterprisehub" target="_blank">Northamptonshire Enterprise Hub Facebook page.</a></div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-1444566737936826382015-01-25T04:21:00.000+00:002015-01-25T04:23:05.215+00:00Leicester Business sued for Copyright Infringement: McCormack Training Ltd v Goldmark Training Services Ltd and Another<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvosWpYxyCbAz4YeZijUQ2QmY6gKL7llgejGg0SDrS5_PoUK0_pRNVvMAS-lSDJJV3mrD_h3fkKxTR5ky1CoQDwO8lXAB9rkX1yA5XIbyfyR4uss2xau4Uv8dTK1ofpjU016Fmf14UmM4/s1600/JeLpink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvosWpYxyCbAz4YeZijUQ2QmY6gKL7llgejGg0SDrS5_PoUK0_pRNVvMAS-lSDJJV3mrD_h3fkKxTR5ky1CoQDwO8lXAB9rkX1yA5XIbyfyR4uss2xau4Uv8dTK1ofpjU016Fmf14UmM4/s1600/JeLpink.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In <i><a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/IPEC/2015/B116.html" target="_blank">McCormack Training Ltd v Goldmark Training Services Ltd and Others</a> </i>[2015] EWHC 41 (IPEC) <a href="http://www.mccormacktraining.co.uk/" target="_blank">McCormack Training Ltd</a> of Birmingham sued Goldmark Training Ltd and its director Ruth Goldsworthy (<b>"Mrs Goldsworthy"</b>) of Leicester for copying a training manual used to teach nightclub bouncers and other security personnel how to exert physical restraint. The alleged copy was a manual used by the defendants called the <i>"HZL Hostile and Hazardous Environment Training"</i>. The claimant company was represented by Gateley LLP who instructed Charlotte Scott as counsel. The defendants were represented by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/scott-farnsworth/12/899/727" target="_blank">Mr Scott Farmsworth</a> who appears to have acted as both litigator and advocate.<br />
<br />
The McCormack manual consisted of text and photos of individuals carrying out various physical restraints. The photos had been taken at an hotel in Birmingham in 2009 at the instigation and under the direction of one <i>Andy McCormack </i>(<b>"Mr McCormack"</b>) who was the sole shareholder and director of the claimant company. There was no dispute that copyright subsisted in those photos and that those copyrights had been assigned to McCormack Training Ltd. The defendants claimed to have been licensed by the claimant to use those photos. The text was created after the photos and the parties disputed w hether it was written by Mr McCormack or Mrs Goldsworthy. The claimant company also argued that the combination of words and photos created a dramatic work. Mrs Goldsworthy and Goldmark Trading denied copying and argued that dramatic copyright could not subsist in those works as a matter of law.<br />
<br />
This case turned on its facts but the problem for Judge Hacon who tried the case was that he could not rely on either Mr McCormack or Mrs Goldsworthy and her brother Ian Fox who was also a director of the defendant company. He described Mr McCormack as "a garrulous witness who was often imprecise about dates and other details and was inclined to respond to questions by delivering argument rather than answering the question put to him." He found "Mr Fox and Mrs Goldsworthy were more self-controlled, but equally unsatisfactory as witnesses."<br />
<br />
Relying largely on extrinsic evidence the judge concluded that there was no licence to copy the photos but that Mrs Goldsworthy was the author of the text. As McCormack's could not claim copyright in the text any claim for infringement of dramatic copyright had to refer to the photographs. Because one photograph of a dramatic work in progress could not constitute a record of that work such as to give rise to copyright in it as a dramatic work, copyright could not subsist in any of the sequences. His Honour added at paragraph [90]:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Since one photograph of a physical restraint technique does not record the technique as a dramatic work, a collection of such photographs cannot record a sequence of techniques such as to create copyright in the sequence as an overall dramatic work. Moreover, there was no suggestion that the techniques had to be 'performed' in any fixed sequence. In my view an arbitrary sequence of physical restraint techniques, one possible sequence in many, could not collectively constitute a dramatic work."</blockquote>
The upshot was that the claim succeeded in respect of the photos but failed in respect of the literary and dramatic works.<br />
<br />
The claimant had sought additional damages under s.97 (2) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Referring to his decisions in <i><a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/IPEC/2014/3087.html" target="_blank">Henderson v All Around The World Recordings Limited</a></i> [2014] EWHC 2087 (IPEC) and <i><a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/IPEC/2014/4034.html" target="_blank">DKH Retail Limited v H. Young (Operations) Limited</a></i> [2014] EWHC 4034 (IPEC) which I discussed in <i><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/inquiries-as-to-damages-in-patents.html" target="_blank">Inquiries as to Damages in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court: Henderson v All Around the World Recordings Ltd</a></i>. 6 Nov 2014 NIPC Law and <i><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/what-is-definition-of-design-in-s213-2.html" target="_blank">What is the definition of "design" in s.213 (2) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 following the deletion of "any aspect of" from the sub-section</a> </i>13 Dec 2014 the judge held that additional damages were available only in accordance with art.13 (1) of <a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32004L0048R%2801%29" target="_blank">Directive 2004/48/EC on the enforcement of intellectual property rights.</a> In his judgment none of the circumstances for awarding additional damages applied to this case.<br />
<br />
Should anyone wish to discuss this note or copyright in general he or she should call me on 0115 824 9090 during normal office hours or use 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.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-70642632251537116332014-12-11T11:39:00.001+00:002014-12-11T11:40:58.363+00:00Hinckley company wins copyrights and unregistered Community design action<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Leicestershire_UK_location_map.svg/240px-Leicestershire_UK_location_map.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Leicestershire_UK_location_map.svg/240px-Leicestershire_UK_location_map.svg.png" height="315" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
<br />
Fashion and textiles are an important industry in the East Midlands. According to Wikipedia<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Hinckley is a traditional centre of the hosiery industry. The first framework knitting machine was brought here by Joseph Iliffe in the 17th century and by the 19th century Hinckley was responsible for a large proportion of Britain's hosiery production. Since the Second World War the hosiery industry has steadily shrunk in size although several textile firms remain in the area."</blockquote>
Perhaps because of its connection with fashion and textiles Wikipedia also reports that Hinckley is home to the creative industries with up and coming graphic designers.<br />
<br />
In <i><a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/IPEC/2014/3779.html" target="_blank">John Kaldor Fabricmaker UK Ltd v Lee Ann Fashions Ltd</a></i> [2014] EWHC 3779 (IPEC) (21 Nov 2014) a Hinckley clothing manufacturer successfully resisted a claim for copyright and unregistered Community design infringement by a London design house because it was able to show that its fabrics, though similar to the claimant's, had been designed independently. For those who want to know details of the case I have written the following article <i><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/is-this-copy-john-kaldor-fabricmaker-uk.html" target="_blank">Is this a copy? John Kaldor Fabricmaker UK Ltd v Lee Ann Fashions Ltd</a> </i>11 Dec 2014 NIPC Law.<br />
<br />
There are a couple of important lessons from this case.<br />
<br />
The first is that the claimant would have won had it registered its design as a registered design in the UK under the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/356366/Registered_Designs_Act_1949.pdf" target="_blank">Registered Designs Act 1949</a> or as a registered Community design for the whole UK under the <a href="https://oami.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> as you don't need to prove copying for registered or registered Community design infringement - only that the defendant's design does not produce on an informed user a different overall impression. As there is no examination of for registered or registered Community designs it is a lot cheaper and more straightforward to apply for a design or Community design registration than it is to apply for a patent or even a trade mark. Many businesses do it for themselves. <br />
<br />
The second is that IP litigation is no longer something to be feared as there are now limits to the costs that can be incurred and courts focus on the important issues so that trials are finished within a day.<br />
<br />
If anyone wants to discuss this case or indeed copyright and Community designs in general he or she should call me on 0115 824 9090 or 020 7404 5252 during office hours or use 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-3782708035278187559.post-33928681130355004242014-10-29T23:45:00.001+00:002014-10-29T23:45:08.494+00:00Launch48 Leicester<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<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/4/4d/National_Space_Centre%2C_Leicester.jpg/640px-National_Space_Centre%2C_Leicester.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/4/4d/National_Space_Centre%2C_Leicester.jpg/640px-National_Space_Centre%2C_Leicester.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">National Space Centre, Leicester<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Photo </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester#mediaviewer/File:National_Space_Centre,_Leicester.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/National_Space_Centre%2C_Leicester.jpg/640px-National_Space_Centre%2C_Leicester.jpg" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.llepbizgateway.co.uk/events/launch48-leicester/" target="_blank">Launch48 Leicester</a> is described as "a high energy weekend to pitch, build and launch a start-up in 48 hours". It will take place at <a href="http://www.dockleicester.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dock</a> which is next door to the National Space Centre in Leicester between 18:00 on 21 and 22:00 on 23 Nov 2014. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The programme is offered by<a href="http://oxygenstartups.com/" target="_blank"> Oxygen Enterprise Partners Ltd</a> ("Oxygen") in conjunction with the <a href="http://www.llep.org.uk/" target="_blank">Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership</a>. Oxygen delivers a series of programmes that invest in, support and bring to life early stage and growth businesses. In this <a href="https://vimeo.com/52943854" target="_blank">video</a> Oxygen explains what happens in during these weekends. At a cost of £39.95 (or £29.95 if you are a student) it seems very good value. <br />
<br />
If you want to attend this event here is the link to <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leicester-launch48-weekend-november-2014-tickets-10764610239" target="_blank">Oxygen's Eventbrite page</a>.</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-49243972493073601842014-09-12T09:08:00.000+01:002014-09-12T09:08:03.685+01:00Design Basics<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<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/AVvXsEjfs4Ju0X3jHMNY4Mg9o_11gFKUASF_bdMyMy3jCdUBwcJwc7YJgmiwCXiD-c3cRRz__P_FcvwketRzr-CknWUqmxWn_xQGv_dTt2VQAf36jlPYbbO7hcW7WrsPVTW-EWCkgFjnlBscIt8/s1600/20140706_112052+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs4Ju0X3jHMNY4Mg9o_11gFKUASF_bdMyMy3jCdUBwcJwc7YJgmiwCXiD-c3cRRz__P_FcvwketRzr-CknWUqmxWn_xQGv_dTt2VQAf36jlPYbbO7hcW7WrsPVTW-EWCkgFjnlBscIt8/s1600/20140706_112052+(1).jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We use the noun <i>design </i>in two senses. We talk of "designer jeans" but also of "engineering design" and architecture. We even talk about designing services. The one relates to appearance and the other to function. There is of course overlap. A well engineered bridge or the aerodynamic lines of an aircraft or sports car are usually things of beauty.<br />
<br />
The law draws a similar distinction. The "appearance of the whole or a part of a product resulting from the features of, in particular, the lines, contours, colours, shape, texture and/or materials of the product itself and/or its ornamentation" can be registered with the <a href="https://oami.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/home" target="_blank">Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (<b>"OHIM"</b>)</a> or the <a href="http://www.ipo.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Intellectual Property Office (<b>"IPO"</b>)</a> as<i> registered Community designs</i> (<b>"RCD"</b>) for the whole of the EU or as <i>registered designs</i> for the UK alone so long as they are <i>new</i> and have <i>individual character</i>. Registration of a design confers the exclusive right to use it and to prevent any third party not having his consent from using it" in the territory for which it is registered. That includes "in particular, the making, offering, putting on the market, importing, exporting or using of a product in which the design is incorporated or to which it is applied, or stocking such a product for those purposes." Designs are registered for 5 renewable terms of 5 years each making a total of 25 years. This regime is suitable for items with a long production run such as kitchen equipment and furniture where a product's appearance is important.<br />
<br />
There are of course goods like toys and clothing with a much shorter shelf life where a 25 year or even a 5 year term is quite unnecessary. For the design of such items there is automatic protection against copying for up to 3 years throughout the EU from the date on which the design was first made available to the public as <i>unregistered Community designs</i> (<b>"UCD"</b>).<br />
<br />
Functional designs are protected in the UK by an intellectual property right that is almost unique to this country known as <i>unregistered design right. </i>Right<i> </i>now <i>design</i> is defined as "the design of any aspect of the shape or configuration (whether internal or external) of the whole or part of an article" but that definition is to change from 1 Oct 2014 to "the design of ...... the shape or configuration (whether internal or external) of the whole or part of an article". The important point is that the design does not have to look good (though of course it can) and protection extends to the mechanical parts or circuitry of the article as well as its external shape. The design does not have to be new or have individual character and design right comes into being automatically just as soon as the design is embodies in a prototype or recorded in a drawing or CAD file but the design does have to be <i>original</i> in the sense that it was not copied from an earlier design and was not commonplace in the design field in question at the time of creation. Design right protects not the design concept or technology as such but a particular shape or configuration from copying. It is at least theoretically possible for two people to come up with the same design in which design right subsists so long as neither copies the design f the other. Design right lasts for up to 10 years after products made to the design are placed on the market but for the last 5 years of the term anyone can apply to the design right owner for a licence to make products to the design as of right.<br />
<br />
Design right does not cover every aspect of the design of a product and in particular it does not protect "surface decoration". For wall paper, fabrics and other two-dimensional designs designers rely on indirect protection under the law of copyright. Essentially the art work for the design is treated as an artistic work in which copyright subsists for the life of the author plus 70 years and making copies of the design is essentially making copies of the artwork.<br />
<br />
At present actions to restrain or recover compensation for infringements of a registered design or RCD in England and Wales have to be brought in the Patents Court or the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (<b>"IPEC"</b>) which are part of the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice. Claims for UCD, unregistered design right or copyright infringement can be brought in IPEC or any other judge of the Chancery Division or in certain county courts where there is a Chancery district registry of which there are none in the East Midlands. From the 1 Oct 2014 it will be a crime intentionally to copy a registered design or RCD so as to make a product exactly to the design or with features that differ only in immaterial details to the registered design.<br />
<br />
Design law is a very complex area of the law but it affects a lot of businesses in the fashion, furniture, household goods, pottery and related industries. If you want to understand it better you should come to our <a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/our-contribution-to-granthams-gravity.html" target="_blank">workshop on IP </a>at Grantham College on 26 Sept 2014 at 14:00. We shall also discuss the laws that protect innovation in branding, technology and works or art and literature. After the talks you can have free one-to-one discussions with our speakers. I look forward to meeting you there.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-83481224332405945942014-09-10T09:14:00.001+01:002014-09-12T07:46:20.437+01:00Copyright Basics<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VjdvouopHMAju9j5i6sz_ajdHUTKdVoTfUUWXlfteHnYmoHSWzMolYr64gV51Y6yE9fklYlP2ZaSei0uT6axeVcXrUf9RgLgVQ4fWBfN5lUlc4RNfcnHbhu7XIRhhdzF2W8cCPJbLbc/s1600/JeLpink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VjdvouopHMAju9j5i6sz_ajdHUTKdVoTfUUWXlfteHnYmoHSWzMolYr64gV51Y6yE9fklYlP2ZaSei0uT6axeVcXrUf9RgLgVQ4fWBfN5lUlc4RNfcnHbhu7XIRhhdzF2W8cCPJbLbc/s1600/JeLpink.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Almost everybody has a copyright in something. It is most likely to be a letter but it could be also an app, article, blog, dance routine, drawing, essay, musical composition, painting, photo, poem, recording of a song, unpublished first novel or amateur video. The person who made such work is known as "the author" and he or she has the right to prevent others from copying that work, publishing, renting, lending, communicating it to, or performing it in, public, translating or otherwise adapting it for a very long time. In the case of some of those categories of works for the rest of the author's life plus 70 years. If others want to copy, publish or perform his or her work the author can charge a licence fee or royalty for the right to do so.<br />
<br />
But there's another side to copyright and that is that many of the things that entertain such as films, games, magazines and music or use at work such as data sets, directories, software, terms and conditions of business are also copyright work and the owners of the copyrights in those works have the right to stop us from downloading, copying and, in the case of software, just using those works without their permission for which they usually want money. And to a consumer or a small businessman such restrictions just seem petty, and complying with them even daft, when so many people are making recordings, posting photos or videos to their social media pages without paying anyone anything and apparently getting away with it. There is often real resentment when a group of copyright owners take down a website which has been a source of free music or videos or sue or even prosecute the people behind them. However there is a reason for these laws and that is that arts, broadcasting, entertainment and much of the information and communication technology industries rely on copyright for their very existence. Since their output excites us, inspires us, comforts us and generally makes our lives worth living, we have an interest as well as a legal duty to comply with those laws.<br />
<br />
Copyright is an intellectual property right that comes into being automatically. It subsists automatically as soon as you create the work even before the ink is dry so long as you are a citizen or resident of the United Kingdom or of some other country which has agreed with the British government to protect the works of British authors in its own territories. Since our country is party to the <a href="http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/text.jsp?file_id=283698" target="_blank">Berne</a> and <a href="http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=15381&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html" target="_blank">Universal Copyright </a>Conventions and the <a href="http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/t_agm0_e.htm" target="_blank">Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (<b>"TRIPS"</b>)</a> under which each party promises to protect the artistic and literary works of each other's nationals and residents that is more or less everybody. You don't have to register your work with the Intellectual Property Office or some other office or organization. You can if you wish insert insert the copyright symbol <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.399999618530273px;">, "</span>©", the letter "C" in brackets, or the word "copyright" together with your name and the year in which the work was created but it isn't necessary for the subsistence of copyright in the UK.<br />
<br />
In addition to copyright the author of certain types of work in which copyright subsists get the right to be identified as the author, the right to object to derogatory treatment of their work, the right not to be identified as the author of someone else's work and a right to privacy in photos and films. There are known as "moral rights" and protect the reputation of the author and the integrity of his or her work. They subsist quite independently of copyright and can sometimes be retained after the copyright has been assigned.<br />
<br />
The rights of the copyright owner that I mentioned above are not absolute. They are subject to a whole slew of statutory exceptions which allow you to quote from, refer to, or make some other use of, a copyright work. There are many licences such as those drafted by <a href="http://creativecommons.org/" target="_blank">"Creative Commons"</a> under which authors license their work or very generous terms. Many authors or publishers (but by no means all) actively encourage you to share their work.<br />
<br />
But there are also associations of copyright authors known as "collecting societies" who police their members' works and charge licence fees or royalties for the right to use them. One of the best known collecting societies is the <a href="http://www.prsformusic.com/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Performing Rights Society</a> which represents composers, songwriters and publishers. You often see their stickers in bars and restaurants to show that the owner has a licence to play their members' music. They have teamed up with the <a href="http://www.prsformusic.com/Pages/Rights.aspx" target="_blank">Mechanical Copyright Protection Society</a> to protect the rights of the recording industry. In addition there are organizations like <a href="http://www.fastiis.org/" target="_blank">FAST (Federation against Software Theft)</a> and <a href="http://www.fact-uk.org.uk/" target="_blank">FACT (Federation against Copyright Theft)</a> which pursue and sometimes even prosecute those known as "pirates" who <i>infringe</i> (violate) the rights of copyright owners on a big scale.<br />
<br />
Copyright is usually enforced by copyright owners through proceedings in the civil courts - the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice and certain county courts in England and Wales. The usual remedies are <i>injunctions</i> (orders of the court to stop or refrain from doing something), handing over to the copyright owner all unlicensed copies, paying <i>damages</i> (compensation) or surrendering ill-gotten gains (<i>an account of profits</i>) providing information under oath and paying all or contributing substantially to the other side's legal fees (<i>"costs"</i>). However, some copyright infringements are also crimes for which the maximum penalty is 10 years imprisonment, an unlimited fine or both.<br />
<br />
Copyright is a complex area of the law and I shall be talking about it in more detail in my seminar <i><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/our-contribution-to-granthams-gravity.html" target="_blank">"Making Sure you make Money from your Brands and Ideas and not other People" </a></i>at Grantham College on 26 Sept at 14:00. Entrance is by ticket only. You can book your place on-line or by calling my clerk George on 020 7404 5252. I look forward to seeing you there.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-65832081568784030492014-09-06T00:08:00.003+01:002014-09-06T07:21:46.207+01:00So what's a patent? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL987EEU_iwtUZ5TAsjt_Bik9kFKlx3v7NjkWoxiE2GY4kw5UIWa6FgFkm4avgePMdKVNqGBQWkCxDwPZ-ZX7swR4gIwgLzeCnRC98o1CdX3aBat7ERjLymoLuvGx3fTOyvKgsq0hpGtc/s1600/IPO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL987EEU_iwtUZ5TAsjt_Bik9kFKlx3v7NjkWoxiE2GY4kw5UIWa6FgFkm4avgePMdKVNqGBQWkCxDwPZ-ZX7swR4gIwgLzeCnRC98o1CdX3aBat7ERjLymoLuvGx3fTOyvKgsq0hpGtc/s1600/IPO.jpg" height="220" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
<br />
"What's a pay tent?" asked Boris sinking his first pint in <i><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/what-has-intellectual-property-got-to.html" target="_blank">The Beehive</a></i>.<br />
<br />
"Well for a start it's called "PAT TENT" I replied. The "pat" rhymes with 'grass' where I come from. Or 'mat' if you are from anywhere else. Not 'pay tent'. I think that's another word for 'beer tent' in some parts of the world.<br />
<br />
"Like Finchley" suggested Boris who was a bit of a fan of Grantham's most famous daughter.<br />
<br />
"I don't think they know about beer down south" I replied. "Anyway a patent is a monopoly of a new invention."<br />
<br />
"What sort of invention?" asked Boris. "Well a new product or process I replied, unless it is something banned by the <a href="http://www.ipo.gov.uk/patentsact1977.pdf" target="_blank">Patents Act 1977</a>."<br />
<br />
"How new?" asked Boris.<br />
<br />
"Very new" I replied. "It's got to be something that has never been made available to the public before anywhere in the world. If it has already been invented it forms part of what we call 'the prior art'. The Act says<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
'An invention shall be taken to be new if it does not form part of the state of the art.'"</blockquote>
"Ah" said Boris pensively. "And what sort of things are excluded?"<br />
<br />
"Computer programs, methods of doing business, literary works, discoveries, that sort of thing" I replied.<br />
<br />
"Really" said Boris, "but I have heard of someone getting a pay - sorry pat - tent for what seems to have been a computer program."<br />
<br />
"That may have been in the States" I replied "or somewhere else that has a different definition of an invention. Or it might even have been here for our Patents Act provides that those exclusions <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
'shall prevent anything from being treated as an invention for the purposes of this Act only to the extent that a patent or application for a patent relates to that thing as such.'</blockquote>
So if it is say a machine tool that is controlled by a program it may still be a patentable invention as a machine took even if the only thing that is new about the tool is the software program."<br />
<br />
"I'm lost" said Boris. "It sounds awfully complicated."<br />
"It is" I replied. "That's why you need a patent attorney to assist you if you want a patent."<br />
<br />
"What do you mean by a monopoly?" asked Boris after a few minutes.<br />
"Well it means that the person who owns the patent is the only person who can make the invention if it is a product. He's also the only one who can disposes of the product or offer to dispose of it. Only he can use or import the product or keep it whether for disposal or otherwise."<br />
"By 'disposal' you mean 'sell?'" asked Boris.<br />
"Or get rid of in any other way such as giving or leasing" I added.<br />
"And what if it's a process? Like a new way of making <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grantham#Grantham_Gingerbread_biscuits" target="_blank">gingerbread?"</a><br />
"Well it can be infringed by using the process so long as he knows, or it is obvious to a reasonable person in the circumstances, that its use without the consent of the owner would infringe the patent."<br />
"Infringed?"<br />
"Violated or breached." I added. "Also if the invention is a process you can infringe it by disposing of, offering to dispose of, using or importing any product obtained directly by means of that process or even keeping such product for disposal or otherwise."<br />
"The gingerbread" yes if it's a new process for making gingerbread or baked beans it it's a process for making baked beans."<br />
"Not sure I like baked beans" said Boris "or rather I like them but they don't like me. Does it have to be food?"<br />
"No it can be a complex biotechnology process for making a new drug or some other wonderful new product."<br />
<br />
Boris took another sip of ale. "Ah" quoth he contentedly. I finished my glass of sparkling mineral water as I was driving the motor.<br />
<br />
"So what does a patent look like?"<br />
<br />
"Well it doesn't look like anything because it is a legal right but the owner of a patent is granted a certificate of grant and the terms of his grant is set out in a document called a "specification". This is generally in three parts. First, there is a description of the invention and the technical problem it is intended to solve. Secondly, there are instructions as to how to make or use the invention. Lastly, there are a number of numbered paragraphs called the "claims" which set out the features of the invention. Anyone who makes a product or uses a process with all the features of any one or more of those claims infringes the patent. You can find out more about specifications by downloading <i><a href="http://www.ipo.gov.uk/p-apply.pdf" target="_blank">Patents: Application Guide</a></i> from the Intellectual Property Office website.<br />
<br />
"So how do you get a patent?"<br />
<br />
"Well first you have to make sure that you have an invention that is absolutely new." I replied. "You can do that by obtaining a search of the prior art. It is very difficult to get a comprehensive one because so many of the world's inventions are now created in China, Japan and Korea and not many people in this country understand those languages. Also, not every invention is patented. Many people just make or use their new product or process without applying for a patent. But if it has been made available to the public by say putting it on sale or writing about it in newspaper or technical journal it forms part of the prior art.<br />
<br />
Then you have to make sure the invention involves an inventive step, that is to say it is not obvious having regard to the state of the art. Something can be new but still not be patentable because it is a minor improvement on what was already known. Something that would occur to a workman with a spanner for example.<br />
<br />
Then it has to be useful.<br />
<br />
Finally, it has to fall outside any of the statutory exceptions I mentioned sooner."<br />
<br />
"My head's spinning" said Boris.<br />
<br />
"Maybe you need another drink" I said gesturing to the barman who served up another pint for Boris and a small mineral water for me.<br />
<br />
"Is that all you're drinking?" asked Boris.<br />
<br />
"That's why my head's not spinning" I replied.<br />
<br />
"So where do I get a search from?" asked Boris.<br />
<br />
"Your patent attorney will look after that but if you don't have a patent attorney you could do worse than ask Ged or Stef at <a href="http://www.leeds.gov.uk/leisure/Pages/Business-and-patents-information-service.aspx" target="_blank">Leeds Business and IP Centre</a> to do a search. If the search finds something that anticipates (that is to say something that is exactly the same as) your invention or so close that your invention is obvious then that is the end of the matter. You won't get a patent for it, at least not in this country. If however the search finds nothing then it may be worth lodging an application."<br />
<br />
"Do I need a lawyer for that? You mentioned an 'attorney'".<br />
<br />
"'Patent attorneys' or 'patent agents' as they are also called offer a range of services relating to patents and other intellectual property rights. Most of them belong to the <a href="http://www.cipa.org.uk/" target="_blank">Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys</a>. There's actually a firm in Lincoln called <a href="http://loveniplaw.co.uk/" target="_blank">LovenIP</a>. Patent attorneys have scientific or technical qualifications - many have doctorates - as well as a thorough grounding in intellectual property law. They will draft your specification in such a way that it discloses your invention ....."<br />
<br />
"Why would I want to do that?" asked Boris "Isn't that just giving away the invention."<br />
<br />
"That's the deal, Boris. In exchange for teaching the world how to make or use your invention the government gives you the exclusive right to make, use, dispose of, import etc that I mentioned above for up to 20 years."<br />
<br />
"Up to?" queried Boris.<br />
<br />
"Yes" I said. "You have to pay renewal fees which actually increase over time in some countries and then if the court or Intellectual Property Office finds that your invention was not really new or that you failed to disclose it sufficiently clearly or sufficiently fully they can revoke it just like that."<br />
<br />
"Do you get your money back" asked Boris.<br />
<br />
"No" I replied.<br />
<br />
"Crikey" spluttered Boris as he sprayed beer all over the bar.<br />
<br />
"You all right old son?" I asked as he looked distinctly pale.<br />
<br />
"Complicated business this patenting malarkey."<br />
<br />
"Indeed it is" I agreed. "That's why you should come to <a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/our-contribution-to-granthams-gravity.html" target="_blank">my talk on IP at Grantham College</a> on the 26 Sept 2014 at 14:00. But you will have to hurry as places are bound to fill up."<br />
<br />
"Not a chance" said Boris. "This is Lincolnshire you know."<br />
<br />
On leaving the pub Boris was stung by a bee which served him right don't you think.<br />
<br />
<b>Related Articles</b><br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="89"></col><col width="419"></col><col width="116"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">19 Mar 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; 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;">Jane Lambert </span><a href="http://ipsoutheast.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/what-is-patent-why-might-i-want-one-how.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; 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;">What is a Patent? Why might I want one? How do I get one?</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">IP South East</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">2 Aug 2013</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; 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;">Jane Lambert </span><a href="http://4-5london.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/how-to-read-patent.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; 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;">How to read a Patent</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">IP London</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-53494043001088416942014-09-04T10:02:00.000+01:002014-09-04T10:03:26.191+01:00What has intellectual property got to do with Grantham?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Grantham_Town.jpg/240px-Grantham_Town.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/3/3a/Grantham_Town.jpg/240px-Grantham_Town.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Everything. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are a lot of businesses in Grantham and they all have signs that distinguish them from their competitors. Most of those signs consists of names or logos but the sign for the <i>The Beehive</i> inn in Castlegate is actually a swarm of bees. It is those bees that distinguish <i>The Beehive </i>in<i> </i>the<i> </i>minds of its customers from all other pubs in Grantham and indeed the rest of the world. <i>The Beehive</i>'s regulars would no doubt find their way to the pub if the bees went away but those such as I who are not quite so familiar with Castlegate look out for the hive. It is that hive that draws us to that pub and once inside the pub we spend our money. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The tendency of customers to frequent a business is called <i>goodwill</i>. At least some of that goodwill is associated with the hive. The hive is therefore an <i>asset</i> in that it generates revenue for the pub. We class it as an <i>intellectual asset </i>because it is the product of the mind rather than a plot of land or item of machinery. The rights to those assets are known as <i>intellectual property.</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
An example of how the law protects a sign arose in <i><a href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/IPEC/2013/3090.html" target="_blank">Bocacina Ltd v Boca Cafes Ltd. and Others</a></i> [2013] EWHC 3090 (IPEC). In that case the claimant owned a successful and trendy bar, restaurant and gallery in Bristol known as <i>Bocabar </i>which was sometimes abbreviated to <i>Boca. </i>Its annual turnover was around £1 million per year. It had a website under the domain name bocabar.co.uk and it advertised in the local press and through flyers and point of sale literature. The establishment had been featured in several guides to Bristol and restaurant reviews.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The defendants set up an eatery known as Boca Bistro Café which offered similar food and entertainment some three miles away. They registered BOCA BISTRO CAFE as a trade mark in respect of cafeteria and restaurant services in class 43 and the domain name bocacafes.co.uk which showed up in close proximity to the claimant's on internet searches.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The claimant sued the defendant in the <i>Intellectual Property Enterprise Court </i>which specializes in resolving intellectual property disputes between small and medium enterprises. The claimant claimed an order from the court known as an<i> injunction </i>to stop the defendants from running a business called <i>Boca, Bocabar</i> or anything similar. An injunction comes with a stern warning from the judge that anyone breaching the order will be fined, sent to prison or punished in some other way. The claimant also claimed orders invalidating the defendant's trade mark and cancelling its domain name registrations and damages or compensation for any loss or damage it had suffered.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In order to win the claimant has to prove that:</div>
<ol>
<li>its goods or services had acquired a goodwill or reputation in the market and are known by some distinguishing feature;</li>
<li>there had been a misrepresentation by the defendant (whether or not intentional) leading or likely to lead the public to believe that goods or services offered by the defendant are goods or services of the claimant; and</li>
<li>the claimant had suffered to was likely to suffer damage as a result of the erroneous belief engendered by the defendant's misrepresentation.</li>
</ol>
<div>
The claimant succeeded. The judge held that the <i>Bocabar</i> had acquired a goodwill or reputation in Bristol by reference to its name <i>Bocabar </i>and abbreviations such as <i>Boca</i>. By calling their establishment <i>Boca Bistro Bar</i> and setting up a website under the domain name bocacafes.co.uk the defendants had misrepresented a connection with the <i>Bocabar</i>. They had thereby attracted business for their eatery from customers who would otherwise have gone to the Bocabar.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Could such a case occur in Grantham? Sure it could. Not with <i>The Beehive, </i>of course,<i> </i>but perhaps with other businesses. The rules that I mentioned above are not confined to firms in the catering trade but apply to all industries.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now if you want to learn more about the laws that stop folk naming their businesses or adopting other signs that are likely to be confused with the signs used by other businesses you will just have to come to my talk at Grantham College on the 26 September 2014 at 14:00 (see <i><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/our-contribution-to-granthams-gravity.html" target="_blank">"Our contribution to Grantham's Gravity Fields Science Festival: IP Workshop and Clinic"</a> </i>3 Sept 2014). If you have a specific issue of passing off you can have a free 30 minute consultation with me afterwards. If you want to register a trade mark or indeed oppose or invalidate someone else's registration you can have a word with Mr Keith Loven of LovenIP in Lincoln. Of course, if you have a pressing problem you don't have to wait quite that long. You can call me on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or message me through my contact form any time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I look forward to seeing you on the 26 Sept.</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-75606047557409781642014-09-03T08:37:00.003+01:002014-09-10T09:55:01.839+01:00Our contribution to Grantham's Gravity Fields Science Festival: IP Workshop and Clinic<div style="text-align: left; width: 100%;">
<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="1000" hspace="0" marginheight="5" marginwidth="5" scrolling="auto" src="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/making-sure-you-make-money-from-your-brands-and-ideas-and-not-other-people-tickets-12652511001?ref=eweb" vspace="0" width="100%"></iframe><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial; margin: 2px; padding: 5px 0px; text-align: left; width: 100%;">
<div style="font-size: 10px;">
<a href="http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/r/eweb" style="color: #dddddd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Sell Tickets</a> <span style="color: #dddddd;">through</span> <a href="http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=eweb" style="color: #dddddd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a></div>
<div style="font-size: 10px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 10px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 10px;">
<br /></div>
<b>Related Articles</b><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4c98b31f-5ec4-5f6c-8c92-bf4da1fe5e02"><br /></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="91"></col><col width="325"></col><col width="119"></col></colgroup><tbody>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Date</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Author and Title</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 1px; padding: 7px 7px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Publication</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">10 Sep 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">Jane Lambert </span><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/copyright-basics.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; 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;">Copyright Basics</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">East Midlands IP</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">6 Srp 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">Jane Lambert </span><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/so-whats-patent.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; 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;">So what’s a patent</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">East Midlands IP</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">4 Sep 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">Jane Lambert </span><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/what-has-intellectual-property-got-to.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; 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;">What has IP to do with Grantham?</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">East Midlands IP</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">2 Sep 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">Jane Lambert </span><a href="http://ipeast.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/gravity-fields-science-and-arts-festival.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; 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;">Gravity Fields Science and Arts Festival</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">IP East of Engand</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">1 Sep 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">Jane Lambert </span><a href="http://4-5ip.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/grantham-science-festival-there-is.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; 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;">Grantham Science Festival - there is a practical side to science</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">IP and Tech Group</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">8 Aug 2014</span></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">Jane Lambert </span><a href="http://4-5ipem.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/gravity-fields-festival-much-more-to.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; 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;">Gravity Fields Festival - there's much more to Grantham than Mrs T</span></a></div>
</td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1px; border-left: solid #000000 1px; border-right: solid #000000 1px; border-top: solid #000000 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: black; 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;">East Midlands IP</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<div dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4c98b31f-497e-7733-9325-49c17da228eb">
</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-4c98b31f-3ffb-e2a9-0c90-98bcc606bc82">
</span></div>
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-12491759406977926082014-09-02T07:21:00.000+01:002014-09-02T07:21:21.356+01:00Intellectual Property and Innovation at Rockingham Motor Sports Circuit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Rockingham_Panorama.jpg/1200px-Rockingham_Panorama.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/c/c6/Rockingham_Panorama.jpg/1200px-Rockingham_Panorama.jpg" height="110" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Very short notice I know but I only learned about this event just now. On Friday 5 Sept 2014 at 14:40 Kirsty Edwards of the <a href="http://www.ipo.gov.uk/" target="_blank">Intellectual Property Office</a> will talk about innovation and intellectual property.<br />
<br />
She will be one of the speakers at an event organized by the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills" target="_blank">Department of Business Innovation and Skills</a> (<b>"BIS"</b>) at Rockingham motor sports circuit near Corby the day before the <a href="http://www.btcc.net/" target="_blank">British Touring Car Championship</a>. Others will include Lee Mason of<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3782708035278187559#editor/target=post;postID=1249175940697792608" target="_blank"> Liebherr</a> who will talk about apprenticeships, <a href="http://www.rachelmallows.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Mallows</a> who will talk about networking and <a href="http://www.ldc.co.uk/team/person.aspx?Id=26" target="_blank">Darryl Eales</a> of LDC who will talk about the challenges of entrepreneurship.<br />
<br />
Those attending the event will have the opportunity to meet <a href="http://www.btcc.net/driver/marc-hynes/" target="_blank">Marc Hynes</a> the driver of the Quantel BiFold Racing team, and his engineers and mechanics in the team garage and inspect their car. Also there will be representatives of BIS, the <a href="http://www.semlep.com/" target="_blank">South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership</a>, LDC (the venture capital arm of the Lloyds banking group) and other East Midlands businesses.<br />
<br />
The event is free but booking through <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-is-great-rockingham-tickets-12408370771" target="_blank">Eventbrite</a> is essential. Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-57901127040767306922014-08-16T17:22:00.000+01:002014-08-16T17:25:58.471+01:00Franchising - the Ram and the Imp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<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/6/61/The_Derby_Ram_on_East_Street_and_Albion_Street%2C_Derby_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1705947.jpg/220px-The_Derby_Ram_on_East_Street_and_Albion_Street%2C_Derby_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1705947.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/6/61/The_Derby_Ram_on_East_Street_and_Albion_Street%2C_Derby_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1705947.jpg/220px-The_Derby_Ram_on_East_Street_and_Albion_Street%2C_Derby_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1705947.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Derby Ram<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Photo<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Derby_Ram" target="_blank"> </a></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Derby_Ram" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
<br />
I mentioned the Hull Franchise Conference in my IP Yorkshire blog (see <i><a href="http://ipyorkshire.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/franchising-hull-franchise-conference.html" target="_blank">"Franchising - Hull Franchise Conference" </a></i>16 Aug 2014" IP Yorks). Well there are going to be franchising conferences in <a href="http://www.franchiseconf.co.uk/nottingham/" target="_blank">Derby and Nottingham</a> on the 30 Oct 2014 - hence the Derby Ram - and <a href="http://www.franchiseconf.co.uk/lincoln/" target="_blank">Lincoln</a> on the 27 Nov 2014 which is why we see the Lincoln Imp.<br />
<br />
The Derby and Nottingham conference will take place at Nottingham Belfry Hotel, Mellors Way, off Woodhouse Way. Nottingham, NG8 6PY and the Lincoln one at The Petwood Hotel, Stixwould Road, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, LN10 6QG.<br />
<br />
You can book for both events by clicking <a href="http://www.franchiseconf.co.uk/2014-bookings/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/79/Lincoln_imp.jpg/200px-Lincoln_imp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/79/Lincoln_imp.jpg/200px-Lincoln_imp.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Lincoln Imp<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Photo </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Imp" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I said in<i> IP Yorkshire </i>I've been interested in franchising for many years. One of my first cases when I started to practise in Manchester was on behalf of a franchisee whose business failed because he had been forced to pay over the odds for supplies from his franchiser. Everybody including his solicitor and my clerk thought he was going down but I had read a report of R-161/84 <a href="http://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/EUECJ/1986/R16184.html" target="_blank"><i>Pronuptia de Paris GmbH v Pronuptia de Paris Irmgard Schillgallis</i></a> [1986] ECR 353 in the Financial Times and thought I could do something for him. I was right and managed to negotiate quite a favourable settlement for him. Word got round and I found myself representing two other franchisees of the same operation with similar results.<br />
<br />
The law changed immediately after that decision and now you have to be very careful before taking a franchisee. As I said after a visit to "Which Franchise" on 2 Oct 2011 "<a href="http://nipclaw.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/taking-a-franchise-may-be-the-best-thing-you-ever-do/" target="_blank">Taking a franchise may be the</a> <a href="http://nipclaw.wordpress.com/2011/10/02/taking-a-franchise-may-be-the-best-thing-you-ever-do/">best thing you ever do</a>" but it could also be the worst. To help prospective franchisees I published <a href="http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-franchise-agreement-understanding-w-979361/" target="_blank">The franchise agreement: understanding what you are letting yourself in for.</a> on JD Supra on 20 Jan 2012 and <a href="http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/franchising-what-can-a-franchisee-do-i-04323/" target="_blank">"Franchising - what can a franchisee do if things go wrong?</a>". <br />
<br />
If you want to discuss anything in these articles give me a ring on 020 7404 5252 during office hours or get in touch through my<a href="https://nipclaw.wufoo.eu/forms/nipc-law-contact-jane-lambert/" target="_blank"> contact form</a>.<br />
<br />Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-74667047538562806582014-08-15T08:17:00.000+01:002014-08-15T08:22:50.575+01:00Sheffield Business and IP Centre<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/f/f7/Sheffield_Central_Library_26-12-06.jpg/240px-Sheffield_Central_Library_26-12-06.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/f/f7/Sheffield_Central_Library_26-12-06.jpg/240px-Sheffield_Central_Library_26-12-06.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;">Sheffield Central Library<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Photo </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_Central_Library" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a><br />
<br />
Although in Yorkshire Sheffield is the nearest big town for much of the region. Its <a href="https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/businessinformation.html" target="_blank">Central Library</a> is one of <a href="http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ip4b/ip4b-uk/ip4b-uk-support.htm" target="_blank">13 PatLib (Patent Information Libraries)</a> in the United Kingdom. The only other PatLib library close to the East Midlands is in<a href="http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ip4b/ip4b-uk/ip4b-uk-support/ip4b-birmingham.htm" target="_blank"> Birmingham</a>. The PatLib libraries are part of a <a href="http://www.epo.org/searching/patlib/directory.html" target="_blank">European network</a> that provide information on patents and other intellectual property rights to businesses and individuals in their regions. Each of the PatLib libraries has specialist librarians who offer patent, trade mark and design searches and a range of other services. <br />
<br />
Sheffield and Birmingham Central Libraries have recently formed a partnership with the British Library and a number of other central libraries to form the<a href="http://www.bl.uk/bipc/network/index.html" target="_blank"> Business and IP Centre Network</a>. The network offers<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"free access to a wealth of databases, market research, journals, directories and reports. There is a programme of free and low-cost one-to-one advice and workshops delivered by trained staff and business experts on a range of topics including starting up, business planning, marketing and intellectual property."</blockquote>
In addition to those services Sheffield Business and IP Centre also hosts an inventors group (which I helped to start over 8 years ago), an innovator in residence and regular patent clinics (free consultations with local patent or trade mark agents).<br />
<br />
From time to time Sheffield Business and IP Centre organizes special events which I will try to mention in this blog whenever I can. The next such event is <a href="http://www.bl.uk/bipc/workevents/inspiring/events/newcastleglobal/sheffieldmovers.html">Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Movers and Shakers</a> which will consist of a talk by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/rekha-mehr/26/511/59b">Rekha Mehr</a> followed by a live streaming from London of a panel discussion by<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Acton_Smith">Michael Acton-Smith OBE</a>, founder of MindCandy</li>
<li><a href="http://www.blinkbrowbar.com/about/">Vanita Parti</a>, founder of Blink Brow Bar</li>
<li>Sam Bompas, founder of <a href="http://bompasandparr.com/">Bompas & Parr</a>.</li>
</ul>
The event will take place at The Electric Works, Sheffield Digital Campus, Sheffield, S1 2BJ on 22 Sept 2014 between 17:45 and 21:00 (see <a href="http://ipyorkshire.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/forthcoming-events-sheffield-movers-and.html" target="_blank">"Forthcoming Events: Sheffield - Movers and Shakers"</a> 13 Aug 2014 <i>IP Yorks</i>).<br />
<br />
Although not connected with the Library there is another event in Sheffield which may interest readers and that is Mel Wong's attempt to break the word record for continuous <i>grands battements </i>(high kicks in ballet) which will take place at Hype dance studios on 22 Aug 2014 (see<a href="http://ipyorkshire.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/forthcoming-events-sheffield-mels-world.html" target="_blank"> "Forthcoming Events: Sheffield - Mel's World Record Attempt"</a> 13 Aug 2014 <i>IP Yorks</i>).<br />
<br />
You can contact Sheffield Business and IP Centre by telephone on 0114 2734736 or by Email <a href="mailto:information.library@sheffield.gov.uk">information.library@sheffield.gov.uk</a>.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3782708035278187559.post-52346759292268796452014-08-08T09:39:00.001+01:002014-08-08T09:43:42.719+01:00Gravity Fields Festival - there's much more to Grantham than Mrs T<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg/220px-GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.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/3/39/GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg/220px-GodfreyKneller-IsaacNewton-1689.jpg" height="400" width="291" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://nipclaw.blogspot.co.uk/p/profile.html" target="_blank">Jane Lambert</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">8 Aug 2014</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
On 27 July 2014 I attended a performance by <a href="http://www.chantrydancecompany.org/" target="_blank">Chantry Dance Associates</a> at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London (Jane Lambert <a href="http://jelterps.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/chantry-dance-associates-lots-of-promise.html" target="_blank">"Chantry Dance Associates: Lots of Promise"</a> 28 July 2014). At the end of the performance Rae Piper, the company's artistic director, gave a short speech in which she explained why Chantry Dance had chosen to locate in Grantham. "Don't hold Mrs Thatcher against us" she appealed.<br />
<br />
We don't. Leaving aside the consideration that at least some members of her audience probably liked Mrs T as she won three general elections on the trot its most famous connection by far is with the great physicist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton. Newton was born in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth which is just outside Grantham and went to school in the town. To celebrate the connection the town will host <a href="http://www.gravityfields.co.uk/" target="_blank">Gravity Fields</a>, "a unique festival of science, arts and heritage events creatively exploring the physical sciences and celebrating one of the world’s greatest thinkers, Sir Isaac Newton" between 24 and 28 Sept 2014.<br />
<br />
There is a <a href="http://www.gravityfields.co.uk/events" target="_blank">remarkably full programme</a> of events ranging from making and firing rockets for 6 to 10 year olds to quantum computers. There are theatrical performances by the Wee Stories Theatre Company and the performance of a new ballet <i><a href="http://www.chantrydancecompany.org/chasing-the-eclipse.html" target="_blank">Chasing the Eclipse</a> </i>by Chantry Dance in the market place on Thursday 25 and Saturday the 27 Sept.<br />
<br />
This is just the sort of venture that the <a href="http://4-5ip.blogspot.co.uk/p/members.html" target="_blank">intellectual property practitioners</a> of our chambers like and although we have only learned about it late in the day I am looking at ways we can support it. One thing that I am considering is a workshop on patents, trade marks or designs or maybe a clinic on the lines of the ones we run in London and Yorkshire (see <a href="http://4-5ip.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/new-ip-clinics-in-hendon-and-bradford.html" target="_blank">"New IP Clinics in Hendon and Bradford" </a> 4 Apr 2014 <i>4-5 IP</i>) maybe in conjunction with local patent and trade mark attorneys and commercial law firms if a suitable venue can be found. Whether or not that can be done in time for the festival it will not be a one off event. We will support business, innovation and creativity in Grantham and throughout the East Midlands in any way we can.Jane Lamberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14448574554083999342noreply@blogger.com0