Outsourcing of Pharma Clinical Trials

The New York Times writes about the so-called “outsourcing” of drug clinical trials. The Times relies on an article appearing in The New England Journal of Medicine.  Specifically, the researchers suggest “an ethical quagmire when drugs intended for wealthy nations are tested on people in developing countries. The authors suggest that human volunteers in foreign countries [...]

Indication of Origin?

Three islanders from Lesbos — home of the ancient poet Sappho, who praised love between women — have taken a gay rights group to court for using the word lesbian in its name.
One of the plaintiffs said Wednesday that the name of the association, Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, “insults the identity” of the [...]

2007 a Record Year

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), 2007 was a record year for international trademark filings.  According to the organization, 39,945 international trademark applications were filed in 2007. 
Applicants from Germany, for the 15th consecutive year, led the list of top filers, followed by users in France, the United States of America (USA) and the [...]

French Skiing Trademarks

This judgment comes from the Grenoble (France) civil appeals court.  So, this article has meaning since I spent a good deal of time in Grenoble in the 1990s.
The trademarks “Écoles de ski internationale” and “ESI snowboard award école de ski internationale” were registered in 1994 by Michel Vachez an independent ski instructor based at l’Alpe-d’Huez.  [...]

CTM Changes

There are some recent changes to CTM and UK trademark law.
For CTM applications filed after 10 March 2008, CTM searches will be optional.  The CTM Register report will continue to be issued for all applications filed after 10 March 2008; however, separate individual searches will only be conducted and provided on request.  CTM applicants should [...]

Lacoste Loses Crocodile Dispute

A Gloucestershire dental practice has defeaed fashion chain giant Lacoste in a dispute over a crocodile trademark.
The two dentists - Drs. Tim Rumney and Simon Moore - were challenged by the French clothing giant after using a grinning reptile as the logo on their office’s welcome sign.
Lacoste claimed the cartoon crocodile was too similar to their [...]

Big vs. Little

2005 winner of the television show  "Hell’s Kitchen" is now facing a trademark lawsuit by one of the world’s largest recording labels.
Chef Terry Miller shot to fame on television series Hell’s Kitchen, when he won praise for his signature dish named Rockafella.
The prawn and mash creation then inspired the name of the Newcastle restaurant he [...]

Japan to Lower IP Fees

In an effort to reduce costs to companies and promote innovation, Japan is considering reducing fees for trademark and patent filings.
If the plans are realized, fees for patent applications and maintenance would be cut by 12 pct on average, and trademark fees would be reduced by 43 pct, according to the officials.
The total cost [...]

Gaza TM Office Ceases Operations

According to AG IP News, official sources in Gaza informed ag-IP-news Agency on Monday that filing of trademark applications, processing pending applications, issuing certificates of trademark registrations and any other related activities have all ceased at the Trademark Office in Gaza with effect from August 2007.
According to the sources, all employees at the Trademark Office [...]

India & CH Sign IP MoU

India and Switzerland on Tuesday, August 7th signed a Memorandum of Understading (MoU) for closer cooperation between the two countries in fostering protection and promotion of intellectual property (IP) rights.
The MoU was signed in New Dehli by the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath and Doris Leuthard, Federal Councillor, Department of Economic Affairs of [...]

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