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Online Content, Patent Reform Are Key For Europe In 2008

By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Copyright issues take centre stage this year as debate intensifies in the European Union over Internet service provider (ISP) responsibility for online piracy. In addition, the proposed European patent litigation system, considered dead…

International Implications Of Red Cross Trademark Fight Unclear

By Catherine Saez
Months after health products manufacturer Johnson & Johnson filed a civil complaint against the American Red Cross and its commercial licensees to stop using the symbol of a red cross, the public interest it generated seems to have all but subsided. However, questions about the possible consequences of this lawsuit at the international level remain unanswered.

After roughly 100 years of sharing the symbol, the two entities are now fighting over it. The lawsuit filed by US-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J) against the American Red Cross (ARC) and four of its licensing partners on 8 August focused mainly on preventing the ARC and its licensing partners from using the red cross design on commercial products such as first aid kits to prevent unfair competition. The American Red Cross has licensed sale of its kits in large-scale retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target and major drug stores.