Category IP Law

A Bigger, Meaner Patent War

It’s been called a patent war, and it’s raging over much of the globe. In at least ten countries - including the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and South Korea - Apple is locked in ferocious legal battles against Google, Samsung and HTC over whose smartphones and tablets infringe whose patents.

There’s a lot a stake: Damages could run into billions of dollars. Even worse, the loser could wind up being forbidden to sell its products in various markets.

This costly, high-stakes global patent war may seem unprecedented. But according to many experts, that’s only partly true. In many ways, this patent war is similar to major patent disputes in the past. And it is likely a foretaste of more patent wars in the future.

An Anthem To Ignorance: South Africa’s Case Of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika

The South African national anthem comprises the works Nkosi Sikelela’ iAfrika and Die Stem, which was formerly the national anthem. Nkosi has passed into the public domain and contrary to various claims cannot be used as the basis for royalty claims arising out of its use. The music of Die Stem is however still under copyright but its ownership has reverted from the State to the heirs of the composer in terms of the reversionary interest provisions of the British Imperial Copyright Act and is thus the subject of private ownership. In principle royalties can be charged in respect of its use as part of the current national anthem.

Promotion: Upcoming Courses And Events Provide Insights Into IP

Informa has announced a range of upcoming events and courses on the essential aspects of intellectual property and technology of interest to Intellectual Property Watch readers. Here is the list:

Events:

IP Dispute Resolution - 28 - 29 June 2012, Grange City Hotel, London, UK

European Trademarks 2012 – 3rd July 2012, Grange City Hotel, London, UK

Protecting Corporate Information – 5th July 2012, One Drummond Gate, London, UK

IT Law Summer School 2012 – 30 July - 3 August 2012, Downing College, Cambridge, UK

IP Summer School - 13 - 17 August 2012, Downing College, Cambridge, UK

Distance Learning Courses:

Computer and Communications Law LLM, PgDip - from Queen Mary, University of London

UK, EU & US Copyright Law LLM, PgDip - from King's College London

US Legal Academics Call For Congressional Review Of ACTA

An open letter was sent yesterday from 50 American legal academics encouraging members of the United States Senate Finance Committee to exercise their Constitutional responsibility to ensure that the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is treated as a binding international agreement requiring legislative ratification and sent to Senate for approval.