Overview

In this briefing, Macfarlanes provides a round-up of the key IP developments of the past 12 months, focusing on trade marks, copyright, patents and general practice points. Areas discussed include:

• eBay's use of L'Óreal's trade marks may infringe


• use of a competitor's mark as a Google AdWord may not infringe;


• 'Battle of the Buds';


• CJEU rules CTM injunctions to have pan-European effect;


• the Hargreaves Review;


• national laws that prevent distribution of foreign TV decoders are anti-competitive;


• text extracts may infringe copyright;


• ISP knowledge of 3rd party infringement leads to injunction;


• Advocate General follows High Court decision that software functionality cannot be protected by copyright;


• big steps towards a unified patent system in Europe;


• successful reforms to the Patents County Court; and


• Supreme Court rules on the "industrial application" requirement to obtain a patent.

To read the full round-up, click 'View Briefing'.