Julia Reda interview: Uncharted waters
Harmonising and modernising copyright law that is well past its use-by date is the main aim of the Pirate Party’s sole representative in the European Parliament, Julia Reda. TBO speaks to her about her reasons for wanting the change.
Domain name theft: Knowing where to turn
Acme Billing’s pursuit of its allegedly stolen domain names through the courts highlights the lack of legal mechanisms available to brand owners whose website names have been hijacked. TBO reports.
Time to wise up: watch face designs and IP infringement
New technology is almost inevitably followed by new ways to infringe IP rights, and the arrival on the market of ‘smart’ watches is no exception. TBO investigates.
New gTLDs: Restricted access
Some brand owners have applied for new gTLDs with the expectation of operating them solely for their own benefit, but can they insist on having exclusive access? Flip Petillion of Crowell & Moring has the answers.
Streaming services: Protecting the borders
The use of virtual private networks to enable paying customers to access streamed media content from other countries raises important questions about the protection of regional broadcast agreements, says John Illsley of Intangible Business.
Alibaba and Microsoft: A meeting of minds
In January, Microsoft and Alibaba Group teamed up to tackle counterfeits on the Chinese company’s various platforms. TBO assesses the agreement and asks whether it will result in a significant reduction in fakes.
Sony the lonely: the hack that stole Christmas
The cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment caused red faces as well as a possibly significant financial hit, but what did it say about the importance attached to the company’s IP? TBO investigates.
New gTLDs: report card for rights protection mechanisms
The start of the new year is appropriate for a performance review, so David Taylor, partner at law firm Hogan Lovells, assesses the popularity of the new gTLD sunrise periods and the progress of the UDRP and URS.
User-generated content: use your head
Brand owners are increasingly employing user-generated content in their advertising campaigns, but they should behave in a legally responsible way when doing so. Adam Rendle of law firm Taylor Wessing reports.
AdWords: clarity out of confusion
The position on trademark infringement regarding Google AdWords and keyword bidding has been clarified in recent years with a number of rulings handed down by the CJEU. Luke Portnow of Boult Wade Tennant reports.
