RINGTONE COPYRIGHT; OHIM ERROR

Not tone deaf

The Houston Chronicle reports that the Malaysian authorities have cracked down on mobile phone dealers who sold copyright-infringing mobile phone ringtones. Othman Nawang of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry said that at least one-third of some 300 mobile phone outlets in the city were involved in the practice and noted that the subjects of the recent crackdown had been warned.

The IPKat wonders if any of his readers know if other jurisdictions have taken enforcement action in ringtone cases.


£££

OHIM wants your money. It really, really wants your money, so much so that it’s sending out renewal notices in respect of trade mark applications which have not proceeded to registration before the renewal date.

Okay, so as the OHIM website states, the cause is a technical error, not a desperate attempt to fill up to coffers ahead of the OHIM Christmas bash, but seriously, the IPKat notes that this means that there must be applications which are outstanding for 10 years.