Something for the last weekend of 2007

As the end of the calendar year draws nigh, the IPKat team will be celebrating its demise in the same manner in which kats all round the world celebrate major milestones in their lives. But for those of you whose enhanced consciousness demands greater stimulus, this blog can provide you with some appropriately IP-flavoured food for thought.


Cliff Richard petition. The IPKat's friend Stine recently asked for helpful suggestions as to where to find Sir Cliff Richard's petition to the European Commission for an extension of copyright term.

Left: helpful training for anyone planning to use the EUROPA website

Another of his friends, Dr Catherine Seville (Director of Studies in Law, Newnham College, Cambridge - and a notable copyright enthusiast) writes:

"Your friend can find Sir Cliff's musings here. If that link doesn't work, then just go to the consultation website and you'll find it quite easily".

Catherine adds (and the IPKat sympathises):

"I have no idea how anyone finds anything on the EUROPA website unless
they actually know it's there, though".

The IPKat thanks Jan Eastaugh (Ottawa, Canada), who also sent a link to the consultation website.


A Whiter Shade of Pale. The IPKat's gratitude goes to Peter Groves (Bircham Dyson Bell), who has spotted that the recent copyright entitlement litigation over the composition of the music for Procol Harum's mega-hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is now available to all on BAILII. The judgment of Mr Justice Blackburne, in favour of Matthew Fisher (right) is apparently a work of sole authorship although there are signs that he has sampled a number of earlier works, including the little-known "Recording Contract", the meaning of which has attracted a great deal of speculative analysis despite rumours that the words, like those of the song itself, were quite devoid of any meaning.


AIPPI Proceedings. The IPKat has just received volume 33 (2006) of the Proceedings of the Hungarian Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI). This year's offerings include

* "Veil Dance Around the Patent Secret" by Dr Miklos Bendzsel (President of the Hungarian Patent Office), this being a paean of praise for the role of both patents and secrecy in the "ecology of competition";

Left: unlike humans, patented inventions can lose their secrecy while still maintaining their mystery ... [picture found on www.thesiphon.com]

* Dr Katalin Szamosi and Dr Peter Lukacsi (both of SBG & K Law Office), giving a local perspective on a topic that has exercised all of us in recent years and which will not allow itself to be resolved: the ECJ's position on the registrability of thre-dimensional trade marks;

* Imre Gonda (Head of Section, Hungarian Patent Office) writing on a topic that gets little coverage, certainly in the UK - enforcement of rights in respect of vinicultural products.

Have a lovely weekend!