Sensory copyright : IPKat, BLACA team up for a joint event

Talking scents? On Tuesday 24 February the IPKat weblog will be teaming up with the British Literary and Artistic Copyright Association (BLACA) for the second year running to host an exciting meeting on sensory copyright. Topics under review this time round will include the scent of perfume, the taste of cheese and other sensory works of authorship that fall outside the classic foursome of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works.  It's a far cry from last year's theme of "Are moral rights human rights?" but we hope that this topic will generate as much interest -- and as much passion -- as last year's event did.

As indicated in our "hold the date" notice last week, the venue is the London office of Reed Smith LLP at 20 Primrose Street (here) and the two star attractions are the speakers: for the IPKat, fellow blogger Eleonora Rosati (University of Southampton) will present the case in favour of protection of sensory works while, all the way from the Netherlands, IP practitioner and academic Tobias Cohen Jehoram, who has litigated this very topic in his native Dutch courts, will be taking the contrary position.   IPKat blogmeister Jeremy will be in the chair.

The order of ceremonies runs like this: doors open at 4.30 pm for a 5 pm start.  After the serious side of the programme there will be some sensory delights -- whether protected by copyright or not -- in the form of refreshments kindly provided by our hosts.  As is the case for all IPKat events, there is no admission fee. We thank BLACA for agreeing to this. It is believed that the desires of solicitorial CPD-seekers will also be catered for (details to follow).

The venue only holds 100 people so if you are planning to come, do email Polly Taylor at polly.taylor@blplaw.com to register your interest and be put on the guest list. It is likely that this event is going to be oversubscribed and we are unable to reserve places.  The seats will be allocated on a first-come first-serve basis on the day so do arrive early to ensure yourself a place.