Friday Fantasies

Photo by De la Colicaranica

CIPA - "Leaving the EU is likely to have a negative effect on IP in the UK," according to CIPA's announced position on Brexit. In addition to concerns about's Brexit's potential impact on the UP and UPC, CIPA believes that:

• A Brexit could compromise the UK’s access to, participation in and influence over the world’s IP systems. This would not be good for either UK or international IP, or for the role of the UK’s IP attorneys and IP users within the global IP system,
• Since the IP system supports and incentivises research, development and innovation in the UK, remaining in the EU should better benefit such activities and in turn their contribution to the UK economy,
• A Brexit is likely to have a detrimental effect on the current businesses of CIPA members and other IP professionals, and on their competitiveness, in particular in the European market,
• Since these businesses include significant service exports, their success also affects the UK’s export economy.

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Publication - In other UP and European news, Katfriend Ingve Björn Stjerna has published a revised an extended version of The Parliamentary History of the European Unitary Patent, available in German and English. Comments and further details from the PatLit blog here.

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Consultations - The UK Government has been busy this week, posting the outcomes of one consultation and three new ones. The government response to Proposal for changes in registered design fees has pretty images and confirms the government's plan to enact reduced fees for online design registrations and some other bits and bobs.

Ambitious cat has ambitions
Photo by Falense

In new consultations, the UK IPO's Technical Review: Section 72 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA) closes April 20th and is the second consultation on the subject. The consultation includes a technical review of the draft regulations.  These changes follow legal action brought by the Football Association Premier League (FAPL) regarding the use of unauthorised satellite decoder systems to show Premier League football matches in pubs. DCMS is launching an "ambition document" in Libraries Deliver: Ambition for Public Libraries in England 2016-2021 which touches on copyright. DCMS is also looking at Broadband Universal Service Obligation which could improve digital connectivity (with potential implications on the copyright-reliant media industries.)

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Events - Finally, a reminder of two upcoming events: "More Than Just a Game: Interactive Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law (second edition)" is at Queen Mary in London next Friday the 7th. The event is advertised by invitation-only, but you can e-mail the organisers. On the 13th of April, also at Queen Mary, is a public seminar hosted by CREATe and BLACA to discuss a paper asking, "Is There a EU Copyright Jurisprudence? An Empirical Analysis of the Workings of the European Court of Justice." Those interested in attending should click on the EventBrite link halfway down this page.