The IPKat currently has two competitions up-and-running, with a third coming shortly ...


As for the first of the two, the prize is complimentary admission to the 2011 Intellectual Property Round-up Conference on 24 January (conference details here).  The rules are simple: author JK Rowling seeks your advice as to the title of the next Harry Potter book (the one she said she'd never write) on how Harry and his friends graduate from Hogwarts and secure gainful employment within in the World Intellectual Property Organization. The title must begin with the words "Harry Potter and the ...", but the rest is up to you. Entries should be emailed to the IPKat here, with the subject line "Potter WIPO". Closing date, 10 January 2011. There are some great entries so far, but don't let that deter you!


The second offers as a prize the thrill of complimentary admission to Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights Effectively, organised by CLT Conferences and to be held in London on 8 March 2011. As ever, there's a great programme (here) and IPKat team member Jeremy is in the chair. The cast includes new Patents County Court judge Colin Birss QC, plus attractions such as the dynamic Karen Fong (Rouse Legal, and Docklands' answer to Elle Macpherson), the effervescent Ruth Orchard (Anti Counterfeiting Group) and Zuzana Heckova (European Commission's IP Enforcement Squad). The competition requires you to write an IP enforcement limerick. Please send yours to the IPKat here by not later than close of play on 8 February 2011 with the subject line "Enforcement limerick".

"The new logo is a graphical representation of the WIPO HQ building, a building almost unknown to those who wish to utilise works, and which is staffed by people who earn a lot of money and who think they are influential.

The seven lines represent the seven elements of IP policy areas that deliver most confusion and anguish to both IP owners and those seeking to utilise works fairly without permission. This confusion is further exacerbated by allowing regional and national governments to create, interpret and apply IP laws in their own way, without reference to the policies of WIPO. Because we are so powerless we have demonstrated this confusion by having the seven lines cross over each other - we don't know where our power lies or where we are going so why should you!

The seven lines disappear into the far distance to indicate WIPO's ultimate aim of achieving total domination of IP by the IP owner in perpetuity. This strategic objective is further demonstrated by the seven lines also appearing to be stylised hooks. Now everyone can see visually the stranglehold we wish IP owners to gain over their works. Once hooked into our policies, works will only be able to be utilised by gaining permission, and paying a fee. We want all IP owners to benefit in kind for their intellectual efforts.

The design itself rests on the acronym of the organization, an acronym that those seeking fair use of works 'Wi(ee)PO..ver'!"

The IPKat has been busily reading the brochures of two fascinating events, both organised by C5, that are coming up in the nearish future.

Pharma Patent Lifecycles (14 and 15 May) is only five weeks away and, after a frantic exchange of emails, the IPKat has been able to secure a free place worth thousands of pounds (at least, that's what it looks like) for the winner of a simple competition. By close of play on Thursday 30 April, just complete, by adding not more than 20 words,  the sentence that begins "If I were a pharma patent ...".  Please send your entries to the IPKat here, marked "PPL". The best entries will be published. Full details of the conference programme and sundry arrangements are available here.  The organisers have also told the IPKat that they are extending to his readers a "buy a delegate place, get a workshop free" offer [note: one of the workshops is a Master Class on SPCs], the workshop taking place on 13 May.  To activate this offer, download the coded brochure here.

The IPKat is delighted to learn that the International Trademark Association (INTA) has just announced two academic competitions for the coming year. The first is the Ladas Memorial Award Competition. This competition, supported by the law firm of Ladas & Parry LLP, is in memory of the outstanding contributions to international intellectual property law made by the distinguished practitioner and author Stephen P. Ladas. There are two prize categories: student and professional. In each category, the award is given to the best paper on the subject of trade mark law or a matter that directly relates to or affects trade marks. Submission deadline is 11 January 2008. Each winner receives US $2,000 in cash; the student also gets a travel and lodging stipend of up to US $1,000 to attend the INTA Gala at INTA's Annual Meeting. Winners also receive a set of Dr Ladas' three-volume treaties and are invited to attend the 2008 INTA Gala, held as part of INTA's 130th Annual Meeting in Berlin, Germany. You can read the entry rules here.

The second award is the Pattishall Medal for Teaching Excellence. This Award, in honour of Beverly W. Pattishall, recognizes educators in the business and legal fields for outstanding instruction in the trade mark and trade identity field (Beverly W. Pattishall was a long-time partner in the firm of Pattishall, McAuliffe, Newbury, Hilliard & Geraldson LLP). The Medal is presented every four years to the university or graduate school academic nominated by his/her peers or students, and who best exemplifies the qualities of excellence and innovation in teaching subjects related to trade marks and trade identity. The submission deadline is 25 January 2008. The winner gets a cash award of US $2,500 plus a travel and lodging stipend of up to US $1,000 to attend the 2008 INTA Gala in Berlin, Germany at INTA's 130th Annual Meeting, where he/she will be recognized before the outstanding volunteers and leaders of the Association. You can see the official Pattishall rules here.