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You can build a lot with LEGO – But also your own design law?

The IPKat

Designs are meant to protect the appearance of the whole or a part of a product. In order to minimize the overlap with technical IP rights, no protection is granted for designs whose appearance is solely dictated by their technical function ( Art. The referring court also noted that the protection under Art. 8(2) CDR ).

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The Importance of Trademark Protection When Copyrighted Works Enter the Public Domain

Corsearch

Looking at the clip of Oswald below, you can clearly see elements of the character in Mickey’s modern design. An intelligent trademarks strategy is therefore needed, from screening and search reports to clear your proposed marks relating to works that are entering public domain, to watching services to monitor your marks once registered.

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Seeking Clarity on Comparison Prior Art: Seirus Petitions Supreme Court in Heat Wave Design Patent Dispute

Patently-O

by Dennis Crouch Seirus has petitioned for writ of certiorari in its long-running design patent dispute with Columbia Sportswear. Columbia’s design patent claims an “ornamental design of a heat reflective material” as shown in the figures. Federal Circuit’s 2023 Decision. Patent D657,093. Swisa, Inc. ,

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Conundrum behind registrability of GUIs as industrial designs in India

LexBlog IP

Graphical User Interface (GUI) refers to icons, windows, and/or menus to offer a mechanism to interact with electronic devices visually. There has been quite a bit of debate around the registrability of GUIs under industrial design law in India. Vs. The Controller of Patents and Designs and Anr. [1]

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Board of Appeal sweeps floor with Invalidity Division: vacuum cleaner bags do enjoy design right protection

The IPKat

Green Label (of 23 August 2021), the BOA ruled that vacuum cleaner bags enjoy design right protection, overturning a previous decision by the Invalidity Division. Background of the case In 2008, Miele successfully registered a Community Design (‘CD’), consisting of a depiction of a vacuum cleaner bag, one of which is shown below.

Designs 107
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Jean Paul Gaultier, Birth Your Own Venus

IPilogue

Following this designation , objects require authorization and a licence fee to be used commercially by third parties regardless of whether the work is in the public domain. The public domain refers to works not protected by copyright, which means the works can be used without acquiring permission or paying a fee.

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[Guest Post] Who owns the copyright to Nigeria’s “new” national anthem?

The IPKat

The IPKat has received and is pleased to host the following guest contribution by Katfriend Seun Lari-Williams , PhD researcher in the fields of copyright and dispute system design at the University of Antwerp, regarding copyright ownership of Nigeria’s re-adopted national anthem. Is the national anthem in the public domain?

Copyright 116