China signs up for Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot

The State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China (SIPO) have commenced a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Japanese Patent Office (JPO).

The Science of Pasta

The New York Times has a fascinating piece on the geometries of various types of pastas from a recently released book called “Pasta by Design,” by architect George L. Legendre.

Dr Pepper parting ways with its oldest bottler

The Associated press reports that Dr Pepper Snapple Group is parting ways with its oldest bottler – settling a trademark feud over a retro-version of the drink called Dublin Dr Pepper.

Mischa Bags Trade Mark Victory

Actress Mischa Barton’s company has won the right to trade mark her name, signature and logo in Australia after a two and half year battle withan Australian hand bag company.

No Copyright in White and Yellow Pages

The Full Court of the Federal Court in Telstra Corporation Limited v Phone Directories Company Pty Ltd [2010] FCAFC 149 (15 December 2010) held that there was no copyright in either of Telstra’s White or Yellow Pages.

Whiskey War ends with wild geese triumph

The decision of the Federal Court in Austin, Nichols & Co Inc v Lodestar Anstalt [2011] FCA 39 illustrates that the discretion to retain a trade mark on the Register, where a prima facie case for removal for non-use has been made out, may be exercised where there is a possibility of public confusion if …
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ACCC takes action against Google over “sponsored links”

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently taken action in the Federal Court against Google and its Australian subsidiary Google Australia in relation to Sponsored Links (“AdWords”) displayed by Google on its search result pages