CLASS 99
The blog for design law, in Europe and worldwide. This weblog is written by a team of design experts and fans. To contribute, or join us, or for any other reason, email class99@marques.org.
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MONDAY, 9 MAY 2011
Auto news from Belgium
We are grateful, as always, to play Boswell to Intellectual Property's own Dr Johnson, Peter Groves, for steering us to NautaDutilh's report of their success in enforcing copyright in Belgium in respect of car spare parts. If anyone has more details of the case, please post a comment - sounds interesting.
Another reminder of the curious state of affairs by which the EU Design Directive requires European States to provide copyright protection for designs, without harmonising such copyright protection either with that of other States or with design law. The result is that parts which could not be protected by copyright in the UK, or by Community design right in Belgium, can nonetheless obtain copyright, for perhaps as long as 70 years after the death of the "artist" (whoever that might be in this case).
On the general theme of copyright, it surely cannot be long now before the UK Supreme Court hands down its decision in the Lucasfilm v Ainsworth Star Wars case. Watch this space - we will keep you posted.
Finally, since we are plugging NautaDutilh, our congratulations to Professor Charles Gielen for his elevation to Officer of the Orange Order. We don't know whether orange trousers are part of the regalia - if so, perhaps best to avoid the footie! Amongst Charles' many services to the industry is his editorship (together with Verena von Bomhard) of the long-awaited, and now hot-off-the-press, text Concise European Trademark and Design Law - recommended for your design law bookshelf. Posted by: David Musker @ 09.55
Tags: car design, copyright, spare parts,
Perm-A-Link: https://www.marques.org/blogs/class99?XID=BHA244
Auto news from Belgium
Another reminder of the curious state of affairs by which the EU Design Directive requires European States to provide copyright protection for designs, without harmonising such copyright protection either with that of other States or with design law. The result is that parts which could not be protected by copyright in the UK, or by Community design right in Belgium, can nonetheless obtain copyright, for perhaps as long as 70 years after the death of the "artist" (whoever that might be in this case).
On the general theme of copyright, it surely cannot be long now before the UK Supreme Court hands down its decision in the Lucasfilm v Ainsworth Star Wars case. Watch this space - we will keep you posted.
Finally, since we are plugging NautaDutilh, our congratulations to Professor Charles Gielen for his elevation to Officer of the Orange Order. We don't know whether orange trousers are part of the regalia - if so, perhaps best to avoid the footie! Amongst Charles' many services to the industry is his editorship (together with Verena von Bomhard) of the long-awaited, and now hot-off-the-press, text Concise European Trademark and Design Law - recommended for your design law bookshelf. Posted by: David Musker @ 09.55
Tags: car design, copyright, spare parts,
Perm-A-Link: https://www.marques.org/blogs/class99?XID=BHA244
MARQUES does not guarantee the accuracy of the information in this blog. The views are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of MARQUES. Seek professional advice before action on any information included here.
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