Managing IP’s most-read stories in July 2019

1) 'Simply irreplaceable’: tributes pour in for Judge Carr

The month’s most popular article came in sad circumstances as lawyers paid tribute to England & Wales High Court judge Mr Justice Carr, who passed away. The judge was described as a “wonderful, kind, brilliant and thoroughly good man.” 

2) EPO exam results: why the UK tops the class 

Also attracting attention was the latest data on the pass rate for the EPO exams. For the fourth year running UK attorneys outperformed their French and German counterparts. We asked attorneys from all three jurisdictions why this is the case.

3) Richard Arnold: runners and riders to replace ‘fearless’ judge 

Another judicial story proved popular this month. With the news that England & Wales High Court judge Mr Justice Arnold is set to join the Court of Appeal later this year, we spoke to lawyers to assess the judge’s impact on IP law and ask who his replacement might be. 

4) Case preview: database rights at play as Ordnance Survey in court 

A case combining copyright and database rights kicked off as Ordnance Survey, the national mapping agency for Great Britain, was in court to defend a case pitting it against a small and medium-sized enterprise. 

5) USPTO testifies about fraudulent TMs 

The office was asked about fines for fraudulent actors during a recent Congress hearing. Mary Boney Denison, commissioner for trademarks, said that while the USPTO does not have the ability to impose fines on fraudulent actors, “if Congress would like to give it to us, we’d be happy to talk to you about it.”