Managing IP’s most-read stories in September 2019

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Managing IP’s most-read stories in September 2019

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An ‘absurd’ complaint about AI and copyright and a comparison of private practice and in-house life featured in last month’s most popular stories

1)      AI and copyright come together in ‘absurd’ complaint

Our most popular story covered legal action that the Association of American Publishers (AAP) filed against Audible, an Amazon-owned audiobook producer, in August. Somelawyers criticised the “absurd” nature of the case, in which the AAP sought to prevent Audible from rolling out a new service that provides machine-generated text to accompany recordings. 

2)      Should I stay or should I go? Private practice v in-house

Next up was our three-part series on the differences between private practice and in-house life. We spoke to a range of lawyers on both sides of the fence to find out what motivates them and what, if anything, would encourage them to switch over. Work-life balance and the pay gap were two of the main issues covered. 

3)      EPO to consider decade-old law on computer patentability

In third place was our report on an upcoming case at the EPO (G1/19). The EPO’s Enlarged Board of Appeal is to consider 13-year-old case law on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions in a dispute that has attracted a flurry of input from industry associations, professionals and businesses, including IBM, Siemens and Philips.

4)      UKIPO: UPC before Brexit ‘no longer possible’

Brexit featured in our fourth most-read story, after the UKIPO said that the Unified Patent Court (UPC) could not come into operation before Brexit this month. Luke McDonagh, senior lecturer at City University in London, told us that if there is no deal, there is “very little chance the UK will remain in the UPC”. 

5)      Brexit: IP one of the ‘least affected’ areas

It was all about Brexit again in our fifth most popular story, which came live from the AIPPI World Congress in London. Panellist Ewan Nettleton, senior patent counsel for oncology at Novartis in Switzerland, said he was very pleased with the provisions made by the UKIPO in preparation for Brexit.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Attorneys explain why there are early signs that the US Supreme Court could rule in favour of ISP Cox in a copyright dispute
A swathe of UPC-related hires suggests firms are taking the forum seriously, as questions over the transitional stage begin
A win for Nintendo in China and King & Spalding hiring a prominent patent litigator were also among the top talking points
Rebecca Newman at Addleshaw Goddard, who live-reported on the seminal dispute, unpicks the trials and tribulations of the case and considers its impact
Attorneys predict how Lululemon’s trade dress and design patent suit against Costco could play out
Lawyers at Linklaters analyse some of the key UPC trends so far, and look ahead to life beyond the transition period
David Rodrigues, who previously worked at an IP boutique, said he may become more involved in transactional work at his new firm
Indian smartphone maker Lava must pay $2.3 million as a security deposit for past sales, as its dispute with Dolby over audio coding SEPs plays out
Powell Gilbert’s opening in Düsseldorf, complete with a new partner hire, continues this summer’s trend of UPC-related lateral movement
IP leaders at Brandsmiths and Bird & Bird, who were on opposing sides at the UK Supreme Court in Iconix v Dream Pairs, unpick the landmark case and its ramifications
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