Barcode technology trialled in Sweden A new anticounterfeiting system to identify genuine medicines is to be piloted in Sweden later this year. The 2D data matrix barcode, revealed last month by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries Associations (EFPIA), contains a unique serial number and when scanned will alert pharmacists to the possibility of a counterfeit product.
The pilot program, which will last three to four months, will be run by EFPIA with pharmacy chain Apoteket and wholesalers Tamro and KD. The coding is being developed by EFPIA with GIRP, the European Federation of full line wholesalers.
EPO begins search for new president Alison Brimelow, president of the EPO, will not stand for a second term after her three-year contract expires at the end of June 2010. A spokesman for the EPO said that she had emailed her decision not to seek a renewal of her contract to the staff at the IP office. Member states will now begin the process of recruiting a successor.
Jesper Kongstad, head of the Danish IP office and deputy chair of the EPO's Administrative Council, which consists of representatives of all of the Patent Office's member states, said that the Council would discuss the arrangements for appointing a new president at its next meeting in Munich in June. One of the issues that it will need to decide is how long the new president will serve, as well as the procedures for appointing him or her.
"Each delegation will have discussions with their capitals," said Kongstad. "It's a highly political, sensitive issue."
Apple's Ive loses UDRP case over own name Apple designer Jonathan Ive last month lost a bid to have domain names containing his name transferred, in a sign of the difficulty of using the UDRP to protect individuals' identities.
Panellist John Swinson rejected Ive's claim that he had trade mark rights in his name, stating: "The evidence provided indicates that the Complainant (and Apple Inc) do not promote the Complainant's name as a brand or trade mark, and therefore do not use it in trade or commerce."
The case was filed in March over the domain names jonathan-ive.com, jonathanive.com, jony-ive.com and jonyive.com. The sites are run by Harry Jones, who has no connection with Ive but claims to be a fan of the designer, who played a key role in the design of the iMac, Apple iBook, iPod and iPhone. Jones's sites also carry a disclaimer saying it is not owned by or affiliated with Ive or Apple.
Ive has two pending Community trade mark applications for his name and may be able to file another UDRP case if and when his applications are registered.
EPO receives briefs on software patents The Enlarged Board of Appeal (EBA) of the EPO has received 100 amicus curiae briefs in a controversial case over the patentability of software. Submissions were made by organisations such as AIPPI, JIPA and the association of representatives before the EPO, epi. Other briefs were submitted by Red Hat, Apple, The International Chamber of Commerce, the Polish Patent Office, IBM and Philips.
EPO President Alison Brimelow asked the seven-person EBA to address four questions about the patentability of computer-implemented inventions at the EPO in October last year. It is not expected to publish its decision until next year at the earliest.
Brands get aggressive in the downturn |
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More than four out of five executives say they are more likely to defend their brands in a recession, yet only one in five believe that managers at their company are spending extra time on brand protection, according to a survey of 222 UK businesses. The results of the survey, carried out by Marks & Clerk, reveal that 82% of respondents think that budgets for brand promotion and protection will be cut as a result of the economic downturn. Pam Withers, a partner at the firm, said that companies should be more proactive when it comes to protecting their intellectual property. The executives surveyed are also pessimistic about the prospects for luxury and so-called ethical brands in the economic downturn. Only 14% believe that luxury brands will prosper, while less than four in 10 think that environmental brands will fare well in the recession.
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