This week on MIP: Spruson & Ferguson and East IP exclusives | MoFo exits China

June 21 2024

We provide a rundown of Managing IP’s news and analysis from the week, and review what’s been happening elsewhere in IP

Exclusive: Spruson & Ferguson hires new Asia MD

Spruson and Ferguson has hired a new managing director for Asia after former leader Kristian Robinson resigned in February, Managing IP revealed.

Singapore-based Duarte Lima, who previously worked at business school INSEAD in different roles, most recently as chief of staff, will lead Spruson and Ferguson’s Asia operations.

To read the full article, click here.

Exclusive: East IP hires Asia veteran as expansion continues

Newly formed China-based firm East IP hired Tom Treutler, a former managing partner at Tilleke & Gibbins, as a senior consultant.

Treutler has spent more than 25 years in Asia working with international and regional law firms. He joined East IP yesterday, June 20. He worked in the Vietnam office of the law firm Tilleke & Gibbins until January this year.

To read the full article, click here.

‘Bullshit in is bullshit out’: practitioners urge EPO quality drive

Practitioners from in-house and academia, as well as a judge at the Unified Patent Court, have outlined why high-quality patents are so important for legal certainty amid some concern that the EPO is prioritising grant rates and productivity over quality.

Speakers from Siemens, Ericsson, Syngenta, and a judge at the Munich division of the UPC formed part of a conference held in Germany, and broadcast online, by the Industry Patent Quality Charter.

To read the full article, click here.

Elsewhere in IP

Scotch guard

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (INPI) has granted a Geographical Indication (GI) for Scotch, referring to whisky produced in Scotland. The registration, granted on June 18, is the first foreign GI registered by INPI since 2019, and the 124th in total.

Amazon off target

Amazon was ordered to pay nearly $122 million for infringing a patent owned by AlmondNet related to targeted internet advertising technology, the District Court for the Western District of Texas ruled on Friday, June 14. A jury at the Waco court agreed with patent owner AlmondNet that elements of Amazon's advertising platform infringed two patents related to personalised ad targeting.

Brexit case

The Court of Justice of the EU dismissed an appeal filed by the EUIPO on Thursday, June 20, in a case surrounding the UK’s EU exit and a figurative EU Trademark containing the word ‘Basmati’.

UK food company Indo European Foods had opposed a third party’s EUTM application. The Boards of Appeal rejected Indo’s opposition prompting Indo to file an action at the General Court (GC). During the GC proceedings, the Brexit transition period expired, meaning UK rights ceased to have effect in the EU.

The EUIPO argued that Indo’s action had therefore become inadmissible for loss of legitimate interest. The GC, and now the CJEU, disagreed.

Let’s talk

The EUIPO announced on Thursday, June 20 that parties involved in EU trademark (EUTM) cancellation proceedings will soon be able to request mediation. The service, which can be requested at any time after a cancellation request is filed, will be available from July 1.

INTA award

INTA has received the 2024 Association Award from the Global Anti-Counterfeiting Group (GACG), the association announced on Tuesday, June 18. The GACG is an international network of national and regional IP protection and enforcement organisations.

China exit

Morrison Foerster is to close its Beijing office, reportedly due to "manpower consolidation" and lease expiration, it was reported on Wednesday, June 19. The office has 4 lawyers in total, including two who work in IP transactions.

That's it for today, see you again next week.