Session Topic:Augmented and Virtual Reality - Intellectual Property Issues, Now and in the Future
Session Description: Augmented and virtual reality experience are increasingly available to ordinary individuals. Many companies are striving to produce AR and VR experiences for customers either to deliver new content and services or for brand promotion. Existing intellectual property laws frequently offer inadequate protection for VR and AR content or brand use within these environments. The presenter will discuss the fields of AR and VR, focusing on limitations of current North American trademark and industrial design (design patent) laws that make it difficult for brand owners and content creators to protect their intellectual property in virtual and augmented worlds. Possible future development of trademark and industrial design laws will also be discussed.
Session Topic:Oppositions and Changes to the Rules of Procedure at the EPO on Appeals
Session Description:On 1 January 2020, revised Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal (RPBA) at the EPO entered into force. The new rules make it even more difficult than before for a party to amend a case during appeal. Although the RPBA concern appeal proceedings as such, there is a direct impact on how a party should conduct the first-instance proceedings, particularly with regard to auxiliary requests. This session will summarize and explain the revised RPBA, as well as discuss some practical implications thereof.
Session Topic: Reconsidering the Inventive step requirement
Session Description: Justice Nicholas will discuss the history and development of the inventive step requirement and the various analytical tools used to determine whether it is satisfied. He will question whether these are fit for purpose in the era of big data analytics and artificial intelligence.
Session Topic:What Constitutes use of a Trade Mark in the USA
Session Description: Danielle Johnson will talk about "use" requirements for trademarks in the U.S. for purposes of demonstrating use during the trademark application process, maintaining existing registrations, and defending registrations in non-use cancellation proceedings.
Session Topic:(i) NZ Trade Mark Case and Legislation Update; and (ii) Removal Proceedings for Non-Use in New Zealand – What are the differences?
Session Description:Clive Elliott QC will provide an update on recent trade mark cases and any legislative changes in trade mark law or practice in New Zealand. He will also talk about the law and practice in New Zealand in relation to trade mark cancellation proceedings for non-use and how it differs from the position in Australia.
Session Topic: Australian Trade Mark and Legislation Update
Session Description: Ed Heerey QC is back to provide his high voltage update of the decided trade mark cases and any legislative changes in trade mark law or practice in Australia during the past year.
