IPKAT COMPETITION

On 20 June 2006, CLT is running a conference entitled Sharing Names (full programme available here). The conference, which takes place at the Cafe Royal, London, investigates the problems that can occur when the same name or trade mark is used by multiple parties and how these issues can be resolved or avoided.

Issues to be considered include:

• Honest concurrent use
• The effect of prior co-existence
• Collective marks and joint ownership of marks
• Infringement through use of the same name on (i) dissimilar goods and (ii) the internet
• Defences in shared name situations
• Shared name transactions, including (i) co-branding; (ii) splitting trade marks - competition concerns and (iii) sublicensing

Speakers are:

• David Landau (UK TM Registry)
• Arnaud Folliard-Monguiral (OHIM)
• Dev Gangjee (LSE)
• Belinda Isaac
• Simon Chapman (FFW)
• Patricia McGovern (P McGovern & Co)
• Lindsay Lane (8 New Square)
• Michael Bloch QC (Wilberforce Chambers)
• Isabel Davies (Howrey)
• Neil Wilkof (Herzog Fox & Neeman)

The normal price for admission is £495+VAT, in return for which attendees will receive 6 lovely CPD points, but the IPKat has a free place to give away to the person who most effectively completes his gruelling task.

The free place will be given to the person who comes up with the best anagram of any one of the following terms (multiple attempts are allowed though):

• Elizabeth Emanuel
• Coca Cola
• Shared name
• Essential function
• Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
• Directive 97/55/EC of European Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 1997 amending Directive 84/450/EEC concerning misleading advertising so as to include comparative advertising

Send your anagrams here. Answers must be in by 1pm on Wednesday 12 April.