Friday fantasies

Lots of new bits and pieces have been added to the IPKat's Forthcoming Events side bar over the past week, so do take the time to check it out. Thanks!


WIPO GOLD. Here's news of a new search and information toy from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Called WIPO GOLD, it's a

"free, on-line global intellectual property (IP) reference resource that provides quick and easy access to a broad collection of searchable IP data and tools relating to, for example, technology, brands, designs, statistics, WIPO standards, IP classification systems and IP laws and treaties".

To make sure it was working properly, the IPKat searched the resource for 'ipkat' and found a reassuring number of hits. Alas, he couldn't find Merpel ...


Around the blogs. There's a full-blooded critique of the Advocate General's Opinion in the soybean patent saga of Case C-428/08 Monsanto Technology LLC v Cefetra BV and others ("Purpose-bound protection for DNA sequences: in through the back door?") coming out in print soon in JIPLP -- but the online version is out already: details via the jiplp weblog. Quick off the mark with Brazil's choice of logo for the 2014 soccer World Cup was IP Tango's Latin blog queen Patricia Covarrubia. Read in PatLit why Russians have started patenting wooden sticks for lollypops. Afro-IP gives you the chance to read all 367 pages of Rwanda's new state-of-the-art IP law. Debutante Miri Frankel advises on how to enjoy yourself in various IP tax havens, starting with the Cayman Islands. Ian Derbyshire reports that JDD Courses now has its own blog for wannabe patent attorneys facing their exams ...


... and talking of candidacy for the patent profession, the IPKat has been reminded that the 2010 edition of the Study Guide to the Patents Acts is now available for keen P2 candidates here. In addition, a free revision schedule for the 2010 exams is available from the Study Guide forum, to help finals candidates manage their revision and – particularly for solo and out-of-town candidates – synchronise their studies with fellow sufferers. Note: more useful materials for candidates will feature on this weblog in the next few days.

Just referred to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling is Case C-125/10 Merck & Co Inc v Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt, in which the German Bundespatentgericht simply asks: "Can a supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products be granted if the period of time between the filing of the application for the basic patent and the date of first authorisation for marketing in the Community is shorter than five years?". Also referred is Case C-140/10 Greenstar-Kanzi Europe NV v Jean Hustin and Jo Goossens, in which the Hof van Cassatie van België (Belgium) seeks a ruling on the questions:

"1. Should Article 94 of Council Regulation ... 2100/94 ... Community plant variety rights, as amended ..., read in conjunction with Articles 11(1), 13(1) to 13(3), 16, 27 and 104 ..., be interpreted in such a way that the holder or the person enjoying the right of exploitation may bring an action for infringement against anyone who effects acts in respect of material which was sold or disposed of to him by a licensee of the right of exploitation if the limitations in the licensing contract between the licensee and the holder of the Community plant variety right that were stipulated to apply in the event of the sale of that material were not respected?

2. If so, is it of significance for the assessment of the infringement that the person effecting the aforementioned act is aware or is deemed to be aware of the limitations thus imposed in the said licensing contract?"