Wednesday whimsies

Warrant Officer Johan Nortje Appeal. The IPKat's good friend Frederick Mostert has asked him to draw the following to the attention of readers, which he is pleased to do:

The South African fight against counterfeiting was hit hard when Warrant Officer Johan Nortje was killed in the driveway of his home in January this year after being shot twice in the chest. Nortje worked with the South African Revenue Service, harbour police and Customs officials and was known for his integrity and courage. Early in January, Nortje organised a R100 million counterfeit bust in Durban harbour which, it is thought, led to his becoming a target - a businessman who is known for importing knock-offs from China ordered a R30,000 hit on his life. Three men were arrested for the murder and the fourth - the suspected trigger man - was shot and killed. 

Warrant Officer Nortje leaves behind a wife and three children. Several intellectual property practitioners and law firms will contribute towards providing financial assistance to the Nortje family. Anyone who would like to make a contribution is invited to make a deposit directly into the bank account of Mrs Nortje (an account created specifically for this purpose) as per the following details: 

Bank: First National Bank

Bank code: 250135
Account holder: KMA Nortje
Account number: 6230 4283568
International Swift code FIRNZAJJ

Further information concerning Warrant Officer Nortje can be found on the Afro-IP weblog here.

Following the IPKat's citation of Howard Knopf's piece on Payback's attempt to claim the copyright symbol as a trade mark, the Kat has been reminded by reader Stewart Cameron that there is an IP practice which uses the symbol too -- albeit in a more discreet manner than Payback's. The Kat suspects that there are plenty more examples out there, and has no doubt that he will be hearing from readers on this topic.

Gray -- in colour!

Around the blogs. Miri Frankel is taking a break from the 1709 Blog, while she catches up with the exciting challenges of her new position.  Meanwhile, the same blog welcomes a new team member, Naomi Jane Gray: Naomi, a partner in US West Coast practice Harvey Siskind LLP, is a blogger in her own right (Shades of Gray) and also tweets.  Art & Artifice considers issues arising from a new sculpture of Pope John Paul II which allegedly resembles Mussolini.  The MARQUES Class 46 blog is back online after some essential maintenance and repair.  The jiplp weblog reviews a new book on how to present an argument better here.  PatLit's PCC Page No. 28 takes a further look at costs issues arising from litigating in the Patents County Court, England and Wales.

Understanding IP: Design & Economic Growth -- the seminar held on 11 May 2011 at the House of Commons -- was noted by the IPKat here.  An official report of the event has now been prepared and it available here.