Wednesday whimsies

Well done, Birgit, we're proud of you!  The IPKat and Merpel extend their paws in hearty congratulation of one of their own.  Fellow Kat Birgit Clark -- who started her blogging career as an ordinary mortal -- has now ascended to the lofty rank of Partner in the thriving IP practice of Venner Shipley LLP with effect from 1 May.  According to the firm's media release, Birgit qualified as an Attorney at Law in Germany in 2001 and subsequently qualified as a UK and European trade mark attorney, as well as a solicitor (England & Wales). She has been specialising in trade marks and designs in the United Kingdom since 2006. Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice (JIPLP) editorial board member Birgit, who speaks and writes extensively in the field of IP law in both English and her native German, is also a long-term contributor to the MARQUES Class 46 weblog.  She is best known as the world's leading authority on German polar bear cub trade marks: her 2008 article in JIPLP, "Knut, Flocke, and Co: the bear facts revealed" (here), is the most-read JIPLP article of all time.

Ever dreamed of being an INTA Intern?  If so, you've come to the right weblog.  The INTA Europe Representative in Brussels is looking for an Intern – Communications and Membership.  The position ideally starts in June onwards. The successful candidate will be currently enrolled at a university or higher education institute, since the internship agreement will be signed between the university and the INTA. There's no pay as such, but the lucky appointee gets a subsistence allowance. Any questions? Ask the eloquent Milesh S. Gordhandas (Coordinator - Europe Representative Office) by emailing him at mgordhandas@inta.org. Closing date for applications is 20 April, so get a move-on! For further particulars, just click here

Watching the birdie ...

Are you passionate, proactive, policy-oriented -- and in need of a (new) job? Twitter is looking for an Intellectual Property & Identity Policy Specialist, with a penchant for trade mark law, to work full time in the company's San Francisco.  Twitter gives some clue as to what is needed:

Passionate about online speech, intellectual property, and user rights? As an Intellectual Property & Identity Policy Specialist, you are at the forefront of these challenging issues, expertly managing policy enforcement, advocating for user safety, and maintaining trust in Twitter globally.

At its core, your job will be to review a high volume of online content and develop scalable tools and processes for policy enforcement. You will process removal requests (involving trademark and fraud issues), field incoming complaints with internal tools, and analyze data to inform policy development. A proactive attitude and particular attention to detail is absolutely essential, as is the ability to be both firm and fair. We're a passionate team of intensely motivated, detail-oriented folks, seeking the same to join us!

If you want to know more, just click here

Around the weblogs.  Not a lot has been happening since last this Kat prowled his own particular corner of the blogosphere. Former guest Kat Stefano Barazza has crafted yet another effortlessly stylish piece for PatLit, this time on the USPTO and latest thoughts on what to do about abusive patent litigation.  Rising star and Katfriend Tomasz Rychlicki gives us the reassuring news on Class 46 that the Poles can be expected to distinguish TEFAPAK from TEFLON, even if Du Pont thinks they can't.  the copyright-focused 1709 Blog has sprouted another busy CopyKat round-up from Ben Challis, here. Finally, though it's not strictly a blog, the Legal Knowledge portal deserves a Katpat for providing some jolly interesting IP material, not the least of which is an engaging and cleverly-organised article, "The Svensson judgment; did the CJEU break every link with copyright law?", by Dutch authors Joost Becker and Mark Jansen (Dirkzwager advocaten & notarissen NV, Arnhem). This piece offers lots to read and plenty to click: you can devour it at your leisure here.

Are you passionate, proactive, party-oriented -- and in need of some serious fun?  If so, and if you are young, fun, talented and can afford it, don't forget the unsurpassable pleasures of the Intellectual Property Ball Trainees Ball, which takes place on 19 July 2014 in the Rosewood, High Holborn.  This Kat, who is far too old and cantankerous to be seen near such places at times of youthful jollity, has been given to understand that some good folk have failed to apply since they are under the misapprehension that only current IP trainees may do so.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Even former trainees -- of whatever IP profession -- can still gain admission, so long as they can still pass as trainees in the half-light of a dimly glamorous venue. To order your tickets, click here.  There's good news for those with dietary preferences too: if you don't like the taste of the usual cardboard tickets, you get get special vegetarian tickets instead, presumably with lots of roughage ...