Friday fantasies

It's time to exercise
a restraining influence ...

Readers' comments. Over the years, one of the most cherished institutions of this weblog has been the facility to post readers' comments.  While this facility is moderated, the blog team has sought to exercise its prerogative to block readers' comments only where they are plainly spam, entirely irrelevant or (relatively infrequently) defamatory or obscene.  However, this blogger is concerned that this facility is being abused by a number of readers who have begun to post anonymous comments that consist of little other than abuse, whether of members of the blog team or of other readers who have posted comments.  Criticism of another person's opinions or reasoning is acceptable and indeed highly desirable, as is the correction of factual or legal errors -- but there is nothing that can be gained from posting personal abuse and insults, a practice that lowers the tone of debate and does nothing to enhance the reputation of this weblog as a place where even unpopular arguments can be articulated, analysed and, where appropriate, refuted.  Accordingly, this blogger proposes to reject comments that consist entirely or mainly of personal abuse. If any anonymous reader feels that his or her freedom of speech is being compromised (as has been asserted on some previous occasions when this blogger has refused to allow an offensive comment), the person affected is free to post that abuse elsewhere and link back to the Katpost and/or comment. Alternatively, the abusive commenter can emerge from the protective shell of anonymity and give verifiable particulars of his or her identity, so that readers can ascertain for themselves the value, or lack of it, of the ad hominem abuse which they seek to publicise.

Forthcoming events.  Don't forget to check the IPKat's Forthcoming Events page, here: there are always new seminars, lectures and conferences ahead, sometimes free and often with special price reductions for IPKat readers. 

This Kat's first academic employer, the Law School in Trinity College Dublin, has just advertised an assistant professorship in intellectual property law [historical note: in 1979 this Kat succeeded in getting some IP teaching on to the TCD syllabus under the banner of 'Intellectual Property' and not just as a couple of lectures in the Personal Property course. He is thrilled to see what progress has been made there since he left!]. Full details can be obtained online here. The post summary is as follows: 

"The permanent assistant professorship in law is a full-time position. The successful candidate will lead the development of the Law School’s scholarship and teaching in Intellectual Property law. Applications are welcome from legal scholars in the field of Intellectual Property law and related areas. The successful candidate will be required to contribute to the lecturing programme of the Law School and to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students. He or she will also be required to carry out administrative duties, to engage in research and to be active in seeking research funding. The closing date for applications is 31 July".

An excited email from this Kat's friends at Elipe [briefly mentioned in a round-up here] tells him that this fledgling business's new website is now live at www.elipe-global.com. Elipe has been created to help private and public sector organisms focus on policy issues where IP and enforcement are involved, as distinct from providing legal services.  Says this Kat, if the only thing Elipe achieves is to improve the generally woeful standard of media releases and lobbyists' manifestos issued by those folk who seek its services, it will have done something to improve the IP environment. 

Around the weblogs. Does "The Spirit of Cuba" mean "the soul, mood or essence of Cuba", or does the phrase refer to "the alcoholic beverage of Cuba"?  If you were to find it on, say, the cover of a CD or as the name of an aeroplane, it might mean the former -- but when you apply to register those words for rum and rum-based alcoholic beverages in Class 33, consumers might just jump to the conclusion that they are a description of what they might find in a bottle.  Former guest Kat Laetitia explains on Class 46, here.   Elsewhere, Mike Mireles on IP Finance lists some criteria for measuring the success of university technology transfer offices and asks readers what they think of the suitability of those concepts as metrics. The jiplp weblog posts Martin Husovec's penetrating analysis of the issues involved in site-blocking injunctions following the CJEU's ruling in UPC Telekabel. Finally, if you live under the mistaken belief that the word "Telegu" is something to do with televisual or telephonic technology and associated goods and products, check out this recent item on Marty Schwimmer's Trademark Blog for a spot of cultural education.

Neuftec: a footnote.  Those readers with long memories and a firm grasp of attention to detail will instantly recall this weblog's 2008 post ("Oxonica v Neuftec: Flawed Boilerplates") on IP contracts and how not to draft them.  In terms of 'matters arising', Neuftec has been back in court again (Energenics and Neuftec v Hazarika [2014] EWHC 1845 (Ch)), noted here, where a number of claims against former Neuftec director Ronendra Hazarika were dismissed, to his evident relief.