Friday Fantasies

Essay Competition. CREATE, together with TrademarkNow and SCRIPTed are seeking submissions for an essay competition with the theme of  "How will Artificial Intelligence change the practice of Intellectual Property law”". What will happen when A.I. can create and invent?  Or do you have a vision for how A.I. could streamline litigation?  For a chance at the top prize of €300, and more information, see here. The deadline for submissions is 30th August.

The UK IPO has unveiled its 2020 vision, in "IP Enforcement 2020". The report promises to review platform liability online, and the familiar strains of education about IP and "follow the money" strategies to cut off income streams of profitable online piracy can be found, too. IP Minister, Baroness Lucy Neville-Rolfe said: 

"As a country famed for its creators and innovators, we know that … intellectual property rights lie at the heart of the economic and creative wellbeing of the UK. But these crucial IP rights are undermined and devalued on all fronts by infringement, whether by the wholesale sharing of digital content through myriad file sharing and streaming websites, deliberate copying of patent or design protected products, or the importation and sale of counterfeit goods on a massive scale."

The Australian Productivity Commission has recently published a report calling for a liberalising overhaul of copyright and patent laws. The 600 page document, initially designed to prepare codification of fair use down under, also managed to find room for recommendations including shorter copyright duration, stricter criteria for granting patents, and bypassing geoblocking restrictions. More information here.

Torres Strait Islanders have recently been briefed in their intellectual property rights over the course of a 3 day forum organised by the Regional Authority (TSRA). The main objectives were to empower artists and cultural workers through education about the "forgotten" value of IP to them. Representatives from the Arts Law Centre of Australia, the Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Queensland, Viscopy, the Copyright Council all made appearances, along with the formidable indigenous cultural property rights lawyer and advocate, Terri Janke. The National Indigenous Times' report of the event is here.

The IPKat scrubs up 

Have you consulted the events page recently? If not, you may have missed updates such as the The International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) Copycat Packaging Event which has been rescheduled to 2 June in London. John Noble from British Brands Group and Michael Edenborough QC from Serle Court will be discussing the topic. 

Or the IP Ball on 25 June, which promises to be a good time in favour of a great cause, the Great Ormond Street Hospital. This year's Ball has taken as its theme a celebration of all things Brazil, and the dress code accordingly is black tie with a hint of the carnival to it. Reserve tickets here before Friday 20 May.

Or, last but by no means least, the "#leastpretentious event of INTA2015", the Tweetup - which is back at INTA this year at a Baskin Robbins ice cream store, on Monday 23 May from 3pm, for tweeting INTA attendees to relax and enjoy some local cuisine.