Sunday Surprises

January is nearly over and it seems almost impossible to catch up with how fast time is going by. However, it is never impossible to catch up with the best IP events. Check this week's events and a small note from our PermaKat Neil Wilkof.

Every time is IPKat time

Events

European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency - Policy debate during the EU Industry Days 2022: The Unitary Patent System and SME Instruments in the Area of Intellectual Property - 9 February 2022

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency will hold an online discussion on 9 February 2022 from 3:15pm-4:00pm about the Unitary Patent System and SME Instruments in the Area of Intellectual Property. This discussion is part of the EU Industry Days 2022, an annual event that highlights industrial frontrunners and ongoing industrial policy discussions whilst improving the knowledge base of European industry. The registration for the event can be made here. 

4iP - Anti-Suit and Anti-Anti-Suit Injunctions in SEP litigation - 17 February 2022

4iP will hold a webinar on 17 February 2022 (4:00pm, CET) about a paper that will soon be published by Dr. Igor Nikolic, "Anti-Suit and Anti-Anti-Suit Injunctions in SEP litigation". The event will cover the conditions for granting Anti-Suit Injunctions (ASI) and Anti-Anti-Suit Injunctions (AASI), the use of ASIs and AASIs in SEP litigation, and the measures that courts may use to facilitate licensing and stop forum shopping. The event is open for registrations, which can be made here.

UNION-IP’s Winter Round Table - 25 February 2022

UNION-IP’s Winter Round Table is back, and happening on the 25 February 2022 from 9:30am to 1:00pm, CET. UNION-IP’s Winter Round Table will be an opportunity to debate the most recent case-law regarding VICO proceedings in opposition and other proceedings before the EPO and to discuss the current best practices. Furthermore, it will look into opposition proceedings across Europe, with an insight of representatives of the National Patent Offices. Information about the event and registration is available here.

Miscellaneous

The United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) launched a call for views on the UK’s design system, as part of a review of the design system to ensure it remains fit for the future. The call seeks a wide range of evidence on three main areas – new opportunities, future frameworks, and better regulation, covering aspects such as the complexity of the current system, and whether it should be simplified; novelty search; whether the system is flexible enough to protect designs based on new technologies, created for digital environments or using artificial intelligence, amongst others. Further information and how to respond can be found here. Views can be sent until 25 March 2022, 11:45pm GMT. 

Also, the UKIPO has announced that it is not currently proposing a change to the current exhaustion regime, concluding that it does not have sufficient data available on which to base a change to the current UK+ regime. See here for an update and summary of responses.

UCL - Online Course "Privacy and Data: Law and Practice" - 7 February-7 March 2022

UCL will hold a five-module online course about Privacy and Data: Law and Practice from 7 February to 7 March 2022. The course draws respected speakers internationally and the topics on and around data management and privacy will include the UK Online Harms Bill; press and the public interest; perspectives from a data commissioner; the latest on GDPR; facial recognition technology; security and law enforcement; international data transfer; the risks of banking online; compliance and advertising and tracking and working from home and private life. Registrations and more information about this course are available here. 

Notice to Kat Readers

On January 27th, Neil Wilkof sent in error to all subscribers of IPKat an email that was meant to reply to an inquiry from a Kat reader about a post published earlier that day.  Neil regrets any inconvenience resulting from this email message and, in particular, to anyone referred to in his email.