Sunday Surprises

While the year is coming to an end, the IP community has been busy planning lots of exciting events and opportunities for the New Year. Here are some of the things to look forward to in 2024:

Framing IP Rights in Legal, Economic, and Cultural Settings

Swansea University's Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law have announced the conference entitled “Framing IP Rights in Legal, Economic, and Cultural Settings,” which will take place on 12 - 13 June 2024. The call for papers is open until 15 February 2024. Further details and application instructions are available here.

Thinking Clearly about Trade Mark Clutter

This Kat is looking forward to
a big year for IP in 2024

UCL’s Institute of Brand & Innovation Law Annual Brand Seminar will take place on Wednesday 7 February 2024, 6:00pm - 7:30pm on the topic "Thinking Clearly about Trade Mark Clutter". There is the option of attending in-person at the UCL Faculty of Laws (Bloomsbury, London) or watching the live stream.

The speakers include Alicia Chantrey (Associated British Foods plc), Professor Dev Gangjee (University of Oxford), Dr Georg von Graevenitz (Queen Mary, University of London) and Andy Bartlett (UKIPO). Details and registration here.

REULA and IP Law

The UCL Institute of Brand and Innovation Law have organised an event on Monday 22 January 2024, 6:00pm - 7:30pm to discuss the impact of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REULA). The event, entitled "Are you Ready for REULA? The Conscious Uncoupling of UK and EU Intellectual Property Law," will be hosted in-person at UCL and live streamed.

The speakers include Dr Ruth Fox (Director of the Hansard Society), Professor Phillip Johnson (University of Cardiff) and Nina O’Sullivan (Mishcon de Reya LLP). The panel will be chaired by The Rt Hon. Sir Richard Arnold, Lord Justice of Appeal, and will summarise the key provisions in REULA, highlight its potential implications for the main IP rights, and review the main opportunities for law reform in this area. Details and registration here.

Universities & Commercialisation: Implications of the Oxford Case

The UCL Institute of Brand and Innovation Law are hosting a full-day conference about Oxford University Innovation v Oxford Nanoimaging, a landmark decision of the High Court in December 2022 that focussed attention on important issues for the university sector. The conference will be held in-person on Thursday 15 February 2024, 9:00am - 4:15pm. 

The conference will explore the implications of this important court decision for how universities operate, and how they interact with academics, students and interns. It will discuss the different perspectives of senior academics, university managers, lawyers working in the sector, regulators, investors and spinout company executives. Details and registration here.