Wednesday Whimsies

The IPKat dreaming of frozen tuna-sicles

The sun has been out in strength for two whole days in London, so while everyone slathers aloe vera on their first "commuter sunburn" the IPKat is here to provide some news from the summer IP season.  

AIPPI UK's UPC Event - tomorrow

Tomorrow (27 June), AIPPI UK is hosting "The UPC - One Year In".  With a kick off at 17:45 at Simmons & Simmons, a panel of UPC advocates and soon to be judges from across Europe including Wim Maas, Tilman Mueller Stoy, Agathe Michel-de Cazotte and Emmanuel Gouge will be delving into a potpourri of UPC delights.  While not only chaired by the nonno/grandpere of the UPC himself, Kevin Mooney, AIPPI UK also promises the following:    

The UPC is now one year old and the Court has been very busy handling nearly 400 cases filed within its first year. Whilst we await the first UPC substantive decisions to be issued, AIPPI (UK) is very pleased to be hosting in London on 27 June 2024 a number of UPC practitioner speakers from across Europe to celebrate the first year, and we welcome our members and non-members to join us. The speakers will debate and discuss the activities of the first year of operations, focussing on the court operation and various substantive and procedural topics.

To register for some last minute spaces click here .    

CIPA Congress 2024 - 9 October

If you are already over the sweaty Tube journeys and dreaming of scarves and chai lattes, then you can start planning an October visit to Edinburgh for the CIPA Congress on 9 October which is, you guessed it, all about the UPC.  Entitled "The UPC and its Impact", the Congress will provide insight and top tips from advocates, judges and industry and will be accompanied by sessions devoted to drafting strategy and IP commercialization and investment issues for SMEs.  For more info and to register click here.  

Election fever and votes in IP

Next week UK voters will be heading to the polls in the first General Election since 2019.  The polls seem to indicate a certain outcome, but in this time of purdah the IPKat will refrain from predictions.  Instead, Merpel takes the time to note disappointedly once again - "IP" is not a vote winner.  In no party manifesto does she spy the two words that we love to see in embrace -  "intellectual" and "property".  That is fair, however.  How many times does the average IP lawyer get asked about conveyancing once they confess to their fellow dinner party guest that they are in "intellectual property"? 

However, we need not fear.  IP is in there.  You just have to look.  There are 18 mentions of "innovation/innovate", as well as talk of "industrial strategy" (10 mentions) in the Labour manifesto. Working "in partnership with industry to seize opportunities and remove barriers to growth", Labour's manifesto continues:  

"Our approach will back what makes Britain great: our excellent research institutions, professional services, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries. We will ensure a pro-business environment, with a competition and regulatory framework, that supports innovation, investment, and high-quality jobs. Procurement and trade policy will also be aligned with our industrial strategy priorities. . .

Delivering growth and raising productivity depend on fresh thinking and new ideas. Britain has many cutting-edge businesses, but innovation needs to be converted into commercial success in every corner of our country. Labour will make Britain the best place to start and grow a business."

Over in the Conservative manifesto, "innovation/innovate" was spookily also mentioned 18 times but with more succinct imagery such as "[w]e will foster our science and innovation expertise in the space industry".  Although the manifesto also made bold claims of having turned the UK into a "science and innovation superpower", there was no mention of an "industrial strategy" (though Merpel notes the reference to reducing the impact of industrial action).    

The LibDem's had 17 references to "innovation/innovate" with, as expected, many references tied to climate change and green energy.  They promise to "[i]nvest in green infrastructure, innovation and skills to boost economic growth and create good jobs and prosperity in every nation and region of the UK, while tackling the climate crisis."  In an echo of the Labour manifesto, the manifesto also states that: 

"Private enterprise is the principal engine of growth and prosperity in the UK. We will support it by creating a stable business environment with smart regulation and investing in skills, infrastructure, research and innovation. In return, we expect businesses to commit to promote skills, equality and good governance, and to support their local communities."

Where the Conservative manifesto was silent, the LibDem made up for it with 10 references to "industrial strategy".  

So while many voters will be likely voting on critical issues such as the NHS and schooling, they will also be voting on the economy.  It is the innovation and industrial strategy (and thus IP and trade) which underlies much of the economic vote.  So, for those readers in the UK who are voting next week, even if the person at the weekend BBQ has no idea what you do, they are voting for IP - whether they know it or not.