News and Events 2006

Greenwich Council - Business Works - Celebrating Success Event - 30 November 2006

Dr Rosanna Cooper delivered an outstanding speech at this event held at the Millenium Suite Charlton Athletics on 30 November 2006. Dr Cooper focused on what start ups and small businesses should be aware of in terms of their intellectual property rights (IPRs). She explained how to protect their businesses and IPRs, how to create & evaluate their IPRs, adoption of risk management measures and key elements in exploiting their IPRs. The event was a great success. For copies of the slides click here.

Legal Alert: Intellectual Property – Ground Breaking Decision – Patents – Business Methods – Computer Programs – 17 November 2006

A ground-breaking decision was delivered by the Court of Appeal in the cases of Aerotel Ltd v Telco Holdings Ltd (and others) [2006] and Macrossan’s Application [2006] on 27 October 2006. This important decision means that there is now a new method by which patent examiners will assess whether or not an invention is patentable. The decision is especially relevant to those wishing to patent ‘business methods’ or ‘computer programs’. Please visit our website for more information.

New Consultant joins RT Coopers - 17 November 2006

RT Coopers would like to welcome Karen Cargill to the team. She has joined the firm as a consultant. She specialises in commercial litigation and dispute resolution. In addition she has well over a decade’s experience of both contentious and non-contentious insurance related work. Karen has acted for both insurers and reinsurers on cases both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Karen also has significant practical experience of more general commercial litigation (including debt recovery, shareholder disputes and partnership disputes) and employment law matters. For Karen Cargill's profile, please see Our Team.

Tunde Oyedele LLB (Hons) (Brunel), Solicitor, Players Agent Licensed by the English National Association - 1 November 2006

Tunde is now an assistant solicitor of the firm, focusing on media & entertainment law, sports law, employment and intellectual property. He is an expert in media and sports law. For Tunde's profile, please see Our Team.

Ban on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship of Formula One and Sporting Events - 23 October 2006

Tunde Oyedele from the Sports Law team at RT Coopers was asked today by Channel 4 to comment on the proposed ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship of Formula One and sporting events. The ban is due to come into effect at the end of October 2006. Tunde commented in particular on the effect that the ban is likely to have on tobacco companies sponsoring Formula One teams. This was broadcasted on Monday lunchtime news (23 October), and is due to be repeated throughout the week.

There has been a lot of controversy in this area and it appears that the European Courts are asserting their authority and compelling EU Member States to comply with the EU Directive 2003/33 EC. The prohibition is on advertising or promotion of tobacco as well as the sponsorship of events or activities by Tobacco companies. This is an expected blow to tobacco companies sponsoring events such as Formula One racing and other such events although they have had sometime to put their houses in order. It is envisaged that by the end of this year there will be a complete ban on such activities. We will have to wait and see the extent to which these companies intend to comply with the EU Directive, if at all.

British Inventors Show – 19- 21 October 2006

RT Coopers are exhibiting at the British Inventors Show on 18 - 21 October 2006. Inventors will be able to get advice on intellectual property protection at the show. Dr Cooper will be speaking on Licensing of IPRs at 2pm on 19 October and holding 1:1 sessions throughout the exhibition. Click here for copies of presentation.

The Institute Of Business- London Branch - Creative Industries Workshop - 17 October 2006

Dr Rosanna Cooper will be contributing to a Workshop on the Creative arts discussing the key Intellectual property rights issues and how to commercialise IP rights in this competitive industry cluster. Click here for copies of slides.

BBC World Service Business News interviews Dr Rosanna Cooper - 28 June 2006

Dr Rosanna Cooper was interviewed by the BBC World Service Business News on the widespread use of the TM symbol on trade marks by leading organisations. Dr Cooper explained that trade marks are signs that distinguish one undertaking from another. The symbol goes back to the ancient times. Usually a company will use the ™ symbol besides its mark when it is unregistered.

Unregistered and registered trade marks afford different rights to their owners. If your mark is unregistered it means that you can bring an action in passing off if you can satisfy the test for passing off. However, if your mark is registered, you can bring an infringement action to stop a third party infringing your mark in respect of identical and/or similar goods or services.

The use of the ™ symbol on a trade mark shows that the mark is considered a valuable asset by its owner, there is goodwill associated with this mark and it acts as a deterrent to stop others using the mark. In the global market in which we all operate, it serves as notice to the world that an organisation has adopted a mark and is using it as its trade mark.

Companies should not simply rely on the ™ symbol, but should seek to register their trade marks in their key markets. The reason being that trade mark protection is territorial.

IP Workshops at University of East London

Tunde Oyedele will be running Intellectual Property Workshops at the University of East London on the last Thursday in every month. For more details contact Knowledge Dock.

Forum at Silsoe College on Licensing of Technology

Dr Rosanna Cooper participated in a forum held at Silsoe College in April 2006, which focused on technology transfer, licensing of technology and protection of intellectual property rights. It was a resounding success. Particpants included Alan Wilshire ofT D International SA (UK), David Beer of Beer & Partners, David Bunting of Bayliss Brand and others.

Conference on "How to Get Medicinal Products Through the Regulatory Process"

Dr Rosanna Cooper spoke in February 2006, at an International conference organised by CLT Training in London on "How to Get Medicinal Products Through the Regulatory Process." A copy of the slides can be obtained from here.

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