Trademark-related quotes, opinions and observations from around the globe
Mark Puzella
I love preliminary injunctions because they’re fun. When you’re working with a client on a preliminary injunction, it is the most intense client relationship you can experience. You come out the other side with a great relationship; but that’s because, in a legal sense, you just went to war. You will be talking every day, sometimes for several hours, so it’s quite a commitment – both in terms of monetary cost and also the mental cost. That latter element is often not sufficiently accounted for on the business side.
Mark Puzella, principal at Fish & Richardson, speaks at this year’s Trademark Litigation: Practical Strategies conference in New York, accentuating the positives of preliminary injunction actions (April 21 2016)
Everyone keeps asking me when the next round will be. The timeline is drifting towards the end of 2017 for all the reviews to happen, but the policy development processes could take longer, and based on all of that there will be input and recommendations to the board. Depending on what recommendations we get, this will dictate the amount of work we have to do to prepare for the next round. In my view, it will be tough to see the next round opening up before a 2018-2019 timeframe. That is optimistic. Depending on the changes needed from this round to next, the work could take us into 2020 before we can open the next round.
Akram Atallah, president of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ Global Domains Division, provides an update on the likely timeframe for a second round of new generic top-level domain (gTLD) applications at the World Summit on the Information Society, Geneva (May 3 2016)
Change is needed immediately. Rather than have Jack Ma speak to an empty room next Thursday, you should consider that as the perfect time for a town hall discussion with all of us very concerned brand owner members. Let’s take a vote while we are all in the same room together.
An email raises concerns over the creation of a ‘general member’ category at the International Anti-counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) and the admittance of Alibaba as a member. The group threatened to boycott the planned address by the online giant’s executive chairman, Jack Ma (reported on May 12 2016)
Alibaba has had a zero-tolerance policy towards counterfeit goods. We are leading a constructive and collaborative approach to anti-counterfeiting that involves working closely with all brands, regardless of our standing with the IACC. Unfortunately, those who pressured the IACC on this decision prefer a confrontational approach: pitting brands against Alibaba and other industry participants in the hopes of prolonged litigation.
After its membership of the IACC was suspended, Alibaba issued a statement announcing that Ma would postpone his appearance at the conference (May 17 2016)
We believe the future of Alibaba – and the future of many of your companies – will depend on us working closely together to fight counterfeits. We are 100% committed to fighting this battle. We see no path to success other than working closely with you, the brands. And we have the tools to change the way this war is waged. Together, using data and technology, we can become the Special Forces that take on and defeat the counterfeiters.
Alibaba president Michael Evans addresses the IACC Spring Conference, calling for collaboration (May 19 2016)
Ronald van Tuijl
Your reputation is your most prized asset – protect it. For private practitioners, you are marketing yourself when you pitch to a client. Your personal brand may be the reason a client selects your firm over another. For in-house counsel, your reputation, network and relevance will dictate the success of your career path and external opportunities for you and your company. So improving your personal brand is good for companies, firms and your own career – and it is also good for associations and the entire IP community. Imagine what we can accomplish if we all work on our personal brands.
INTA president Ronald van Tuijl opens the 2016 Annual Meeting with a lesson in personal branding (May 22 2016)
The US election means there are now a lot of uncertainties about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP), as new policies are put on hold until the next US president takes office. Things were moving very fast last year, but because of the election we have slowed down the pace of our IP development in Taiwan.
Fred Yen, managing partner at Tai E International Patent & Law, identifies the impact that this year’s US presidential election is having on the wider IP landscape (May 23 2016)
There has certainly been less hostility, although that is not a scientific analysis – the people who may offer that type of criticism may have chosen not to swing by the stand yet. But honestly, I feel like we are part of this community now. If INTA is a family, then perhaps we are a cousin that lives far away. At least we’re not the crazy uncle – in fact, I’m not sure who that would be...