Governments around the world are finally waking
up to the importance of brands. WTR investigates how
some are now strategizing how to propel domestic
brands onto a global stage
The content and format of the Anti-Counterfeiting
Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations are hot topics of
debate, with commentators questioning whether the
agreement will deal with anti-counterfeiting at all or
rather focus on copyright infringement in the digital
environment. The secretive nature of the discussions,
which has been characterized by a series of document
leaks, has also come under fire. WTR speaks to Stan
McCoy, assistant US trade representative for intellectual
property and innovation at the Office of the US Trade
Representative (USTR), for the latest on the discussions
and asks industry commentators for their views
While the outcome of the US FDA pilot programme on
trademark approval is not due until 2011 at the earliest,
the scheme offers important pointers for those
considering the development of a pharmaceutical mark
While Canadian and US trademark laws have become
relatively ill suited to preventing parallel imports,
there are still instances where their effectiveness can
be maximized
In the last issue of WTR we examined moves to adopt the
Madrid Protocol in Latin America. At present, a number
of protections are available to mark owners across the
region – but it is very much a changing picture
A forthcoming international standard will set out best
practice for brand valuation – and could fundamentally
alter the relationship between the trademark and
marketing functions
The recent seizure of pharmaceutical goods in Europe
has reignited the debate over how goods in transit are
treated – with political interests and economic threats
threatening to muddy the legal waters
Deciding what action to take against infringers can be
difficult enough – but what happens when you have an
economic partnership with the infringer, as is the case
with supermarket lookalikes?
There are few, if any, downsides to working closely
with customs authorities and enforcement agencies
in the fight against illicit trade. But creating a
meaningful relationship is not always as
straightforward as it should be
Recent disputes involving Starbucks and The North
Face have highlighted the issue of parody as a defence
against trademark infringement. While courts have
taken different approaches to defining fair use parody,
practical lessons can be learnt from previous cases
Audrey Yayon-Dauvet, group IP director at Pernod
Ricard, explains how she shaped the company’s IP
function to match the corporate culture
