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. 27 June 2006.

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. 

Appointment as a Leading Expert in Science Education and Technology (SET)

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Rosanna Cooper as a SET expert. In practice this means that she will be added to the UK Database of Women Experts in SET, a database containing a list of women that are highly regarded in their respective fields. The service will be widely publicised to EC and government departments and the media to encourage officials to consult the database when selecting new committee or board members or seeking expert opinions or considering making public appointments.

Recent Intellectual Property Instructions

• Advising a mobile technology company on the exploitation/licensing of ringtones. Drafting the requisite agreements including publishing agreement. (Media law) (Intellectual Property)
• Advising a client on an innovative property franchise (as franchisor). Drafting a master franchise agreement and dealing with protection of the intellectual property rights of the franchisor. (Corporate Commercial) (Intellectual Property)
• Advising an IT company on a £5m dispute regarding breach of IT contract (IT Law) (Commercial Litigation)
• Advising on a £2m IT Project including drafting IT software agreement, IT development agreement and data protection issues (IT Law) (Data Protection) (Commercial Litigation)