News
Childhood dream comes true in the circular economy
They met at Nedstaal and now the three of them are busy getting a revolutionary business off the ground. Purified Metal Company (PMC) in Delfzijl will soon clean contaminated scrap for reuse. Director Jan Henk Wijma: “This is a childhood dream. It began on a sheet of A4 and now we’ve almost come so far that we’re about to build a factory.” Continue reading
Are the symbols ® and ™ symbol politics or are they relevant?
Businesses wanting to sell their own brands on the market often use the symbols ® and ™. We are often not aware of the implications of these symbols, but they are used to give a brand an allure. Rather, case law shows that the use of these symbols can have significant, important consequences. Continue reading
No happy ending for a pharmaceutical company in a case involving a Native American tribe
In the case known as Mohawk tribe versus Mylan, the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that patent holders cannot shield themselves from an “inter partes review” of a patent by assigning that patent to a Native American tribe. Ironically enough, this is due to the fact that the decision handed down by the Court stated that the “inter partes review” procedure in the principal action is not “inter partes” (“between parties”). Continue reading
Does the new law for the protection of trade secrets offer sufficient protection?
On 9 June, the new law for the protection of trade secrets came into force (based on European Directive 2016/943/EU). On the basis of the law, it is possible to take action against the illegal acquisition, use and disclosure of trade secrets. If a trade secret is misused, the holder can bring various actions based on the law. Continue reading
The consequences of the Nagoya Protocol
The Nagoya Protocol is highly relevant for the Dutch seed culture sector. But the content of the protocol is far from easy to understand. V.O. summarises the main provisions for you and the most important consequences. Continue reading
V.O. supports Hartstichting
V.O. has become sponsor of the Hartstichting, the non-profit organisation that raises funds in the battle against cardiovascular disease. Annually, the Hartstichting invests millions of euros in scientific research. The collaboration focuses primarily on advice and information relating to intellectual property law, and making agreements in this regard with researchers. Continue reading
V.O. sponsors innovation competition
V.O. has recently started to sponsor the Amsterdam Science & Innovation Award (AMSIA). AMSIA is an annual innovation competition organised by IXA, that focuses in particular on the societal or commercial impact of submissions. Awards go to the best applicable submission resulting from research conducted in Amsterdam. Continue reading
IP Academy starts again
After a well-attended edition at the beginning of the year, a brand new version of the IP Academy will again be held this autumn. IP Academy is the name under which V.O. annually organises IP courses for clients. Every course consists of two parts, each of one full day. Continue reading