1813 Club and Premier Members
Trademark cases in the spotlight
Shoosmiths are offering expert advice to businesses about trademarking following a high- profile case involving high street optician Specsavers. Earlier this month, Specsavers’
application to trade mark the generic term “should’ve” was accepted in an unexpected move by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO). The widely-used term, along
All I need is the air that I breathe: the students taking part in the ‘Clean Space Tags’ trial, (from left) Carly Avery, Kat Sroka, Emily Hurst and Charlotte Gates
Student team aims to help clear the air
University College Birmingham (UCB) has joined forces with a technology company for a project that will teach students all about the air that they breathe. The UCB students have been taking part in a month long trial of
‘Clean Space Tags’, which is a network of smart air pollution sensors. ‘Clean Space Tags’ is being pioneered by Drayson Technologies, a
company headed by science entrepreneur and former Labour Minister Lord Drayson. The ‘Tags’ are part of what has been called an ‘Internet of Things
(IoT) enabled air pollution monitoring programme’. The IoT is where devices can be connected using the internet, letting them talk to humans, applications, and each other. One of the most common examples of the IoT is the smart fridge,
which monitors its contents and tells users when they are about to run out of something.
‘We are becoming more and more aware of the issue of pollution’
The UCB trial is to gather data about carbon monoxide levels, and provide a clear picture of air pollution in areas surrounding the university. It will show the times of day that pollution levels are high, what
the average pollution exposure of the students is, and which areas are most polluted. The data will then be used to change how students travel to and from the campus, and how road and pedestrian access is managed indoors and around the university. Kat Sroka, president of the Guild of Students at UCB, said: “Being
an inner-city university, we are becoming more and more aware of the issue of pollution and the effect it can have on our students and employees. “We’re therefore keen to get a better understanding of pollution
levels so we can make any necessary changes to ensure minimal exposure.” Lord Drayson, who was Minister for Science and
Innovation.between 2008-2010, said: “We’re delighted to be working with UCB to help people at the university see the air they are breathing to help reduce their exposure to air pollution.”
A new era for networking
The Chamber’s 1813 Club/Premier members held an exclusive networking event in the magnificent surroundings of 17th century Aston Hall. Around 60 guests attended, for
social networking and afternoon tea, as well as a ‘behind –the- scenes’ tour, where they were shown around by volunteer guides in period dress (pictured). The event was held in
conjunction with British Military Security. Aston Hall, which is managed by Birmingham Museums Trust, was built between 1618 and
1635 for Sir Thomas Holte. The building – now Grade I listed
– has a fascinating history (including being once besieged during the English Civil War), and has been restored to how it was in Jacobean times. The 1813 Club/Premier members
have attended special events at Park Regis and Crowne Plaza in the past 12 months, and two more are planned for this year. These are at Ziryab, an Indian restaurant in Alum Rock (on 23 November), and a return to Park Regis for a Christmas lunch on 6 December.
November 2016 CHAMBERLINK 25
with the apostrophe-free version “shouldve”, will now be off-limits to other companies that may have wished to use them in relation to glasses, spectacles, optician services, the provision of eye tests and other similar goods and services – but most notably in relation to printed matter and other marketing materials. And Shoosmiths – based in
Colmore Square, Birmingham – are encouraging businesses to take the following steps to protect their brand names and trademarks: • Consider what makes a good trade mark as part of your strategy – think of/create distinctive words, logos and phrases that are not generic or used widely – made up marks are the best. Also, ensure that trademarks are not too descriptive of the goods and
‘Consider what makes a good trade mark as part of your strategy’
services they will be used in relation to, for example, ‘The Bike Shed’ in relation to the sale of bicycles. • If you are wedded to a particular generic or descriptive trademark, use the mark on an on-going basis in relation to your goods and services and ensure consumers come to recognise that mark as associated with your company and its goods and services, through widespread use, advertising and marketing. This way, you can build up distinctiveness in the mark and make a successful trade mark application later down the line. • Consider whether any of your current generic/descriptive trade names/marks have now become distinctive through use and are worth applying for. Rachel Nicholls, partner at Shoosmiths, said: “The granting of a powerful monopoly right in a single verb has left many astounded in the world of trademarks, and Specsavers should anticipate at least some attempts at invalidation.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68