Retromark: the conference

The sixth annual Retromark conference returns for another afternoon of in-person trade mark law and practice hosted by Darren Meale of Simmons & Simmons and the IPKat on Thursday 3 April. This year, the keynote speech will be delivered by Professor Johanna Gibson, Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London.

Starting at 2pm and finishing with drinks and canapes from 6:15pm at Simmons’ offices in Citypoint, Moorgate, the full line up is below:

• 14:00-14:30 – Registration

• 14:30-14:40 – Introduction and welcome (Darren Meale)

• 14:40-15:40 – Panel 1 – “It looks like lookalikes are no longer liked: has the Court of Appeal moved the dial in favour of brand owners?” (We will explore the decision in Thatchers v Aldi along with a number of other recent Court of Appeal decisions which have overturned first instance judgments to the benefit of trade mark owners and ask whether we’ve entered a new regime of stronger and broader protection)

Moderator: Professor Eleonora Rosati, IPKat, Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Stockholm University

Panellists:

Jonathan Moss, Barrister, Hogarth Chambers

Joel Smith, Partner, Simmons & Simmons

Mel Jones, Assistant General Counsel, GSK

Victoria Jones, Barrister, 3 Paper Buildings

• 15:40-16:00 – Choose your own trade mark adventure - an interview with the audience (Darren Meale)

• 16:00-16:30 – Coffee/tea break

• 16:30-17:15 – Keynote address: Professor Johanna Gibson, Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London

• 17:15-18:15 – Panel 2 – “A tale of a supreme saga: where does the Supreme Court judgment in Skykick leave us?” (Now that one of the most significant trade mark cases in modern times has drawn to a close with the Supreme Court’s final judgment, we will examine its conclusions and ponder what’s to become of the problems the saga highlighted in our registration system)

Moderator: Darren Meale

Panellists:

Andrew Norris KC, Hogarth Chambers

Grant Robery, Senior Trade Mark Counsel, Natura & Co

Philipp von Kapff, Member of the Boards of Appeal, EUIPO

• 18:15-19:30 – Drinks and canapes

Tickets are strictly limited and available on a first come, first served basis. The event usually sells out, so don’t delay. Tickets are free, but there is again an option to make a donation to charity by purchasing a special ticket – the event will be supporting once more (please give generously!).

Info: We will explore the decision in Thatchers v Aldi along with a number of other recent Court of Appeal decisions which have overturned first instance judgments to the benefit of trade mark owners and ask whether we’ve entered a new regime of stronger and broader protection.
Moderator: Professor Eleonora Rosati, IPKat, Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Stockholm University
Panellists:
Jonathan Moss, Barrister, Hogarth Chambers
Joel Smith, Partner, Simmons & Simmons
Mel Jones, Assistant General Counsel, GSK
Victoria Jones, Barrister, 3 Paper Buildings

Info: Professor Johanna Gibson, Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London

Info: Now that one of the most significant trade mark cases in modern times has drawn to a close with the Supreme Court’s final judgment, we will examine its conclusions and ponder what’s to become of the problems the saga highlighted in our registration system)
Moderator: Darren Meale
Panellists:
Andrew Norris KC, Hogarth Chambers
Grant Robery, Senior Trade Mark Counsel, Natura & Co
Philipp von Kapff, Member of the Boards of Appeal, EUIPO

Host or Publisher Darren Meale, Simmons & Simmons