Name: Alison Quinn
Title: Associate
Email: aquinn@algoodbody.com

Alison Quinn is an Associate in the IP & Technology Group at A&L Goodbody.

Alison is a solicitor in our group with a BComm degree from UCD and an MBS in International Business from Smurfit Business School. Alison has experience in a wide range of IP and technology matters and advises clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters including in the area of contracts, trademarks, patents, copyright and data protection.  Alison’s recent contentious experience includes assisting with a multi-jurisdictional patent case which came before the Commercial Court, and is currently involved in a number Continue Reading About Alison Quinn

Election candidates in the upcoming May local and European Parliament Elections have all recently received correspondence from the Data Protection Commissioner reminding them of their obligations with regards to communicating with the electorate.  Candidates were made aware that should any complaints be received by the office of the Data Protection Commissioner they will be investigated, with appropriate action taken.

Candidates and political parties must adhere to the clear statutory guidelines as set out the in the European Communities (Electronic Communications Networks and Services) (Privacy and Electronic Communications) Regulations 2011, particularly in relation to the use of SMS, phone and e-mail in sending electoral messages. Continue Reading Restrictions on electronic direct marketing- politically correct?

The European Parliament has passed a resolution in response to the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance scandal.  The resolution calls for the suspension of the U.S. – EU Safe Harbour Framework immediately, unless the U.S. satisfies the concerns of the EU Parliament.  

However, the Parliament’s resolution does not affect the validity of the Safe Harbour Framework. Only the Commission can renegotiate the Safe Harbour Framework. Last year, the Commission issued 13 recommendations to improve the functioning of the Safe Harbour scheme, and called upon U.S. authorities to remedy these issues by summer 2014 (see …

Continue Reading Calls for Suspension of Safe Harbour

On 12 March 2014, the European Parliament voted in favour of the revised draft EU Data Protection Regulation.  To become law the proposed Regulation must be adopted by the EU Council using the "ordinary legislative procedure".  The EU Council is due to meet in June 2014.

Background

The proposed Regulation was originally presented by the European Commission on 25 January 2012.  It has been the subject of voracious debate both in Brussels and across the EU, and has been subject to much re-drafting.   
 Continue Reading European Parliament Approves Draft EU Data Protection Regulation

Last week saw the European Commission adopting a revised regime in respect of technology transfer agreements. The new agreements will enable companies to better licence the use of patents, know-how or software held by another company for the production of goods and services. The new Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER) and accompanying Technology Transfer Guidelines (Guidelines) will enter into force on 1 May 2014.

The TTBER and Guidelines will create a safe harbour for licensing agreements seeking to strengthen incentives for research, innovation and stimulate competition. Continue Reading Patent Pools making a splash

The UK Court of Appeal has issued a significant judgment on the scope of protection afforded by Registered Community Designs (RCDs) in Magmatic Ltd v PMS International Ltd. The case concerned a claim of infringement brought by Magmatic Ltd (Magmatic), creator of the popular children’s ride-on suitcase range, Trunki, against PMS International Ltd (PMS), which manufactured a discount variant of ride-on suitcases inspired by the Trunki range. The Court of Appeal held that the trial judge, Justice Arnold, had erred in principle by disregarding surface decoration and colour contrast in his global assessment of the similarities between the two products.Continue Reading UK Court of Appeal Rules on Scope of Registered Community Design Rights

Name: Deirdre Fallon
Title: Associate
Email: dfallon@algoodbody.com  

Deirdre Fallon is an Associate within the IP & Technology Group at A&L Goodbody.

Deirdre is an Associate in our group and has a business and law degree (BBLS) from University College Dublin. Deirdre advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters across a broad spectrum of areas, including copyright, trademarks, patents, advertising, data protection and commercial contracts.  

Deirdre’s contentious experience includes a recent patent case before the Commercial Court and a high profile copyright case before the High Court. Her non-contentious experience includes advising clients on advertising campaigns and promotions, data protection issues Continue Reading About Deirdre Fallon

The European Union is promising its citizens better access to online music thanks to a new directive focusing on “the collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online use in the internal market” (the Directive). The Directive, which was adopted by the European Council on 20 February, aims to simplify and facilitate cross-border music licensing for online service providers. This is good news for Irish consumers who are typically kept waiting for innovative new music streaming services to hit Irish shores. Irish artists will also benefit from quicker, more transparent payments of performing rights royalties.

The Directive has two principle aims:

To facilitate cross-border licensing of authors’ rights in online music; and

To make copyright collective management organisations (CMOs) (also known as collecting societies) more transparent and effective.Continue Reading EU Overhaul of Collective Rights Management for Online Music

The CJEU has ruled in Svensson and Others v Retriever Sverige AB (C466/12) (Svensson) that providing a hyperlink to copyrighted works which are already freely available online does not constitute an infringement of copyright.  However, if a link allows users to bypass technical measures restricting access to a site on which a copyrighted work appears, then infringement may occur.

The decision had been awaited with some trepidation due to the essential role linking plays in the day to day operation of the internet. A contrary ruling would have created a serious barrier to the interconnectivity upon which the internet thrives.

Continue Reading Links to Freely Available Content do not Infringe Copyright

On 4th February 2014 ‘Year of Code’ was launched in the UK, a campaign designed to raise awareness and interest in computer programming. According to Rohan Silva, Chairman of the project, ‘Computer coding is the lingua franca of the global technology economy … If the UK is to remain at the vanguard of innovation worldwide, we need to ensure that our workforce is equipped with the skills of the 21st century, not of the past. Year of Code is all about making sure this vital change takes place – and fast.’

A number of events will be held over the…

Continue Reading Year of Code