Visit our Intellectual Property and Technology Unit.

Trade Marks and Honest Concurrent Use.
The Irish Patents Office has decided to retain the changes in the practice regarding 'honest concurrent use' introduced in April of this year.
Contact: Aoife Nic Lochlainn.
November 2011.
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Smart Metering: The Data Protection Implications. Contact: Brian Johnston, Deirdre Kilroy or Philip Daly. July 2011. Click to download.

Recent Developments in the Reform of Ireland's Copyright System.
There are a number of ongoing consultations in the area of copyright at the moment in Ireland.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
July 2011.
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Data Protection Law:
A Short Guide for Employers Dealing with Subject Access Requests.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
March 2011.
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Open Source Software.
The internet is an Aladdin's Cave of open source software and shareware, but commercial developers who use this free coding in their own software products
without regard to the licensing terms and conditions could find themselves in hot water.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
Spring 2011.
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Data Protection Commissioner Issues New Code of Practice on the
Notification of Personal Data Security Breaches.
This article discusses the code and what your organisation should do if you find out
that such a breach has occurred.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
Winter 2010.
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Irish Trade Marks: Some Changes to the Procedures.
Contact: Aine Matthews or Aoife Nic Lochlainn.
October 2010.
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Trade Marks in Ireland: Should the Irish Patents Office Continue to Examine Applications on Relative Grounds?
Contact: Aine Matthews.
August 2010.
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Irish Patents Office: Routine Requests for Extensions of Time in Respect of Trade Mark Matters will be Refused.
The Patents Office has introduced new Guidelines for Dealing with Applications for Extensions of Time in Respect of Trade Marks.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy, Aine Matthews or Aoife Nic Lochlainn.
April 2010.
Click to download. (pdf)

Google AdWords and Online Advertising: Trade Mark Infringement?
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled in a case concerning Google AdWords
and three French companies, including Louis Vuitton.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy, Aine Matthews or Aoife Nic Lochlainn.
March 2010.
Click to download. (pdf)

Terms and Conditions May Protect Websites from Infringing Screen Scrapers:
Ryanair v Billigfluege.de
Contact: Aine Matthews.
March 2010.
Click to download. (pdf)

Irish Patents Office: Routine Requests for Extensions of Time in Trade Mark Matters Will be Refused.
Contact: Aine Matthews or Aoife Nic Lochlainn.
February 2010.
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Trading with Consumers: The Unfair Commercial Practices Directive
and Guidance from the European Commission.
If you have a business that sells goods or services to consumers then you should know about the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
January 2010.
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LK Shields Solicitors are in the OHIM Top 10 Charts
The national statistics for Ireland published by OHIM show that LK Shields Solicitors is one of the top representatives in Ireland for applications for the Community Trade Mark (CTM) and the Registered Community Design (RCD).
Contact: Aine Matthews.
December 2009.
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New Data Access Request Restrictions.
New regulations under the Data Protection Act mean that certain data access requests are unlikely to be successful -- those relating to personal data held by the Director of Corporate Enforcement, his officers or certain inspectors -- and relating to
their functions under the Companies Acts.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
November 2009.
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Is Franchising Right for You?
Becoming a franchisee may be an option for those who wish to set up in business for themselves. This article examines some of the issues involved for potential and existing franchisees and it is also be of interest to franchisors. It was first published in the September 2009 issue of ShelfLife, Vol. 16(9).
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
October 2009.
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The Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Bill 2009.
This Bill will transpose the Third EU Money Laundering Directive 2005/60/EC
into Irish law.
Contact: David Williams.
September 2009.
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"Green" Claims in Advertising: The Legal Issues.
Those who highlight the "green" aspects of their services or products will need to be aware of the legal requirements of any "green" claims.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
September 2009.
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Grey Times for Lookalike Products.
Recent judgments from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in cases involving L'Oreal and Christian Dior support the interests of brand owners seeking to protect the integrity of their brands from lookalike products and grey imports when they have registered trade marks.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
September 2009.
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Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights:
Border Measures and Protection Against Counterfeit and Pirated Goods.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
June 2009.
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Freedom of Information:
Eleventh Annual Report of the Information Commissioner.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
May 2009.
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Intellectual Property in the Workplace:
The Status of Ideas, Confidential Information, Trade Secrets, and Know How when Employees Leave.
Contact: Aine Matthews.
April 2009.
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Community Trade Mark Fees to Fall by 40% from 1 May 2009.
Contact: Aine Matthews.
April 2009.
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Essential Introductions: Trade Marks - A Brief Guide

Essential Introductions: Registering Designs - A Brief Guide

Lookalike Products. How close is too close?
Contact: Aine Matthews.
January 2009.
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Data Protection Reform and the Data Retention Directive.
As published in the December 2008 edition of Data Protection Law and Policy.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
December 2008.
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Warning - Relating to Trade Mark Fee Requests.
November 2008.
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Hospitality Sector in Ireland: Five Golden Rules for Doing Business Online.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
September 2008.
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New Guidelines for the Retail Sector.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
September 2008.
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Wild Geese: A Case of Fowl Play?
The Irish leg of a worldwide trade mark dispute.
Contact: Aine Matthews.
Summer 2008.
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Digital Media and Intellectual Property Rights.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
May 2008.
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Beware When You Compare.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
March 2008.
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Software Assignments.
You've paid a contractor to design software for your business and told him what the software should do, so you automatically own it, right? Not unless you have it in writing...
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
Spring 2008.
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Design Rights and Piggy Banks.
Contact: Aine Matthews.
January 2008.
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Data Protection Guidance:
Processing Credit, Debit, Charge or Other Types of Payment Cards.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy
January 2008.
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International Registration of Designs - Protection Made Easier.
Contact: Aine Matthews.
January 2008.
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Use of Genetic Data by Employers.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
October 2007.
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The Data Protection Commissioner and Biometric Systems.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
Autumn 2007.
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Why Protect Your Brand with a Trade Mark? Contact: Aine Matthews. July 2007. Click to view. (pdf)

Manual Data - Get Your Paper Files Ready Before October!
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
July 2007.
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Blog Standard: Why Businesses Need to Stay Alert.
As the online world continues to change and develop around us, we may not be fully aware of the legal implications of the latest fad or internet tool. This article explains why companies need to keep an eye on the growing enthusiasm for 'blogging'.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
Summer 2007.
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Websites and Emails: New Company Law Requirements.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
March 2007.
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Public Lending Establishments Must Now Pay Royalties.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
February 2007.
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Data Protection Working Paper Published on Electronic Health Records.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
February 2007.
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Comparative Advertising - Take a Lidl Care!
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
January 2007.
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Unannounced Visits to Mortgage Brokers and Estate Agents from the
Data Protection Commissioner.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
January 2007.
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Patent Confusion.
Patents and software programs.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
December 2006.
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New Batteries Directive to Impact on MP3 Players, PDAs
and Other Electronic Devices.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
November 2006.
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New Advertising Code from January 2007.
Contact: Deirdre Kilroy.
October 2006.
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