News

Lingerie, adult stores and the value of trade marks

Media Release, Friday 19 September 2003

One of the world’s most influential trade marks expert, Professor Thomas McCarthy will explore the controversial issue of trade mark dilution at the University of Melbourne conference next month.

Prof. McCarthy will refer to a US Case involving giant lingerie retailer “Victoria’s Secret”.

Visiting from the University of San Francisco School of Law, Professor McCarthy will be the keynote speaker at the Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia (IPRIA) conference Trade Marks in the Future which will be held at the University of Melbourne Law School on September 26.

In his address Professor McCarthy will look at developments in US Federal anti-dilution legislation, particularly in light of a Supreme Court decision in the Victoria’s Secret case.

In March this year, by unanimous vote, the US Supreme Court ruled in favour of an adult store named Victor’s Little Secret. Giant retail lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret had claimed the adult store’s name affected its own widely recognised trademark.

Conference organiser and Senior Research Fellow at IPRIA, Dr Owen Morgan said the conference would feature a range of speakers addressing a variety of topics related to trademarks.
“In today’s fast-moving competitive marketplace, trade marks are among a firm’s most valuable assets,” Dr Morgan said.

“They play a vital role by protecting us as consumers, yet changes in business practices are constantly influencing the way we perceive and use trade marks.

“From dilution to domain names, trade mark owners face numerous challenges that impact greatly upon the creation and management of their marks.”

The one-day conference will feature speakers from the fields of academia, the legal and trade marks professions, government and business. It will offer a variety of perspectives in the law, economics and management of trade marks now and in the future.

For more information on the Trade Marks in the Future conference, contact Dr Owen Morgan on 8344 1138 or via email to o.morgan@unimelb.edu.au
For conference details and registrations visit http://www.ipria.org/