IPTango: personality right

Showing posts with label personality right. Show all posts

Friday, 9 September 2011

A spicy note for Gandhi's case

Patricia Covarrubia September 09, 2011 No comments:

From SpicyIP we receive more information about the Gandhi trade mark opposition filed in Ecuador. The post, which can be read in full here, tries to look at both side of the coin (literally – looking at both legislations) and resumed that neither Indian nor Ecuador law fully supports the case of the opposition. This is based on the fact that the “Indian Emblems and Names Act does not extend beyond India and Indian citizens and Ecuador’s trade mark legislation protects flags and emblems of other countries but not names of national icons.” Also the post looks at personality right.

While this all seems to be what is the correct state of the law and its procedure, one sometimes wonder why do we need to commercially use names (an India emblem in this case) that represent so much in a culture. Why don’t we Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's.

Beyond IP matters, it is clear that an emblem symbolises a concept, a model, perhaps a theory. In this case, we do understand that Gandhi was not only a representation of an ideology in India but today he is and has been officially honoured as the father of that Nation. It is, of course my point of view, that we need to reassess or be more cautious with the facts of the case– would you like to see for instance the person that inspire you the most in a pack of chewing gum? Of course not, but is this illegal in a trade mark system? Again the answer may be in the negative in some jurisdictions. Is this immoral? Well...here comes the tricky part – what is to be considered moral. I believe that in this case we are looking at a name that we want to protect for being use but can we do it? Your thoughts are more than welcome.

Same name, dress alike, sings alike? What is it? an avatar?

Patricia Covarrubia September 08, 2011 No comments:

Last week the Argentinean program "Pasion de Sabado” (Saturday’s passion) transmitted by America TV featured an Argentine musician who says "I am...Americo."

Now you may ask: who is Americo? He is a Chilean singer --real name Domingo Vega, who was successful at the last Festival of Viña del Mar. The singer's hits "Te Vas" and "traicionera" are successful in Argentina, so much that the show ‘Pasion de Sabado’ presented in his space ‘Americo’. The problem was that when presented, an Argentinean look alike and dress alike sang Americo’s songs and claimed that he was ‘Americo’. The real Americo was of course not impressed by this fake; in fact he was outraged by the impostor.

Domingo Vega's lawyers, and Sony Music that represents the artist in Argentina, will initiate legal action to collect information to ensure a civil suit against the Argentinean singer impersonation. Moreover, it is claimed that the Mark ‘Americo’ was already registered in Chile since 2010 and accepted by the Institute of Industrial Property earlier this year. In addition, registration was recently sought in neighbouring countries like Argentina, Peru and Bolivia - not yet approved.

On the other hand, José Luis Gonzalo, in charge of Viking Productions, who created the [fake I would say] character noted in that everything was in order, because he patented the name "Americo of Argentina."

The animator of the show also has his saying in this matter: Hernan Caire sees no need to apologize to Americo for having presented in the TV show this character. Mr Caire explained that the musician who played last Saturday the Chilean songs "was not a copy" of Americo, but only a musician doing a cover. "I do not think that is a copy. It's very similar, that I'm not going to deny it, but there are many groups and soloists who play others’ songs. He's not copying, it is a tribute".

A final say from the real Americo: "clearly this is not an imitation or a tribute, this has other intentions." If this were a soup opera I could hear now the background song: ‘money, money, money, always sunny’ by ABBA.

Sources: here, here and here.

Mexico: Ley de protección de datos personales

Aurelio Lopez-Tarruella Martinez March 29, 2010 1 comment:

Según nos cuenta Juan Ángel Garza Vite (Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León), la Comisión de Gobernación de Mexico ha aprobado recientemente el dictamen por el cual se expide la Ley Federal de Protección de Datos Personales en Posesión de Particulares.

Esta ley "coloca al país a la vanguardia en la protección de derechos de tercera generación, y lo pone a la altura de una democracia moderna". Ahora bien, el proceso para su adopción ha sido largo. El 30 de abril de 2009 se publicó en el Diario Oficial de la Federación de México la modificación de la Constitución Mexicana por la cual se faculta al Congreso de la Unión para legislar en materia de protección de datos personales:

"Artículo 73. El Congreso tiene facultad:
I. a XXIX-N. ...
XXIX-O. Para legislar en materia de protección de datos personales en posesión de particulares".

De acuerdo con el artículo segundo transitorio de dicha publicación el "Congreso de la Unión deberá expedir la ley en la materia en un plazo no mayor de 12 meses, contados a partir de la entrada en vigor del presente Decreto". Por lo tanto, el plazo termina el 30 de abril del presente año y para su promulgación todavía es preciso el visto bueno de la Cámara de senadores.

La necesidad de llevar a cabo esta reforma legislativa viene también provocada por presiones externas: Mexico es el único país junto a Turquía de la OECD que no cuenta con una legislación en la materia. Gracias a ella "toda persona tendrá la facultad de decidir quién, cómo y para qué usa su información personal, por lo que es indispensable abatir el mercado negro de la información que actualmente prevalece en el país, para dejar de ser considerado como un paraíso de datos personales".

Asimismo, la Ley permitirá ampliar la oferta de servicios en sectores como “outsourcing” para servicios de tratamiento de datos de empresas trasnacionales; servicios de almacenamiento de datos; de telecomunicaciones.

Desafortunadamente, en IP Tango no hemos tenido acceso al texto de ley pero estaremos encantados de recibirla de algún miembro de la audiencia.

Diego Maradona: an image that sells

Patricia Covarrubia January 15, 2010 2 comments:

Today’s news (el Nuevo Herald) refers to Maradona, one of the world greatest footballers – a legend, who is preparing to open his own cable TV and internet.

The launch is taken place in Mexico, and Cavalti, one of his partners in this project, said that the programmes will mainly focus in sports, entertainment, fashion and celebrities. He also mentioned that the revenues will come from subscriptions and through advertising and sponsorships.

The channel will carry Maradona’s image and be called ‘10 ETV’. The name comes from his famous T-shirt number and the letter E referring to entertainment. Maradona, himself will have few shows.

For those of you who follow football know that Maradona will be coaching the Argentinean team in the World Cup. And for those of you who have followed his career know that he is known as an outspoken person and quite controversial. In 2005 he hosted a TV program in Argentina called ‘La noche del 10" in which he interviewed Pelé, Mike Tyson, Fidel Castro and Robbie Williams winning all rankings.

Significance:
While many IP practitioners and academics still debate the protection of ‘personality rights’ and/or ‘celebrity image’ one thing is certain, celebrity’s images are exploited and they are profitable. This technique, long used, allows a person or company (in this case it will be the TV channel and internet) to take advantage of Madona’s image. Clearly it will be used to promote and sell these services.

This type of right comprised two matters: one which is the right to publicity and the other, the right to privacy. I will focus on the first. With the World Cup coming up, I wonder how Maradona can keep his image and likeness from being commercially exploited by other channels, specifically those in Argentina. Certainly, there is a fine line. However, it is clear that Maradona cannot create a monopoly right in his popularity. In another line, where does the Argentinian channel in which Maradona recorded programs stands? can it keep repeating the programs and perhaps marketing his image?

Some IPTango moves

* Listed as one of the "Best blogs on Intellectual and Industrial Property Law". The University of Alicante Intellectual Property & Information Technology Project (UAIPIT).

* One of the only two Latin American blog listed in the "Top 100 Intellectual Property Blogs". Feedspot, as of May 2021.

* Listed as one of the "Top 15 Blogs For An Intellectual Property (IP) Enthusiasts". Buzzfeed.com, January 2017.

* Listed as one of the "World's Best IP Blogs". BananaIP.com, December 2015.

* IPTango founder Professor Jeremy Phillips was listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Listed as one of the "Influential intellectual property blawgs". A Dictionary of Intellectual Property Law, Peter Groves, 2011.

* Listed as one of the "Communities of Blawgers". Los blogs jurídicos y la web 2.0. para la difusión y la enseñanza del derecho, Gonzalo Ramírez Cleves, 2010.