By STEVE SZKOTAK Associated Press Writer February 27, 2009 RICHMOND, Va. - The oval bumper sticker with the letters OBX has become as synonymous with North Carolina 's Outer Banks . The abbreviation also created a successful business for James Douglas , but its proliferation has made it a tough trademark to defend. On Friday, a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Bicast Inc. didn't infringe on a trademark when it began selling bumping stickers with the text "OB Xtreme." Douglas came up with the OBX abbreviation in 1994, borrowing the idea from similar shorthands used in Europe. He initially gave the stickers away, but later formed OBX-Stock and affixed the letters to bumper stickers that celebrate the fishing and vacation destination. OBX-Stock had annual revenue in 2004 topping $1 million. The U.S. District Court in Raleigh , N.C., found in June 2006 that OBX was either generic or a descriptive for North Carolina's 200 miles of

PARIS--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Sagem Communications today announced that it has signed a trademark licensing agreement with Xerox Corporation (NYSE:XRX) to develop, market and support a new line of Xerox-branded sheet-fed fax devices. As part of the 4-year licensing agreement, Sagem Communications will bring to the market a comprehensive range of facsimile devices, based on various printing technologies: thermal, ink-jet and laser. The new line of fax machines will be on display at CEBIT in Hanover (Germany) between March 3rd and 9th. “By combining the strength of Xerox’s brand with Sagem Communications’ technology, we expect to further strengthen our position in the marketplace, in particular in office sales channels," said Patrick Sevian, Sagem Communications’ president. “The Xerox-branded Office Fax range will be distributed through Sagem Communications’ extensive sales channels in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Middle-East, starting in the spring. Both companies' commitment

Bill to amend trademarks act passed in Lok Sabha New Delhi, Feb 25: A Bill seeking to amend the Trade Marks Act to incorporate changes in keeping with international laws on patents, intellectual property and trade marks was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill, 2007 seeking to amend Trade Marks Act, 1999 was tabled by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Ashwini Kumar and passed unanimously by a voice vote in the Lower House. The new Act would enable India to meet international trade requirements laid down in the Madrid Protocol, a primary system for facilitating the registration of trademarks in multiple jurisdictions around the world. Source: http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2009-02-26/510762news.html

The much awaited complete end to end Intellectual Property Services firm has stated in Hyderabad this February 2009. I-WIN IP Services is a leading Intellectual Property Services firm Specializes in assisting industries in protecting and enforcing their Intellectual Property Rights. I- WIN IP Services came into existence to cater the growing needs of effective Intellectual Property Protection and enforcement firms in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA. I-WIN IP Services helps its clients to leverage Intellectual Property to the Max by helping them in identifying, protecting and enforcing. .I-WIN IP Services has brilliant professionals approaching the work with multi disciplinary act enabling the firm to provide qualitative and effective Intellectual Property services to its clients. The wide expertise supports complete process services from idea generation to enforcement of rights. I-WIN Services ranges from designing IPR policy for organizations to Enforcement of Intellectual Property r