Call for Papers: Conference on Limitations on Trademark Rights

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Limitations on Trademark Rights from

Comparative and Interdisciplinary Perspectives

Call for Papers

Deadline for Abstract Submission: September 14, 2018

The Law and Technology Center at the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Law and the Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy at New York University School of Law will next year co-sponsor a conference on limitations on trademark rights. The conference will bring together scholars from around the world to explore the nature and scope of those limitations from comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives. The conference will be held at the University of Hong Kong on January 7-8, 2019.

The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) sets no minimum standards for limitations on trademark rights, such as fair use and exhaustion. At the domestic level, the courts in various jurisdictions have adopted conflicting opinions on how to decide cases involving such limitations (e.g., nominative fair use). Comparative studies are therefore useful in understanding the differing legal standards for the limitations on trademark rights adopted in different jurisdictions. Moreover, conventional wisdom largely justifies trademark rights limitations from free speech or market competition perspectives, with other theoretical approaches such as social and cultural studies enjoying limited application in considering the nature and scope of those limitations. Against this backdrop, the conference organizers welcome submissions of papers developing new thoughts and theories on limitations on trademark rights by examining them through a comparative or interdisciplinary lens.

The Rt. Hon. Professor Sir Robin Jacob will deliver the conference’s keynote speech, and a number of leading trademark scholars have already agreed to present papers. A limited number of presentation slots have also been reserved for scholars to be selected through this call for papers. Both senior and junior scholars are encouraged to submit abstracts of the papers they intend to present. Abstracts will be selected based on scholarly merit and originality.

Please submit an abstract (no more than 300 words) to Ms. Grace Chan at mcgrace@hku.hk by September 14, 2018. The submission should also include your name, position, institutional affiliation and e-mail address.

All applicants will be informed of the selection outcome by October 2, 2018. Financial support is available for scholars who experience difficulty obtaining a sufficient travel grant from their institution.

All conference enquiries should be addressed to Ms. Grace Chan at the above e-mail address or at (+852) 3917-4727.