The CIPA Journal: It's a Hard Act to Follow

An encounter with Michael Harrison this morning at the excellent Hardwicke Chambers breakfast seminar given by Mark Engleman on Jackson costs, prompted me to pick up my November copy of the CIPA journal - since Michael is now the new editor of this illustrious publication, having taken over from Tibor Gold. If you are a member of CIPA, you will be able to find the journal online here.

The Editor

So much praise has been heaped on Tibor that Michael will need some encouragement in order to implement modernisation and changes in the journal. However, 10 years is a long time in a publication's life and there is always room for evolution.

The fact that we are looking at the November issue and it is already December suggests that a publication cycle for print is no longer in keeping with the demand for immediate information. Perhaps the time has come for less paper and a companion Internet publication to cover more immediate matters on which the membership need to be consulted or at least aware, such as the not so secret diary or upcoming ECJ cases where CIPA might be encouraged to put in a position

Reducing the number of print editions would save some costs allowing for development of the new online version.

Maybe the time is right to consider making that online version a joint effort with ITMA, or perhaps  making the paper journal of record a joint publication.

It is good that the learned articles that are of value for future students should have a print form. It is also good that these articles should be moderated, fully edited and have enduring quality. There are plenty of prospective authors who want an outlet for their work and I suggested to Michael that liaising with the PR consultants who work with IP firms could well be beneficial in providing new material. Many aspiring authors are rather short of ideas for their articles and I am confident that Michael's wisdom might be exercised in commissioning some pieces that would be valuable for all members of the profession - but with an emphasis on the patent attorney in practice. Casenotes are one thing - and are well covered by exisitng media - but a survey of the case law on a particular topic over a period of time and its relevance to claim drafting, or even the trend taken by a specific judge so that we know how to advise our trademark clients where to put their figleaves, are always excellent article material but they do require the author to undertake some very specific research, so it's always nice to hold a commission for one.

Do give Michael some encouragement to make his mark, innovate and create as only a patent agent can