The Sir Hugh Laddie Lecture: The Function of a Trade Mark

In this lecture, Lord Hoffmann, who recently retired as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (Law Lord), reflects on the contribution made to European trade mark law by the late Sir Hugh Laddie. In surveying Sir Hugh's leading cases, including Wagamama, Davidoff I, Arsenal and Boehringer Ingelheim, Lord Hoffmann focuses on Sir Hugh's belief that the key function of a trade mark is to act as a badge of origin. Lord Hoffmann concludes with the prediction that European trade mark lawyers may yet come to adopt Sir Hugh's approach. Until his untimely death in November 2008, Professor Sir Hugh Laddie was the Professor of Intellectual Property at UCL.

Speakers

The Rt Hon the Lord Hoffmann
Chaired by The Rt Hon the Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury
Presiding, Professor Malcolm Grant CBE
Introduction by Professor Dame Hazel Genn DBE QC