Intellectual Property & Data Protection Law

Role of the Committee

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The Intellectual Property & Data Protection Law Committee has been formed by the Law Society as a result of a growing demand for legal services in the area of intellectual property rights and data protection law. 

The purpose of the Committee is  to provide a support to the solicitors’ profession and a resource to business, Government, and those involved in the development and enforcement of  intellectual property and data protection law.


Chair: Paul Lavery

Vice-Chair: Laura Scott

Members

  • Mary Bleahene

  • John Cahir

  • Simon Carty

  • Maureen Daly

  • Ann Henry

  • James Hickey

  • Catherine Keane

  • Gerard Kelly

  • Deirdre Kilroy

  • Patricia McGovern

  • David McMunn

  • Leo Moore

  • Elaine Morrissey

  • Olivia Mullooly

  • Aoife Murphy

  • Fiona O’Beirne

  • Alistair Payne

  • Barry Scannell

Consultant

  • Tara MacMahon

Secretary: Katherine Kane


Current issues on the Committee's agenda include:

  • Tracking the implementation of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market

  • Meetings with the Data Protection Commission to discuss a range of data issues impacting solicitors, including international transfers, and data processing in post-Brexit and COVID-19 contexts

  • Meeting with Revenue Commissioners to discuss issues involving the import of counterfeit goods arising from Brexit

  • Meeting with the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland to discuss a range of topics including giving feedback on user experience using its website

Other issues

In addition to the above, the committee has recently:

  • Responded to WIPO’s questionnaire on IP and Private International Issues

  • Made a submission in response to the Data Protection Commission’s consultation on Strategic Policy

  • Had discussions with IBEC on the topic of the Unified Patent Court

  • Had discussions with the Ireland for Law group members on a range of issues

The committee continues to assist practitioners in their implementation of data protection obligations. The committee reviews and updates the Data Protection pages on the Law Society website. In addition, committee members have written articles for the Gazette and Practitioner Guidance notes.

Committee members worked in 2021 with Law Society Skillnet to provide an IP CPD webinar on reforms and developments in IP Law and on-demand online courses in data protection..


Please email any queries to the Committee Secretary, Katherine Kane