Christian Finn

After obtaining a Law Degree from the University of Zimbabwe in 1982, Christian Finn joined a local law firm in Harare, with whom he qualified as a legal practitioner before the High Court of Zimbabwe in 1984.

While working there, he specialised in intellectual property. He handled patent, trade mark, designs and copyright matters (searching, filing, prosecution, renewals, assignments, changes of name/address, licensing, opposition and revocations) in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Botswana. He was also involved in copyright and trade mark enforcement cases in the courts of Zimbabwe.

Chris Finn was an Associate Member and Secretary of The Zimbabwean Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Agents, and a member of the Central African Region of AIPPI between 1984 and 1990.

In 1990, Chris moved to the United Kingdom, where he joined a boutique firm of patent and trade mark attorneys in Glasgow, Scotland, qualifying as a trade mark attorney in 1994 and as a professional representative before the European Union Trade Mark and Designs Registry in 1996. Chris became a director of the firm in May 2000, and Head of Trade Marks in 2004. In July 2006, when Murgitroyd & Company acquired the firm, he joined them as a Director, Trade Marks.

In July 2008, Chris qualified as a registered trade mark agent in the Republic of Ireland and in February 2010 he was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, the professional body for UK trade mark attorneys.

Specialties:

Chris specialises primarily in trade mark matters, handling portfolios for a wide range of clients from small start-ups to multinational companies. He also deals with registered and unregistered designs, and matters relating to copyright and domain names. He’s particularly involved with domain name disputes before WIPO (under the URDP system) and before UK domain name registry Nominet (DRP system).

Chris’s experience includes:

• trade mark searching
• registration
• licensing and valuation
• trade mark oppositions
• rectifications and revocations
• assignments
• IP portfolio review and management
• trade mark due diligence
• design registration
• licensing and enforcement
• trade mark and domain name watching services
• domain name dispute resolution
• copyright advice.

He has particular expertise in relation to beers, wines and spirits, hotels and restaurant services, sports teams, financial and insurance services, outdoor equipment and apparel, foodstuffs, confectionery and negotiation training services.

Chris’s practice mainly involves the UK trade marks and designs registries and the international registration system (the Madrid Protocol). He has spoken on various IP topics relating to trade marks and designs for the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA). He’s also appeared at events including the UKIPO roadshows and IP Masterclasses organised through the Scottish Intellectual Assets Centre.

Chris was also a panellist speaker at the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) 131st annual meeting in Seattle, Washington. He presented the perspective of the UK, Ireland and the community trade mark systems on ‘international trademark filing tips – a multi-jurisdictional review’.

Some of Chris’ major clients have been in the following sectors: beers & spirits; hotel industry, hospitality, bars and restaurants; sports teams, sporting goods; financial and insurance services; outdoor equipment; clothing and apparel; foodstuffs & confectionery; pharmaceuticals and biotech; engineering and construction services; negotiation training

Publications:

“Computer Software Copyright and Piracy: The Legal Perspective”, Legal Forum, Vol. 1 No. 6 (December 1989) and Vol. 2 No. 1 (March 1990), Legal Resources Foundation, Harare, Zimbabwe.