{"id":31112,"date":"2026-09-07T13:38:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:38:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivir.nl\/?post_type=vo_events&p=31112"},"modified":"2026-09-07T13:38:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T11:38:59","slug":"conversation-on-trademarks-and-freedom-of-expression","status":"publish","type":"vo_events","link":"https:\/\/www.ivir.nl\/nl\/agenda\/conversation-on-trademarks-and-freedom-of-expression\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia\u2013EU\u2013US Conversation on Trademarks and Freedom of Expression"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date<\/strong>: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Time:<\/strong> 15:00\u201316:00 CET
Location:<\/strong>
– Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam \u2013 Room A5.24
– Online via Zoom.
See also the flyer.<\/mark><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The relationship between trademark protection and freedom of expression continues to raise difficult questions across jurisdictions. Bringing together perspectives from Australia, the US and the EU, this conversation will examine how different legal systems address these tensions and what their approaches can learn from each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Australia, where freedom of expression is not constitutionally entrenched, the discussion will explore how international human rights jurisprudence can inform domestic trademark law, and how trademark law\u2019s own doctrines of distinctiveness and use can safeguard against overreach without creating additional doctrinal mechanisms. In the US, disputes ranging from Taylor Swift\u2019s \u201cLife of a Showgirl\u201d to drag queen Pattie Gonia raise questions about whether free speech concerns should be addressed through infringement defences alone, or also through limits on registration and the scope of trademark rights. Finally, in the EU, the first-ever CJEU judgment on third-party use of trademarks for expressive purposes \u2013 involving IKEA\u2019s trademarks in a far-right political campaign \u2013 will have been handed down just days earlier, offering a timely opportunity to compare the European approach with those in Australia and the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programme<\/mark><\/th><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
14:30-15:00<\/strong><\/td>Welcome Tea, Coffee & Snacks<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
15:00-15:05<\/strong><\/td>Introduction<\/strong>
Genevieve Wilkinson (University of Technology Sydney), Michael Handler (UNSW Sydney), Martin Senftleben (IViR, University of Amsterdam)<\/td><\/tr>
15:05-15:15<\/strong><\/td>Trade Marks, Freedom of Expression and International Law: An Australian Perspective<\/strong>
Genevieve Wilkinson (University of Technology Sydney)<\/td><\/tr>
15:15-15:25<\/strong><\/td>Failure to Function and Freedom of Expression: The US and Australia Compared<\/strong>
Vicki Huang (Deakin University)<\/td><\/tr>
15:25-15:35<\/strong><\/td>Balancing Trademark and Free Speech Rights when Marks have Informational or Expressive Value<\/strong>
Lisa Ramsey (University of San Diego School of Law)<\/td><\/tr>
15:35-15:45 <\/strong><\/td>Hot Off the Press in the EU: First Thoughts on the IKEA Judgment<\/strong>
Elena Izyumenko (IViR, University of Amsterdam)<\/td><\/tr>
15:45-16:00<\/strong><\/td>Q&A and Plenary Discussion<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
16:00\u201316:30<\/strong><\/td>Tea, Coffee & Snacks<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Please use the form below to register for this event:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n