On Tuesday 10 February the Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Communities will be delivering his Opinion in Case C-487/07 L'Oréal SA, Lancôme parfums et beauté & Cie SNC, Laboratoire Garnier & Cie v Bellure NV, Malaika Investments Ltd, trading as "Honey pot cosmetic & Perfumery Sales"), Starion International Ltd, a reference for a preliminary ruling from Court of Appeal (England and Wales) made on 5 November 2007. This case arises from a bitterly contested dispute relating to the referential use of well known perfume trade marks in order to indicate the similarity of the brand owner's scent to that of a cheap smell-alike competitor.

Class 46 is pleased to announce that members of its London team will be having a thoroughly informal drink at the back of The Old Nick, Sandford Street, next Tuesday evening, between 5.30pm and 7pm, to chat about the AG's Opinion, its deeper meaning and possible repercussions. If you'd like to pop in and join us, you'll find us here.  No need to RSVP -- just turn up!