Get your round-up of the week’s intellectual property news and opinions

UK IPO publishes consultation on implanting Trade Mark Directive 2015 into UK law

UK IPO enjoyed a blockbuster day on Monday, with the well-timed publishing of consultations on a variety of issues, including the Trade Mark Directive and EU Trade Secrets Directive, in light of recent calls for Brexit negotiations to be drawn out over a longer period.

Why has Meryl Streep applied to trademark her name?

In an attempt to prevent others from exploiting it, Meryl Streep has applied to trademark her name. She joins the elite ranks of other celebrities who have made the same move, including the entire Beckham family (David, Victoria et al), Sean Connery and Paris Hilton.

Playwright’s family sues The Shape of Water film-makers over works’ similarities

David Zindel, son of Pulitzer-winning American playwright Paul Zindel, has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Guillermo del Toro and Fox Searchlight for what he claims are “glaring similarities” between the Oscar-nominated film and the 1969 play Let Me Hear You Whisper.

Europe’s Unified Patent Court fate in the balance amid German probing (yes, Breixt is in the mix)

In a move that has raised doubts over the security of the future of a single European patent court, the Germain Constitutional Court will hear a case against the UPC that argues that it breaks German law.